500 Penguins per Polar Explorer: Ukrainian Scientists at Vernadsky Station Count Record Number of Birds

During this bird nesting season, which lasts from September to April, Ukrainian polar explorers counted a record number of sub-Antarctic penguins on Galindez Island, where the Vernadsky National Antarctic Research Centre is located. There are currently more than 7,000 of them.

This indicates that warming and a decrease in the area of sea ice in the Antarctic leads to the migration of animals that occupy new territories that were not previously inhabited by certain species.

For example, until 2007, sub-Antarctic penguins did not nest near the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Station at all. Scientists believe the main reason for this is the late thawing of the waters around our Galindez Island.

Previously, frosts in this area reached -20 C⁰ and below. Due to the presence of ice, penguins could not hunt effectively and chose areas to the north where the ice did not stagnate.

Due to the warming in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula's western coast, sub-Antarctic penguins rushed south. Their first nests appeared in 2007 at Cape Marina Point near the station.

By 2020, the number of sub-Antarctic penguins on the island was 3,500, and in 2024 it doubled and crossed the 7,000 mark.

Given that Ukrainian expeditions currently have 14 participants, this means 500 penguins per polar explorer.

This season, Ukrainian biologists have counted a total of 500 penguins in the region:

Nine colonies of warmth-loving sub-Antarctic penguins with a total population of 35,000.

Three colonies of cold-loving Adelie penguins with a total number of up to 5,000.

A little over 50 Antarctic penguins, which prefer the transit zone between the Subantarctic and Antarctic.

Today, it is very important to study the dynamics of changes in penguin populations. This is an obvious sign of climate change in the Antarctic.

Penguins are actively "fertilising" the icy continent with their droppings, creating soil for Antarctic vegetation.

Predators, such as sea leopards and skuas, are also moving towards the Arctic Circle.

Ukrainian scientists remind us that sub-Antarctic penguins come to Galindez Island for the mating season in September-October, because it is the Antarctic spring. Here, they gather in pairs, build nests, lay eggs, and raise their chicks. For the Antarctic winter, penguins leave the Vernadsky station area, sailing to places with clean water.