Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Penguins Marching. We have all seen the film, 'March of the Penguins'. My question is, "Why such a distant, 20-day walk?" First, Emperor Penguins are distinct from King Penguins, Which breed on sub-Antarctic islands and do not make an 'ice march'. Briefly then, Emperor Penguins trek deep inland to their breeding grounds. This seems to be the evolutionary trade-off Between stability, safety, and survival. Emperor Penguins require land-fast ice, which is very stable, And is firmly attached to a shoreline, a glacier-tongue, or ice. These chicks have a long development cycle of 8 to 9 months, Hatching in the bitter Antarctic winter and growing Their adult waterproof feathers by December or January. By not nesting close to the open ocean, they avoid The breaking up of early summer ice and the loss Of chicks who have not yet developed adult plumage. The downy baby feathers are not at all waterproof. The interior of the Antarctic ice sheet is a hostile environment, Where no terrestrial predators could ever survive. Inland, the penguins isolate their stationary eggs And defenceless chicks from Leopard seals, Killer whales, and predatory birds. These penguins also choose areas that offer some sort of windbreak. These include locations near icebergs, glaciers, or ice shelves. This also aids the huddling incubating males To form very packed huddles to conserve body heat. However, with climate change now, a different story is unfolding. When ice melts and cracks, Emperors have moved, But with so much melting, there is nowhere to go. "Between 2018 and 2022, 30% of the 62 known Emperor Penguin Antarctic colonies were affected by partial or total sea ice loss." Based on forecasts of sea ice loss at present warming rates, More than 90% of the colonies will be quasi-extinct By the end of this century. Will the Polar bear as well as these wonderful penguin-creatures Be lost from our planet and to us so soon? Frank Maurer 6 October 2026 1430 Hours.