A New Emperor Penguin Rookery of Riiser-Larsen Peninsula, East Antarctica

Abstract

On October 1, 1975, an emperor penguin rookery designated Riiser-Larsen Peninsula rookery was discovered on the sea ice at the position of 68°50'S, 34°40'E, near Karamete Point on the east coast of the Riiser-Larsen Peninsula. Taking aerophotographs of the rookery, six aerial observations were made from October 22, 1975 to January 6, 1976. Population estimated on October 24 was 7,200 including chicks. The colony remained near the rookery site until late October but moved about 1 km NE of the original site by the beginning of November. Population decreased with the lapse of time. By the beginning of January 1976 the population was 1,300 and colonies started to disperse.