WildView™

April 27, 2015

The Humanity of Penguins

- as seen by -

William G. Conway

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The image of a large, untidy juvenile, who happens to be a penguin, pursuing his parent for yet another meal is immediately understood in the universal language of penguins and people for just what it is. When the subject is a gentoo penguin, third largest of the eighteen species and nearly three feet tall, it is both fascinating and fun.

The humanity of penguins is partly a matter of upright posture and two-footed gait, but gentoo juveniles go further. At colonies in the Falkland/Malvinas Archipelago, dozens of juveniles the size of this one surrounded me, examined my cameras, and looked earnestly into my face.

Photography had to wait until they finally found me boring and walked far enough away so that I could focus on them.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For our current assignment, we’re celebrating birds. Send us your best for a chance to win Vanguard binoculars. In the New York area? Join us on May 9 for our annual Birdathon at the Bronx Zoo. Bring your camera and take photos for the assignment.

Nikon D7100

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