South Shetlands & The Antarctic Peninsula 22 Feb 2020 - 14

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Ushuaia © Sandra Petrowitz © Sandra Petrowitz Cape Petrel © Renato Granieri Drake Passage @AmandaDalsgaard © Sandra Petrowitz © Sandra Petrowitz Humpback Whales @AmandaDalsgaard @ShayneMcguire 22 FEB- 2 March 2020 © Sandra Petrowitz Volume 2, Issue 14
King of the Southern Winds Sandra Ophorst, Lecturer & Expedition Guide 32 The wandering albatross is an impressive bird with the world’s largest wingspan of up to 3.5 meters in length and a weight of up to 11 kilograms. Unfortunately, the number of wandering albatrosses is rapidly declining with only 20,100 individuals left as of October 2019 (Red List, World Conservation Union) The wandering albatross is rarely seen on land and gathers only to breed, at which time it forms large colonies on remote islands, such as South Georgia. The female lays a single white egg and both sexes share incubation, which lasts about 60 to 80 days. Both sexes feed the youngster by regurgitating food, a process that can continue for up to nine months. The nesting cycle of wandering albatrosses is so long, they can’t complete it in one year. So, they nest every other year. When young albatrosses become independent and leave their nest site, they begin a multi-year foray on the open ocean and will not return to land until they are old enough to breed. This can take up to 10 years of their 50 year average lifespan. The wandering albatross is famous for its dynamic flight. They turn into the wind to gain height, then glide back down to the sea to gain speed. Sometimes they glide for hours without rest or even a single flap of their wings. Indeed, this principle was used to design airplanes, especially gliders that have albatross-like wings. As a result of these wings, however, an albatross’ landing process often looks a bit comical as their narrow wings do not allow for a slow approach. So, they often land on their feet and then tumble forward and slide on their bellies. The biggest threats to the wandering albatross are pollution and large-scale commercial tuna fisheries. These tuna fishing boats are equipped with up to 20,000 fish baited hooks and these lines can be up to 100km long. Unfortunately, these fishing lines often attract albatrosses get caught up on the hooks and drown as they are cast out at sea. Organisations such as Hookpod are trying to save the albatrosses from the dangers of long line fishing vessels by providing fishing boats with “hookpods” that cover the barb and point of the hook during setting, reducing the likelihood of an albatross by-catch. © Sandra Petrowitz 22 FEB- 2 March 2020 Volume 2, Issue 14
Page 1 and 2: 22 FEB- 2 March 2020 Volume 2, Issu
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS The Voyage Meet t
Page 5 and 6: 4 Shelli Ogilvy Assistant Expeditio
Page 7 and 8: The Seven Sisters of Szczecin David
Page 9 and 10: Day 2 - Rolling Our Way South 23 Fe
Page 11 and 12: Day 3 - On Our Way to Antarctica! 2
Page 13 and 14: Drake Passage Drake Passage © Sand
Page 15 and 16: Day 4 - Our First Day in Antarctica
Page 17 and 18: Day 5 - In the Footsteps of Charcot
Page 19 and 20: When and How the Earth Got Cold Dav
Page 21 and 22: Port Charcot @Sandra Petrowitz Gent
Page 23 and 24: Day 7- The Final Stop Among the Sou
Page 25 and 26: Detaille Provisions Deception Islan
Page 27 and 28: Gentoo & Adelie @AmandaDalsgaard Fu
Page 29 and 30: Whalers Bay Whalers Bay @SandraPetr
Page 31: Day 9- The Beagle Channel 1 March 2
Page 35 and 36: By the Numbers… 34 Voyage Statist

South Shetlands & The Antarctic Peninsula 22 Feb 2020 - 14

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