Southern Rockhopper Penguins

Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) “Rockhoppers” are penguins native to the southern hemisphere. 

Hence, rockhoppers are only found in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, several subantarctic Islands, and the southern coasts of South America, including Argentina, Chile, and Tierra del Fuego.  

How Rockhoppers got their name

Rockhoppers got their name due to their unique method of moving around on rocky terrain. They hop from rock to rock rather than slide or waddle like other penguin species. Consequently, the hopping motion earned them the name “rockhopper.”

Characteristics

Rockhoppers are medium-sized and are known for their distinctive red eyes and tufts of yellow feathers on their head. In addition, their feet are pink, and their flippers are black. They are also known for their acrobatic abilities, and they can jump over rocks and easily navigate up and down the rocky coastal areas where they breed.

They are excellent swimmers and divers and can reach depths of 60 metres and swim at speeds of up to 22 km/h. Being very social penguins, they form large colonies in the hundreds and thousands. Their vocalisations are distinctive and can be heard from quite a distance away, often hearing them before seeing them.

Height: 60 – 70 cm

Weight: 2 – 2.5 kg

Lifespan: 10 years in the wild

Like all other penguins, Rockhoppers are flightless birds and will hop and waddle along the land or swim in the ocean. 

Rockhoppers have been known to hop up to 1.8 metres in a single hop. They will hop off rocks and down steep cliffs when heading out to the ocean. Surprisingly, when they return from the sea, they appear to withstand the battering from the strong waves that propel them onto coastal rocks. 

All penguins moult annually. They lose all their feathers and grow new ones. During the moult, their new feathers are not waterproof, and they remain on land until they have all their new waterproof feathers. Before their moult, they increase their food intake to last through the moulting because they cannot go to sea without waterproof feathers. 

good insulation

Because penguins spend most of their life in the ocean, they need good insulation to keep them warm. They have a thick layer of fat under their skin, a layer of down feathers on their skin, and a mesh of tightly overlapping waterproof feathers on top. Penguins have the highest number of feathers of any bird, around 12 feathers cm², to keep them warm.

What is a group of penguins called?

Penguins have several names depending on whether on land or in the sea. On land, they are called a ‘waddle’. During breeding times, they are called a ‘rookery or colony”. A group of penguin chicks is called a ‘creche’. When penguins are at sea, they are called a ‘raft’.

Diet

Penguins eat krill, squid and fish. Their diet will vary slightly depending on the species of penguin. They all have slightly different food preferences to reduce food competition between the species.

Habitat

Rockhoppers preferred nesting sites on the rocky shores during the breeding season. Otherwise, they spend their lives at sea. 

Reproduction

Breeding season occurs from early spring to late summer, depending on their location. Nesting begins after the sea ice melts when they can access land. Penguins will either mate with their previous partner or find a new one.

They build a nest of stones, grass, and bones where two eggs are laid. Next, both parents will take turns incubating the eggs and raising their chicks. Incubation takes around  32 – 34 days. Then, the non-caring parent goes out fishing for food. Fishing trips can be 7 – 18 days. Due to the long periods between feeding, only the strongest of the two chicks will often survive due to starvation.

Once chicks are around three weeks old, they will be moved to a creche with all the other chicks from the same colony. Adult Rockhoppers will take turns caring for and protecting the growing chicks. 

Predators 

Rockhoppers, like all other penguins, face predators. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predation from various birds, such as giant petrels, gulls, and skuas. These predatory birds are always hovering around, flying over penguin colonies, waiting for an opportunity to steal an egg or a young chick. In addition, adult penguins are prey for leopard seals, fur seals and killer whales when swimming in the ocean.

Conservation Status

Rockhoppers are “vulnerable”. Their population has decreased by 30% over the past 30 years, particularly in the Falkland Islands (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  

There are several threats to penguin populations, including:

1. Climate change: Rising sea temperatures and changing ocean currents can disrupt the availability of the small fish and squid penguins rely on for food.
2. Pollution: Plastic and other forms of pollution can harm and kill penguins through ingestion or entanglement.
3. Habitat loss: Coastal development, oil spills, and overfishing can destroy penguin habitats.
4. Invasive species: Non-native predators such as cats, rats, and foxes can prey on penguin eggs and chicks, reducing breeding success.
5. Disease: Some viruses and bacteria can infect penguin populations, leading to declining numbers.
6. Human disturbance: Tourism and commercial fishing activities can also negatively impact penguin colonies by disturbing breeding sites and altering food availability.

Conservation efforts

There are several conservation efforts in place to protect penguin populations, including:

1. Habitat protection: Setting aside protected areas for penguins and their habitats, such as marine reserves and national parks.
2. Pollution reduction: Implementing laws and regulations to reduce and clean up existing pollution.
3. Invasive species management: Eradicating non-native predators from penguin breeding islands and implementing measures to prevent their reintroduction.
4. Disease management: Monitoring and controlling outbreaks of disease in penguin populations.
5. Education and awareness: Raising awareness about penguins’ threats and the importance of conservation through education and public outreach programs.
6. Research: Conduct scientific research to better understand penguin biology and ecology and inform conservation management decisions.
7. Human disturbance management: Implementing measures to minimize the impact of tourism and commercial activities on penguin colonies, such as limiting the number of visitors, creating buffer zones around breeding sites, and implementing regulations.
8. Climate change mitigation: Encourage policies and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming.
9. Rehabilitation and reintroduction: Rehabilitating injured or oiled penguins and reintroducing them to the wild and captive breeding programs to boost populations.