So this is its own post because of how lovely the context of the entire experience was.
We were told by our Expedition team leaders that the mating and hatching season of the Emperor Penguins was already over, which meant that we would be be able to see any during our time in Antarctica.
Well one fine afternoon, as we moseyed around the ship deck watching the beautiful scenery, we saw a solitary penguin riding along on its own throne of an iceberg.
As it turns out, this was in fact a teenage emperor penguin!
Apparently, after Emperor penguins reach a certain age of maturity (hence "teenager"), they leave the colony and go exploring on their own for up to 3 years. A penguin Rumspringa!
How wonderful - this brave lonewolf of a penguin was out on his own adventure in Antarctica, just like the rest of us expeditioners.
Our ornithologist expedition leader was extra excited because this was his first time seeing an Emperor penguin in the wild while in Antarctica. Fortuitous indeed
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