penguins

before the recent eclipse, boynton casually remarked that she worried on behalf of the Antarctic penguins. (Or- at least - she spared a thought about their possible confusion. At least.) Her companions found this rather bemusing and were flippant. boynton tried to google up some serious linkage but found reports differed.

Dr Jones, a veterinary pathologist from Bendigo in Victoria, said he and colleagues had wanted to see what effect the eclipse had on nesting penguins.
"But there was no discernible change in them - they didn't show any degree of agitation or worry," he said. (the australian)

but according to CTV:
"As for the penguins, they appeared agitated during the eclipse and started to roam around. But, they soon calmed down"

Klipsi's Dances with Penguins team What will penguins do in sudden darkness ? were disappointed, according to the news Live from Antartica 24/11

not perfect, but close. Alas, no penguins during totality :-(

And after reading of Edison's unfortunate eclipse experience with hens, we found Newton's penguins (via The Presurfer) rather diverting.

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Comments: penguins

It's a bit like that story that if you fly a helicopter across a penguin colony in Antarctica, millions of little heads will swivel to follow you, until they all fall over on their backs.

I gather this story became so pervasive that scientists went out and... flew a helicopter across etc.

Sadly for the world's comedians, the etc after the etc didn't happen. But apparently they do get agitated and bang their little flippers..
Posted by David at November 28, 2003 02:31 PM

In one eclipse I observed birds.
I found their confusion disturbing.
The primal signs of absurd disruption, portents of apocalypse.

I also hope the observers here were not a cause of stress.

Posted by boynton at November 28, 2003 04:03 PM

No bother for me. I like the night-life.
Posted by Burgess.M at November 28, 2003 10:27 PM

I like the ice bergs.
Posted by Eli W at November 28, 2003 11:17 PM

Seen this Boynton?

http://authenticpics.members.easyspace.com/video/penguin.mpg
Posted by Nora at November 28, 2003 11:26 PM

rather apt for this penguin trip.
Posted by boynton at November 29, 2003 12:17 PM