Argentina
November 6-29, 2009
November 10: Punta Tomba and Gaiman: Punta Tomba - Part 2
An old dead bush provides shelter for a couple of nests.
Not all penguins find good nests and this penguin didn't survive in his little hollow in the ground.
These are the penguin projects!
A penguin egg.
The shack may not be much to look at, but the view is awesome!
Penguins, penguins, everywhere!
Sammy finds a rock which she keeps as her own penguin egg.
Now that she's got an egg, she needs to find a nest! There aren't too many good vacancies in this colony!
This penguin seems quite proud of her two eggs.
Coming back from a walk on the beach.
Sam's having a blast while Christopher's having a nap. :)
A view across the beach at Punta Tomba.
Playing on the rocks.
Enjoying the day as the sun starts to peek out.
bird
A penguin having a morning dip.
The penguin swim club.
Washed up dead penguins don't seem to bother the live ones.
The water's a little chilly...
quack!
Watching the penguins swimming.
Done with his dip, this penguin heads back to his nest, undisturbed by us standing in his way.
This penguin has a nice soft feather-lined nest for its eggs.
bird
bird
chimango?
Check out the swagger on this penguin!
We were surprised to spot this rhea along the beach.
The rhea is greatly studied for medical science. Its brain produces an enzyme which is used to treat alzheimers. Its corneas can be used for human transplants. Current studies are investigating the possibility of using its tendons to replace damaged ones in people who have had accidents.
A guanaco walking through the penguin colony.
Elegant-crested Tinamou (Eudromia elegans) - Tinamous are walking land birds that will only make a short low flight if chased, though they prefer to hide and stay motionless and camouflage themselves blending into the landscape. They live in groups using communal nests, and the male is responsible for the incubation and the chick rearing. They often take a dust bath.
The tinamou getting some bread crumbs.
Chingolo - Zonotrichia capensis?
A guanaco crossing sign...
... and a herd of guanacos!
Christopher and birdie.
Time to go back... head straight!
Some free range sheep along the way.
A flower along the road.
La perla establishment.
A windmill.
Tumbleweeds caught along the fence.
Rubby frees a tumbleweed to show it to the kids.
Bye tumbleweed!
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The owners of the estancia "La Perla" donated part of their land to share it with future generations.
1896 Luis La Regina came from Sicily with his family at the age of 13. At 16 years old he bought some sheep which he kept free range. He was employed at a nearby ranch and in his spare time tought the pioneers to read and write. In 1929 he bought "La Perla". With it came the penguins as well as the people who wanted to see the penguins. In 1963 Don Luis died and left his love and respect of the land with his sons. More penguins and people came to the land and in 1972 the La Regina family donated the land occupied by the penguins to the government for the protection and future enjoyment of all.
The major attraction of Punta Tomba are undoubtedly the penguins. However many other species equally important live here.
Guanacos are able to live in both hot and cold climates, in humid or arid areas. When freshwater is not available, guanacos are able to drink salt water.
The petrel can fly 400km in a day. It is one of the largest birds of Argentina. It lives approx 20 years.
"No gastar polvora en chimango" This saying refers to the fact that this bird is not appetizing for humans. This bird is very useful to people living in the country because it eats dead animals and controls the population of rodents.
The peludo (armadillo) will search unattended penguin nests for eggs. When it feels threatened it can disappear underground within seconds thanks to its powerful digging abilities.
The skua uses any opportunity to get food. It can catch fish from the ocean, it eats small chicks from other marine animals, it will rob eggs from nests, it scavenges the coast for dead animals and takes prey captured by other animals.
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