WHY TRAVEL TO ANTARCTICA IN LATE FEBRUARY OR MARCH?
Late summer in the Antarctic allows the small ships to go farther south and it is the best time for whale-watching, viewing seals and to witness two fascinating natural phenomena - red snow and chick feeding behaviors of Gentoo penguins.
RED SNOW
Algae live in Antarctic snow. They blossom toward the end of the summer (ie. Feb/March), staining the snow so green that it appears to be a patch of grass. The algae-covered snow can be surrounded by white ice and snow. Scientists still haven't determined why the algae just appears in patches. More puzzling still is that a portion of the green algae appears red. Great patches of red snow can be seen from miles away. It is as if a painter has spilled bucket of crimson on the landscape. The only time of year that intrepid Antarctic explorers can see red snow is in late February and early March.
GENTOO PENGUIN CHICK FEEDING BEHAVIOUR
Gentoo Penguins are the only species of penguin to feed their chicks well into adolescence. Adolescent Gentoo chicks are almost as tall as their parents, but they are covered in varying amounts of fuzzy down (rather like punk rockers with a mohican hairstyle in odd places!).
When their parent returns from the sea with a craw full of krill to share with the hungry chick (just like teenagers, they too are always hungry), the parent stops at the shoreline and calls out. They do not take turns, so the noise is quite something to hear. The 'dinner bell' is usually heard by more than the chick it's intended for; cue a hungry gaggle of chicks setting off in hot pursue of the parent. The chase continues until there is only one chick left. Believe it or not, scientists have determined that the biological chick is always the one that remains at the end of the chase. Unbelievable, but true! AND AMUSING!
February or March departures are priced more keenly than the peak Dec and January dates - as well as the amazing (and comical!) sights above, the ice is still spectacular and wildlife is in abundance - Antarctica never ceases to amaze at any time of year - but as time ticks on cabins will no doubt disappear so it's best to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!
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