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An adult Adelie penguin snuggling with its two chicks.

An adult Adelie penguin snuggling with its two chicks.
An adult Adelie penguin snuggling with its two chicks.
An adult Adelie penguin snuggling with its two chicks.
An adult Adelie penguin snuggling with its two chicks.
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131767
Linder, Christopher L.
An adult Adelie penguin snuggling with its two chicks.
Still Image
12/20/2007
graphics/pd3-1/cl_20071220_antarctica_adeliepenguins_030.jpg
Applying pit tags and measuring penguins goes fast, especially since Ballard has been practicing the job for the last 12 years. Less than 10 minutes after Lindquist grabs a penguin, she's placing the chicks back onto the nest and easing the parent down over them. Typically, the penguin squawks once or twice in indignation, flaps its flippers, and looks for one more opportunity to bite Lindquist. Then it snuggles back down over its chicks and goes back to keeping them warm. Here, an adult nuzzles its two pudgy chicks. It's a tender moment. In another few seconds, the bird will open its beak and disgorge a meal of smelly, pink, half-digested shellfish. That part doesn't look quite so tender, but the chicks seem to enjoy it just as much.
Image of The Day caption:
After being measured and tagged by researchers during a 2007 expedition in Antarctica, an adult Adelie penguin snuggles back down over its chicks to warm and feed them. The expedition was part of the Polar Discovery project, which documented science in action from pole to pole during the historic 2007-2009 International Polar Year.
Photo by Chris Linder
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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