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Antarctica - Antarctica

The vast majority of visitors reach Antarctica via group tours most of them by ship from Ushuaia. Smaller ships (few than 100 passengers) offer far more time ashore, and guests are generally free to wander around landing sites. Larger ships – which would cause much greater environmental problems and pose enormous rescue challenges in case of an accident – offer greater comfort and less movement in heavy seas, and also cross the Drake Passage much faster. Only a few bird species breed in Antarctica, among them are penguin species – Emperor, Adélie and Gentoo – and Snow Petrels, Antarctic Petrels and South Polar Skuas. Approximately 45 species of birds breed south of the Antarctic Convergence, including seven of the 17 species of penguins. Compared to Antarctica’s relative barrenness, the Southern Ocean teems with life. With krill as the basis of its food web, the Southern Ocean supports a wealth of fish, seal, whale and seabird species. Of interest among Antarctica’s marine life are the marine mammals: whales and seals. Text supplied by, and for further information, visit Lonely Planet

Snow Petrel © Pete Morris/Birdquest

Trip Reports Crozet Islands, author Hugh Venables (link created September 21, 2005) (Amazing trip, 37 'tubenose' species including both Northern and Southern Royal Albatross) Antarctica Dec 2008, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 7, 2011) (This epic journey to Antarctica included the Falklands & South Georgia) Antarctica - Nov 2009, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 7, 2011) Antarctica Jan 2010, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 7, 2011) (Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia ) Antarctica and Southern South America - February 2010, author Allan Conlin (link created March 14, 2010) (Albatrosses,Petrels and Shearwaters) Antarctic Peninsula - 25th November - 7th December 2006, author Nigel Voaden (added January 5, 2007) (The Drake Passage has a reputation for being one of the stormiest parts of the world's oceans) Antarctica from an Expedition Cruise Ship - 19th December 2011 – 3rd January 2012 , author Dave Horton (added January 14, 2012) (7 Penguin species and 5 Albatross along with most species expected ) Prince Edward Island and the Antarctic Pack Ice, November 2002, author Graeme Wallace (link created August 29, 2004) Prince Edward Island, the Antarctic Pack Ice and South African Cape, November 2002 (Part one), author Ian Merrill (added August 29, 2004) Birding the Antarctic by George Cobel, author George Cobel (added August 29, 2004) (with photos) Prince Edward Island, the Antarctic Pack Ice and South African Cape, Nov 02 (Part two), author Ian Merrill (added August 29, 2004) Prince Edward Island, the Antarctic Pack Ice and South African Cape, Nov 02 (Part three), author Ian Merrill (added August 29, 2004) The Atlantic Odyssey - 16th March - 26th April 2009, author Pete Morris (link created August 15, 2009) (Our Birdquest journey of 7,070 nautical miles gave us an unparalled opportunity to observe the multitude of sea-birds of the southern oceans) Showing the 13 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted BACK TO TRIP REPORTS HOME PAGE POST A TRIP REPORT EDIT YOUR TRIP REPORTS

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