Well, color me embarrassed! Here it is months and months after we finished our last excellent adventure, and I realized I never finished my entries for Melbourne. Upon our return to the States, we had a number of 'issues' to deal with, and finishing my SE Asia travel blog entries didn't even make the top ten. So now I will attempt - after almost six months - to reconstruct the last of our adventures in Australia. And my apologies to Sally and Richard, our incredibly gracious and generous hosts in Melbourne. We loved our time with you and deeply appreciate your warmth and hospitality.
When last we left the narrative, we were lounging around at the 'bach' of a colleague of Sally's and planning an evening of penguin-watching at the local sanctuary. These wee penguins, the smallest of all penguins, are the pride of the locals and their sanctuary is a major tourist attraction. The 'show' begins just after dusk when hundreds (they're carefully counted every night) of them come ashore and make the trek to their burrows. Here we are making the reverse trek to the viewing stands.
There are two sets of viewing stands, and getting there early assured us a spot up front. Now we wait patiently for the penguins to arrive.
We are told by the park ranger that they arrived in 'rafts' - a group that athletically clings to each other as they surf their way onto the beach - which makes them somewhat safe from predators. There are virtually no threats to these little guys (other than the occasional fox) but they're not taking any chances.
Once out of the water, they make their way up the beach and into their 'hood. We were absolutely forbidden from taking any photos - hard to do when these little fellas were within 8-10 feet of us. (check out the Philip Island Penguin Parade web site for some incredible 'legal' shots).
And they are so determined, so focussed, waddling with purpose. Some walk as far as 2 km. When you're only 12-18" tall and waddle, that's a really long trek. Watching them reminded me of days of yore wearing truly uncomfortable fashion statements that passed for shoes!
Once they were all ashore, we left the beach and followed a couple of groups as they made their way home. Along the way, a couple of them just collapsed - plop! Those of us watching over the rails were actually urging them on!! And finally they're home . . .
Now I'm relying on my memory (stop laughing please) . . . the females have been waiting in the burrow and the surfer dude males are now home for a bit of R&R or parental duty. Oh but wait, we learn that occasionally when the female isn't pregnant she may decide to take a hike. Yup, the male returns to find the burrow empty and his former lady love decamped to a nearby burrow which she is decorating with her new partner. Fickle lot these female penguins . . .
Ah, but you may wonder, is it only the males who take to the sea? Where oh where are the adventurous females? But one of many unanswered questions. I can say that penguins spend up to 80% of their lives in the water; 600-900 of them come ashore every night, and no one seems to know why they choose a particular night, or how often they 'raft' in and head for their burrows.
These wee penguins were the subject of a worldwide alert not long ago when an oil spill threatened their habitat. Seems their coat (fur?) was picking up the slimy stuff and, the poor wee ones were freezing. Not to worry, the rangers put out a country-wide (world-wide?) alert for penguin sweaters. They even included a template which included little flipper slits. (I'm not making this up, honest!)
Here's one of the donations:
We four only have to waddle to the car after this enchanting evening (sans sweaters).
When last we left the narrative, we were lounging around at the 'bach' of a colleague of Sally's and planning an evening of penguin-watching at the local sanctuary. These wee penguins, the smallest of all penguins, are the pride of the locals and their sanctuary is a major tourist attraction. The 'show' begins just after dusk when hundreds (they're carefully counted every night) of them come ashore and make the trek to their burrows. Here we are making the reverse trek to the viewing stands.
There are two sets of viewing stands, and getting there early assured us a spot up front. Now we wait patiently for the penguins to arrive.
We are told by the park ranger that they arrived in 'rafts' - a group that athletically clings to each other as they surf their way onto the beach - which makes them somewhat safe from predators. There are virtually no threats to these little guys (other than the occasional fox) but they're not taking any chances.
Once out of the water, they make their way up the beach and into their 'hood. We were absolutely forbidden from taking any photos - hard to do when these little fellas were within 8-10 feet of us. (check out the Philip Island Penguin Parade web site for some incredible 'legal' shots).
And they are so determined, so focussed, waddling with purpose. Some walk as far as 2 km. When you're only 12-18" tall and waddle, that's a really long trek. Watching them reminded me of days of yore wearing truly uncomfortable fashion statements that passed for shoes!
Once they were all ashore, we left the beach and followed a couple of groups as they made their way home. Along the way, a couple of them just collapsed - plop! Those of us watching over the rails were actually urging them on!! And finally they're home . . .
Now I'm relying on my memory (stop laughing please) . . . the females have been waiting in the burrow and the surfer dude males are now home for a bit of R&R or parental duty. Oh but wait, we learn that occasionally when the female isn't pregnant she may decide to take a hike. Yup, the male returns to find the burrow empty and his former lady love decamped to a nearby burrow which she is decorating with her new partner. Fickle lot these female penguins . . .
Ah, but you may wonder, is it only the males who take to the sea? Where oh where are the adventurous females? But one of many unanswered questions. I can say that penguins spend up to 80% of their lives in the water; 600-900 of them come ashore every night, and no one seems to know why they choose a particular night, or how often they 'raft' in and head for their burrows.
These wee penguins were the subject of a worldwide alert not long ago when an oil spill threatened their habitat. Seems their coat (fur?) was picking up the slimy stuff and, the poor wee ones were freezing. Not to worry, the rangers put out a country-wide (world-wide?) alert for penguin sweaters. They even included a template which included little flipper slits. (I'm not making this up, honest!)
Here's one of the donations:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/inspire-me/66082828/Australias-oldest-man-knits-jumpers-for-tiny-penguinsWho ever said that Australian men don't have a soft side??
We four only have to waddle to the car after this enchanting evening (sans sweaters).
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