Kate and Kathy watching a group of Adelie Penguins near Hut Point.

Kathy just published an article* in Geology on how Adelie Penguin colonies can be used to track climate change in the Ross Sea.

* Emslie, S.D., Coats, L., and Licht, K. (2007). "A 45,000 yr record of Adelie penguins and climate change in the Ross Sea, Antarctica." Geology v. 35, p. 61-64.

A young Adelie Penguin people watching near Hut Point, McMurdo Island.

A pair of Adelie Penguins hanging out watching the progress of an icebreaker nearby.

The Swedish icebreaker Oden opening up the passage to McMurdo Station and causing the Adelie penguins to march along shore--perhaps in hopes of catching fish disturbed by the icebreaker.

Another pair of Adelie Penguins--one checking the other to see if anyone has fish on their breath.

Adelie Penguin near Hut Point.

This small group of Adelie Penguins were headed out to meet a larger group out on the ice.

A plane flying overhead made the group turn and head back toward shore--perhaps they think it is a large skua.

Trevor the skua--the scourge of baby penguins--and people trying to carry food between buildings here at McMurdo.

Later, they all happily headed back toward the open ice.

Some stopped and stretched and called in what appeared to be a social display. The message seemed to be "hey, wait for me".

Some of the penguins seemed to just be happy to be out on the ice.

Some individuals seemed quite close--perhaps part of the same family.

It was follow the leader for a while.

It gets hard to keep up when your legs are only a few inches long--so why not slide on your belly?

Hey, no tailgating!!

The leader stopped and seemed to check on the others.

Even the lead penguin needs to take a break now and then.

The larger group was headed to the open ice where the Swedish icebreaker Oden was hard at work breaking a wide channel in the sea ice.

The Swedish ice breaker Oden opening a passage so that a fuel tanker and cargo ships can reach McMurdo Station before winter.