Penguin Watch Quark Expeditions is a long-time supporter of Penguin Watch, a citizen science initiative seeking to find solutions to the present data gaps, using cameras and genetic analysis. Together, these approaches have resulted in an integrated monitoring network that has the capacity to provide data to policy-makers on areas particularly sensitive to fishing and human disturbance. Penguin Watch researchers were on the first Antarctic 2018/19 voyage with Quark Expeditions on Kapitan Khlebnikov to Snow Hill. While there, they collected guano to study disease and diet, as well as counted the colony of Emperor Penguins. This was the first year that Penguin Watch used drones for counting, and the results were spectacular. The tool allows them to count colonies with less disturbance (often the penguins can’t even see the drone) and are invaluable on short visits where they otherwise wouldn’t have time to complete the count. The use of drones also opened new study opportunities, for example, tracing the highway that penguins use to commute between the nest and the sea between successive years. After Snow Hill, they set up camp at George’s Point on Rongé Island to study the Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins in the area. Penguin Watch will only camp for specific tasks that take more time than a normal landing allows.
Penguin Watch was also an extended hitch-hiker with Quark Expeditions on Ocean Endeavour during the Antarctic 2018/19 season. While onboard they counted penguin colonies, talked with guests, and accessed the cameras which provide images for monitoring on the Penguin Watch site. One of the highlights this year was landing on Elephant Island and counting the colony at Chinstrap Camp.
To learn more about Penguin Watch visit penguinwatch.org
2019 Sustainability Report |
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