Auster emperor penguin rookery revisited.

The MBC Korean Film crew, who are making a documentary on Antarctica, are provided with support from Mawson station staff when filming away from the base. Station staff are rostered for 3 to 4 days to accompany the film crew each day while they film.

MBC filming emperor penguins at Auster rookery.

Tim and I departed the station in a Hag on 20th July at 6:30am to relieve the second support team. The film crew was out for 12 days, 3 support groups were involved. Group1 took the film crew and their gear out to Macey Hut and then each day to Auster Rookery (30 minutes Hag drive from Macey hut) on day 4 the support crew were relieved by the next crew. And on day 8 Tim and I arrived to replace the second support crew and would bring the film crew home.

Hag bringing fuel for generators.

The welcoming party inspects the Hag.

We also brought 2x200 litre drums of fuel for the generators, loaded onto a sled that was towed behind the Hag. We arrived at Macey hut after the others had already left for the Auster Rookery. So we unhooked and parked the sled then went on to Auster. We swapped over from Lisa and Cotty who headed back to base.There was no wind and the  temperature was around -20 degrees C.

The overcast sky made for a flat light on the surface however the blue colour of the icebergs and the pinks and greys of the sky was very distinct.

Film crew patiently capturing every move of a small number of penguins in the huddle.

Huddled to keep warm. Chicks had started hatching.

Photo opportunity!

Sastrugi and blue iceberg.

Macey Island field hut, portable apple and Hag

 By mid afternoon the sun was setting, the light was poor and the film crew had run out of batteries, so it was back at Macey Island for the night. Tim and I shared the Apple hut which is mounted on a skid and was towed out from Mawson for the support crews. The apple has 2 bunks and is best described as a very basic caravan. Easily warmed but soon freezes inside once the heating is turned off. The  three Koreans stayed in the more substantial Macey Hut which can accommodate 4 and is palatial by comparison to the apple.

Living in an apple - Gas for cooking and heating and candles and a generator for light.

Apple - small table and bunk.

Cooking area and 2nd bunk.

Many large icebergs at Macey Island.

Nights at Macey had terrific auroras.

Sunrise behind iceberg.

Coming to see what is happening.

The second day (21st July) was calm and the overnight temperature was around -24 degrees C. The sky was clear and we enjoyed the a magnificent sunrise and some real sunshine. The colours of the rising sun showering gold’s, pinks and yellows over the landscape was stunning. The thin layer of stratospheric cloud added colour to the light and made the horizon bronze coloured.

The emperor penguins are always inquisitive and come in ones and twos to see what we are doing.They stand about 2 metres away, have a good look and then after 10 minutes or so they resume their journey.

Inquisitive penguins stop a few metres away to investigate.

Hag parked with ice cave in background.

Sastrugi

Dad protecting the egg.

Mum showing off her chick. (Photo: L O'Connor)

By late July the males have been supporting the egg on their feet covering with a flap of feathers to keep it warm for a couple of months. The females have gone to sea to fill up on food and their return co insides with the hatching of the chick. If they are late or fail to return the newly hatched chick dies. The hatching commenced about a week ago and some females have returned. The young chicks remain on their fathers feet protected from the cold hatching. When the mother returns the males pass the chick to the mother and make their way back to the ocean to feed. The ocean can be tens of kilometers from the rookery. Some chicks don’t make it and some eggs are dropped and abandoned. These can be seen around the rookery. There are no predators to threaten the penguins while at the rookery on the sea ice over winter.

Another good days filming.

After the final days filming is done the Korean film crew are very pleased with the footage shot in the past 10 days. They are ready to go back to base for a shower and the comfort of the Red Shed and to start editing.

Hourly radio checks provide a break on the sea ice.

We overnight at Macey and head off early the following morning. Bo, one of the Koreans rides a quad while the trailer is towed behind the Hag loaded with a second quad in need of repair and 2 empty fuel drums. We departed at 8:30 am in the dark fully loaded with film crew and gear. It will be another week before they return.

Looking back to the east - Fata Morgana Mirage.

Weather closing in from the north west.

While traveling on sea ice, radio contact must be made with the station on the hour. For the first two radio schedules out of Macey we rely on a repeater on Mt Henderson to carry the radio signal to the station. It is currently not operating because of cable problems so the emergency Iridium satellite phone is used.

The sky ahead remains dark and threatening ahead after sunrise as the forecast deterioration in weather approaching from the north west becomes threatening. We are traveling westward and  Snow and blizzard conditions are expected in the next 12 hours. The sky suggests its arrival earlier and we are still a couple of hours from station. Our speed is slow as the overcast conditions make surface definition hard to read. Behind us the sky is light with thin cloud and a Fata Morgana mirage has the icebergs in the distance standing very much taller than the are.

We arrived at Mawson station at about 12:30, in time to pack up and have lunch. By mid afternoon the station was in blizzard conditions.

Short Video of Auster Penguin Rookery.