Shirley Island

Shirley Island is about a half hour hike from Casey station, and to get there we have been able to cross the sea ice. Shirley Island is quite a popular destination, due to it being quite close, people will often hike over there after dinner for a few hours, it is also popular because there are many nesting groups of Adelie penguins on the island.

On the sea ice crossing to Shirley Island

A small group of use hiked over last week, to take advantage of the sea ice still being in place. With the warming weather this is one of the few remaining areas of stable/thick sea ice near to the station. And in fact in the few days following or trip the sea ice has been closed, as it is thinning, and becoming unsafe for travel.

We will probably get to travel out to Shirley Island in a few weeks, when we have the boats operating.

Skua trying to get Penguin eggs

The pictures above and below show Skua's. These birds are quite large, about twice as big as a crow. They tend to travel in pairs and pinch eggs from the penguins.

The pair below in fact kept at this penguin until they were able to get one of the eggs, which they quickly broke and then ate. No sooner had they finished, and they were back at another penguin trying to get further eggs.

As usual the penguins seem fearless, at least towards humans, it's a bit of a different story to watch some being chased out of the water by a seal.

No sooner do you get within about ten metres of the penguins, and they head straight towards you, stand about 2 or 3 feet away for while, and then just carry on with what they were doing.

All of the penguins are currently sitting on eggs, and by the time we get back out to the island, the chicks will have hatched.

We will still see plenty of penguins around the station, as they often come out of the water down the boat ramp/wharf, and then make there way up the road, past the buildings and out towards Shirley Island.