QUESTION:
How do penguins protect their babies from the skuas?

        From Patricia O., PA

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

Dear Patricia,

Penguins protect their chicks by lying on top of them when they are 
newly hatched.   The chicks grow rapidly and will only be covered, or 
brooded, by the adult for about one week.   For two more weeks, until 
the chick is about three weeks old, the parents will guard the chicks 
by hovering over them.  The parents are alert to the hunting skuas, 
however the skuas will try to distract the penguins by flying low or 
even trying to pull at their tail feathers while they are lying over 
their eggs or small chicks.  Occasionally, a penguin that has larger 
chicks will try to run off skuas who approach a colony on the ground.

Thanks for your question!
Donna