November 18, 2008 - 10:37am
Hello Robin and the team,
We are loving your videos, but have a few questions, Now long can the seals stay under the ice before they need air? We were also wondering if the penguins ever fight due to rock stealing? Ohhh and one more, what were those two penguins doing when their heads were raised and both "calling" at the same time?????We are guessing that it had something to do with mating????
Thanks from Flagstaff...Giavanna, Ricky, Rosaleo, Jesus, Sonya, Alex, Kris and sneaky Juan!
does the ice ever get very slipery?... and do you ever fall down?
Hello Flagstaff! Nice to hear from you again!
I'm very glad you are loving the videos - I have some more great ones coming!
Seals can stay under the ice for quite some time. I believe they have been known to stay under for close to 30 minutes! Typically, it is much less than that!
The penguins absolutely squablle with each other over rock stealing! They stand up and flap their wings, call to each other... they basically seem quite upset! I'm not sure that would count as "fighting" though - what do you think?
You are correct, the head waving and calling is a mating "ritual." That was a pair of penguins communicating with each other. Pretty fun huh?!
Hope that helps!
cheers,
Robin
Hello!
Yes - the ice can be VERY slippery! Yes - I have fallen down several times! The ice is quite odd. There will be lots of rough, chunky ice which isn't slippery at all, in fact it's quite solid footing - we try to walk on the chunky ice. But then there are these swaths of really slick ice - it's smooth, but wavy at the same time. But - my gosh it is slippery!
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
robin