WILDLIFE IN THE SPRING
in the Falklands & in South Georgia
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WILDLIFE IN THE FALKLANDS IN THE AUSTRAL SPRING
WILDLIFE IN THE FALKLANDS IN THE AUSTRAL SPRING
Gentoo penguins: Adults return in September and begin building nests. Egg laying is usually in October but is highly variable +/- 3 wks) with 34-36 incubation period.
Magellanic penguins: Adults return in September, lay eggs mid-October.
Rockhopper penguins: Males return in late September/early October & females one week later.
King penguins: They are on a 14-to-18-month breeding cycle, so rather ever-present. In late September/early October, large/small chicks & eggs are at various stages simultaneously.
Black-browed albatross: Males return in late September. Females return in early October, with eggs usually laid in mid-October.
Southern Giant Petrel: Adults return late September to colonies.
Rock Shag: Nest building commences in late September.
White-tufted Grebe: Nest building commences in late September, eggs laid up until late December.
Black-necked swan: Breeding between August & September; hatching in October.
Yellow-billed Teal: Egg laying starts mid-August.
Red-backed Hawk & Turkey vulture: Nesting can commence in September.
Elephant seals: Early spring top time to see them as young are born and suckled.
*Above are historically typical time periods. With climate change, some of these dates have been moving earlier than usual.
Source: www.falklandislands.travel/wildlife-calendar.php
WILDLIFE IN SOUTH GEORGIA IN THE AUSTRAL SPRING
WILDLIFE IN SOUTH GEORGIA IN THE AUSTRAL SPRING
To begin with, we'll see a jaw-dropping number of king penguins. Like in the Falklands, they are on a 14 to 18-month breeding cycle, so are rather ever present. Large & small chicks will be at various stages simultaneously.
South Georgia has half the world's population of elephant seals. In the spring, they start to establish control of beaches, which can result in dramatic confrontations as they fight to become beach masters—a wild spectacle to witness. On a more endearing note, baby elephant seals are born towards the end of winter, and in the spring, the young pups (known as "weaners") are everywhere. They are not only much smaller than adults at the time, but when just weeks old they also tend to be incredible curious of humans, and you may even find one approaching you.
Early season also means that female fur seals haven't yet returned to the beaches—which is exactly what we want because once they do, the males become extremely aggressive, making it impossible to land on many beaches in South Georgia.
It's also an ideal time for seabirds, and in particular the majestic wandering albatross, the bird with the largest wingspan on the planet. The most impressive place to see them is Prion Island, a Special Protected Area that's open only early & late in the season (it closes in the summer when albatrosses are mostly having their babies to minimize human harm to them). Spring is an ideal time to be there.
[And all of the above is not to mention the other benefits of being around early in the season with fewer ships around resulting in less competition for landing sites, and also more pristine landing sites, more snow left on the majestic mountains, etc.]
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