Most people’s image of Emperor Penguin is of Father Emperor Penguin incubating a large egg cradled between his feet, in the dark Antarctic winter. His act of caring is one of the most remarkable feats in the natural world. In May (the fall in Antarctica), Mother Emperor Penguin lays her egg, and passes the egg on to her mate. While She goes back to sea to feed, Father Emperor Penguin with his Comrades gather together to incubate their eggs. Fasting for fifteen weeks, He tenaciously cradles his egg in the Antarctic winter. When Mother Emperor Penguin returns, They greet each other with a raucous chorus. While Father Emperor Penguin returns to the sea to feed, She hatches the egg and broods their Chick.
Emperor Penguin survives in some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth. Not only is He the largest Seabird, Emperor Penguin is also the hardiest. Living on the Antarctic ice pack, He endures below-zero temperatures and hurricane force winds. By living in a huge rookery, Emperor Penguin is protected by his Comrades. In cold weather, They will bunch together, resting their beaks on the shoulders of the Birds in front of Them.
Unlike other Penguins, Emperor Penguin has no territory; instead He lives together with others, sheltering them from storms. Each Father Emperor Penguin shuffles along the outside edge of the group until all the Fathers have had outside duty. Then he seeks relief by going to the inside of the group. Every Emperor Penguin takes turns shielding his companions.
Learn from Emperor Penguin how to cooperate together for the greater good. What you give, you also get back, much like Emperor Penguins who relieve each other in their shielding and parenting duties. Cooperating with each other is the lesson that Emperor Penguin teaches.
Emperor Penguin’s Teachings Also Include:
“Consciously bridging the worlds via our dreams is a skill afforded by the Emperor Penguin. Emperor Penguin Dreaming instructs us in the art of Lucid Dreaming.” Copyright: “Animal Messengers” by Scott Alexander King
Buy emperor penguin books and such for children from Amazon.com.
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family. This courtship will begin with a long journey – a journey that will take them hundreds of miles across the continent by foot, in freezing cold temperatures, in brittle, icy winds and through deep, treacherous waters. They will risk starvation and attack by dangerous predators, under the harshest conditions on earth, all to find true love.
Directed by: Luc Jacquet
As told by: Morgan Freeman
Cast: Introducing the Emperor Penguins
This film is rated G.
Check out the official movie site: March of the Penguins
Emperor Penguin Photo copyrighted by 1000 pictures
Va. Carper
February 5, 2008