These emperor penguin chicks are huddled together in what is known as a crèche. This instinctive behavior is a communal response that helps young birds stay warm while their parents are out at sea hunting. I found this group of chicks in the emperor penguin rookery near the Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf. The rookery sits on what is known as “fast ice,” with the large icebergs helping to protect the rookery from ferocious winds. Sadly, in April 2026, the emperor penguin was listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
On this trip in 1996, I went to Antarctica, booked on a ship with plans for us to spend seven full days photographing emperor penguins. However, Mother Nature had other ideas. Our ship got stuck in the ice, and the seven-day shoot turned into barely 24 hours. Such is the reality of wildlife photography. Nothing is guaranteed.