Penguin Pete's Diary
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24/1/01 - Bechervaise Island
The RSV Aurora Australis came in today. They had to drop off a wintering expeditioner (Lyn, who I worked with last summer), and calibrate some instruments in quiet water. The ship has been working off the coast of Mawson for the last 3 weeks searching for krill as part of a predator/prey study. We have been collecting data on the predators (penguins) by putting trackers on lots of birds to see where they are going to feed, then catching them when they return, and taking a sample of their stomach contents to see what they have been catching and eating. The ship has also been looking at the behaviour of krill swarms. Unfortunately our other boat, the Polar Bird (ice strengthened, but not an ice breaker like the Aurora), has been stuck in ice off Casey station for the last 3 weeks, and doesn't look like budging. The krill survey has had to be cut short to allow the Aurora to go and break ice for the Polar Bird.
Arrival of the RSV Aurora. The crane is up as they are preparing to launch their work boat to assist in mooring.
We viewed proceedings from the top of Bechervaise Is.
