Birding in Antarctica with Grandma

Why go to Antarctica? The answer is simple: Antarctica is nature in its purest state.

Antarctica is a continent located literally at the bottom of the world. The weather there is extremely cold. Antarctica is almost completely covered by ice and snow for much of the year. Very few people live there, except in the small towns of McMurdo and Palmer on the seashore. There is a science station at the South Pole where experiments are done relating mostly to weather and space exploration.

Of the 35 species of seabirds that live south of the Antarctic Convergence, only 19 species breed on the Antarctic continent itself.

By the way, how many species of penguins are there in the world? How many can you name?

Explore birds.

Antarctica in the Spotlight

Antarctica Dreaming (HD DVD + DVD Combo Disc) By HDScape [HD DVD]

Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 07/10/2009)

Imagine a world colored by ice and fire, carved by hurricane-force winds, weighted by glaciers, and teeming with wildlife perfectly adapted to freezing conditions and winters of perpetual darkness. Experience the beauty of wild white blizzards and fire-red sunsets reflected in a glassy sea.
Antarctica Dreaming HD DVD explores the Antarctic peninsula, South Georgia Island, and the Falkland Islands, and features five species of penguins, four kinds of seals, fierce seabirds, and the most spectacular scenery on the planet.

Release Date: 04/24/2007

Display your bird photographs in style.

Coby DP-887 8-Inch Digital Photo Frame with MP3 Player & 2 Metal Frames

Amazon Price: $79.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $138.99

The new Coby DP-887 digital picture frame blends traditional functionality with today's technology and design. Enjoy pictures, music and movies and capture your most precious moments with family and friends in a new vivid and engaging way, and in a style that's perfect for the home or office.

Antarctica: A Guide to the Wildlife, 4th (Bradt Guides)

by: Tony Soper

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $21.95

"Here, at last, is the book we've been waiting for."
--David Attenborough

Book Description
A superbly illustrated and attractive traveler's companion to the wildlife of the Antarctic wilderness written by TV naturalist Tony Soper. Full species identification is aided by specially commissioned paintings by Dafila Scott.

Some facts about Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable.

Almost the entire continent is covered with ice and snow. If all of the ice were to melt, it is estimated that the sea level throughout the world would rise by 200 ft.
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Adopt a penguin today:
www.wildlifeadoption.org
Unfortunately for penguins, the earth's temperatures are rising at an alarming rate and the ice at the polar caps is melting. In Antarctica, home to the famous Emperor Penguin, the annual melting season has been extended by as much as 3 weeks in recent decades.

Welcome to Antarctica - Wonderful Books

The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife: Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and the Southern Ocean

by: Hadoram Shirihai

Whether you have been, are going or just want to dream of going this is the book for you. As its title indicates, its prime purpose is to describe the wildlife, and it gives top billing to the birds - all in a level of detail which should satisfy the most demanding birder, but which the average interested amateur naturalist should also find interesting.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $49.50

Ponko and the South Pole

by: Meredith Hooper, Jan Ormerod

Ponko and Joey can't wait to begin their journey to the South Pole. But the penguins laugh at the two friends, and the seal warns they will get too cold. Now Ponko and Joey are worried. Will they ever make is to the South Pole?

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $4.95

Playing With Penguins: And Other Adventures in Antarctica

by: Ann McGovern

A unique diary format and colorful photographs make this book a magical and eye-opening journey to Antarctica. Readers witness dozens of amazing sights as seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl on a ship adventure, shared with her Grandmother.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $4.99

Antarctica (Country Guide)

by: Jeff Rubin

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $24.99

Life on the Ice: No One Goes to Antarctica Alone

by: Roff Smith

I did not know much about Antartica before reading Life on the Ice but before I knew it, I had learned a lot. I had to smile at his description of the penguins! This book is great for those hot summer days, it transports you to another world.

Release Date: 02/01/2005

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $16.00

Antarctica Poster

Antarctica Art Print

18 in. x 25 in.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Snow Petrel - breed exclusively in Antarctica and has been seen at the South Pole.

The Snow Petrel

(Pagodroma nivea) is a small, pure white fulmarine petrel with black underdown, coal-black eyes, small black bill and bluish gray feet. Body length is 36 to 41 centimeters (14-16 in) and the wingspan is 76 to 79 centimeters. In Du Cane Godman, (Monograph of the Petrels, fasc. 4, 1909), it was figured in an illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans (pl. 73).

(30-31 in). Flight is more fluttering than most petrels. It is the only member of the genus Pagodroma. It is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica and has been seen at the South Pole. It has the most southernly breeding distribution of any bird.

There are two subspecies, P. n. confusa and P. n. nivea. They differ in size, and the greater form has a stouter, larger beak. The greater form has a more resricted distribution--the Adelie Land and Balleny Is. area of Antarctica.

Breeding occurs in colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula, the Antarctic continent and various Antarctic islands. Nesting is colonial in small to large colonies on cliffs, usually near the sea, but also inland. Some birds remain at the colony all year, but the main influx at colonies is from the mid-September until early November. Nests are simple pebble-lined scrapes usually in a deep rock crevices with overhanging protection. One white egg is laid in late November to mid-December. The egg is incubated for 41 to 49 days and the chick is brooded for 8 days. They fledge 7 weeks later in late February to mid-May. Colonies are also the sites of cleaning areas where Snow Petrels, far from the sea, bathe in snow.

Snow Petrels feed mainly on fish, some cephalopods, mollusks and krill as well as carrion. During the winter they disperse to the pack ice, ice floes and the open sea. Flocks are characteristically seen sitting on icebergs. Only very rarely are they observed north of the pack ice.

Like many petrels these birds squirt waxy, yellowish stomach oil at nest intruders. This oil stinks of fish and is extremely difficult to remove. They are known to live 14 to 20 years.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Snow Petrels on Ice, Antarctica Photographic Poster Print by Doug Allan, 32x24

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price:

Doug Allan is a freelance wildlife and documentary cameraman.
http://www.dougallan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Link for serious Antarctic Birders

Birds-Wildlife of Antarctica: With the end of the long polar winter comes the arrival of millions of seabirds to breed. First to arrive are the Adelie penguins who have walked as much as 50 kilometers across the sea ice to reach their nesting grounds. They are followed soon after by the petrels and skuas, flying in from the open sea. Of the 35 species of seabirds that live south of the Antarctic Convergence, only 19 species breed on the Antarctic continent itself. Probably 100 million or more birds breed along the coast and offshore islands of Antarctica.

Birding in Antarctica with Grandma

Why go to Antarctica? The answer is simple: Antarctica is nature in its purest state.

Antarctica in the Spotlight

Display your bird photographs in style.

Some facts about Antarctica

Welcome to Antarctica - Wonderful Books

Antarctica Poster

Snow Petrel - breed exclusively in Antarctica and has been seen at the South Pole.

Link for serious Antarctic Birders

National Geographic Antarctica Link

Extraordinary

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Great Books about Penguins

Video - of Penguins in Antarctica

Penguin Stuffies

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17 Species of Penguins in the World

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Penguin Jewelry

Antarctica Links

Great penguin clothes

Amazon has great sale prices on these items - click on the item and check it out.

Antarctica on eBay

Penguin Webcam

Antarctica Tee's

Great Penguin Gifts

Antarctica Stuff on eBay

Travel to Antarctica - make your travel plans here.

Antarctica in the Spotlight

Royal Albatross

Webkinz Penguin

Antarctica Guestbook

Birding with Grandma - Table of Contents linking to the world

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