QUESTION:
Do the Adelie penguins balance their eggs on their feet similar 
to the Emperor penguins? How long can they balance them?

        From Patricia O'Brien's Class
             6 AT Team
             Mechanicsburg, PA

       
ANSWER from Donna Patterson, Research Assistant, Dr. Fraser's Team
            Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Fri, 21 Feb 1997 16:10:33 -0500

Dear Students,

No, Adelie penguins do not balance their eggs on their feet as the 
Emperor penguins do.  Adelie penguins build rock nests and typically 
lay two eggs.  They have a brood patch on their stomach which 
is an area of bare skin without feathers.  This brood patch keeps the 
eggs warm during the length of incubation - about 33 days.  The 
parent will lie down on top of the eggs until they hatch, and will 
even keep the chicks warm the same way until they are about one week
old.   Emperor penguins balance the egg on their feet for the entire 
incubation period, or about 65 days.  Since the female must go feed 
after laying the single egg, the male balances the egg during the 
entire length of incubation.

Thanks for your question!
Donna