Doug Leier posted on March 07, 2007 07:22 :: 5394 Views
It's March, and many hardy souls have spent their winter ice fishing, predator hunting, or just getting outside and appreciating our four distinct seasons. While as a rule the balance of my time is spent amongst those hardy souls, I must confess that adding Leier number three to the mix this winter found me indoors a little more than I'd like. What's worse, my attention span is more comparable to that of my kids, which makes indoor activities even more difficult.
But I digress. During a mid-winter cold snap, my neighbor, Darwin, crossed the street for a warm cup of coffee, and brought along a DVD for the kids. I'd heard about the title, "March of the Penguins," and decided from the snippets and neighborly recommendation that it would be worth it to glue myself to the bean bag and watch it.
I'll be honest. I've never thought too much about penguins. But my kids like them and as the movie began, it didn’t take long for me to realize that these little guys have a world of problems. Not only can't they fly, but walking really doesn't appear to be a real efficient means of transportation for them either. And to top it off they live in Antarctica.
(Note to self: no matter how cold, icy or windy it gets in North Dakota, remind yourself how fortunate you are not to live in Antarctica.)
The film, from Warner Video and National Geographic, is narrated by Morgan Freeman and follows the breeding migration of emperor penguins. A migration of 70 miles might not seem like much compared to birds that fly thousands of miles, but these penguins waddle those 70 miles across quite possibly the worst terrain on the darkest, driest and windiest continent. Oh, and it’s the coldest, too, averaging a frigid 58 below zero.
The migration begins in March, at the end of what would be the Antarctic summer, from the icy coast to the ancestral breeding ground some 70 miles one way. The penguins walk day and night for more than a week. When their legs tire, they'll flop onto their belly and slide forward with help from their feet and stubby wings.
Finally, without fail, the penguins make it back to the region where they were born. They are not near any aquatic predators, safe on an even thicker slab of ice and protected from the wind by huge walls of ice. That windbreak can be critical as during one spell the wind gusts reached 100 mile per hour at the same time the actual air temperature was minus 80. Takes the wind chill factor to a whole new level.
Courtship lasts a few weeks and then after eight months their will be new life from a single egg. As winter bears down the penguins huddle as a mass and wait out storm after storm, while at the same time incubating their eggs. The tiny egg is balanced between the feet, not to rest for more than a moment on the frozen tundra, which would kill the embryo.
The days are without light and the winter nights basically endless.
The video footage is amazing, considering the terrain and climactic conditions. I shiver at just the thought of the harsh conditions. If you’re like me you’ll enjoy watching the extra footage which depicts some of the making of the film.
While the “March of the Penguins” is obviously not about North Dakota, it certainly should appeal to anyone who has an appreciation for wild animals and wild places. All animals, not just emperor penguins, have unique and interesting life-cycle characteristics.
From sage grouse and paddlefish to prairie chickens and moose, each critter has a special story.
As winter fades to spring it's a safe bet we'll have a late winter snow storm, or better yet some much needed spring rains. Whatever the reason, if you find yourself inside rather than out, “March of the Penguins” will give you a better appreciation for the struggles of all animals.
Dour Leier is a respected JustNorth columnist, hunter education instructor, and outreach biologist for the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email: dleier@nd.gov.
Article Source:
http://justnorth.com/Articles/tabid/105/articleType/AuthorView/authorID/220/Doug_Leier.aspx