
OTWAY
GULF PENGUIN COLONY
Between September
and April about
6,000 specimens
of the Magallanes
specie (Spheniscus
magellanicus) uses
this place to nest.
These penguins build
a 50 centimeters
cave where they
place two eggs.
These eggs incubation
takes 38 to 42 days,
after which parents
feed the chicks
until 80 days of
being born. Once
the chicken develops
appropriated feathers
for life in water,
the adults stop
feeding them and
they start the annual
molt. Once it finishes,
the adults leave
the colony and go
to the sea in the
middle of March
and return to the
same colony year
after year.
The young ones return
exceptionally to
the colony, however
they won't reproduce
until 4 to 6 years
after being born.
Otway gulf penguin
colony is 65 km.
from Punta Arenas,
at the northeast
of the Brunswick
peninsula. During
the tour its is
possible to watch
other birds, such
as Caiquen, Rhea,
Bandurria. The ticket
prize is 2,500 pesos
(about 4 dollars).
Children don't pay
and the public opening
hours is from 8
to 20.
NATURAL
RESERVE MAGDALENA
ISLAND
This spectacular
island inhabited
by Magallanes penguins
(Spheniscus magellanicus)
is located 35 km.
south of Punta Arenas.
Sailing from this
city by the Magellan
Strait takes about
two and a half hours.
The size of this
colony is about
60,000 couples,
which nest in the
whole surface of
the island. These
penguins feed themselves
mainly of sardines
and squids. The
reproductive period
is similar to that
of Otway colony.
During the migration
period specimen
of this colony had
been registered
in so far places
as south coast of
Brazil.
OTHER
PENGUIN SPECIES
PRESENT IN MAGALLANES
Yellow tuft penguin,
Eudyptes chrysocome:
Resident in colonies.
Macaroni penguin,
Eudyptes chrysolophus:
Resident in colonies.
King penguin, Aptenodytes
patagonicus: Regular
visitor, doesn't
net.
Papua penguin, Pygoscelis
papua: Accidental,
periodical registers
in scarce number.
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