Diving for Dinner

The Crittercam team is deep in the bitter cold of Antarctica. It is working here with scientists. They are studying what the world’s largest penguin eats. The emperor penguin looks like he is dressed in a fancy suit for a dinner party. But no one really knows just where these penguins eat their meals. That changes when the Crittercam catches it all on film!

Scientists already know that emperor penguins make “yo-yo” dives when they search for food. They dive down for several dozen meters. Then they zoom up near the surface and back down again. Finally, they come up for air. But when were they catching their fish? Was it deep in the water? Was it near the surface? Crittercam has the answer!

What the Crittercam Found The Crittercam team attached the cameras to the penguins using special harnesses. Each penguin wore a camera like a backpack. When the birds were ready, they dove into the sea through holes in the ice.

The team learned that the penguins dive down and then turn to look up at the ice overhead. Against the bright white of the ice, they can easily spot their favorite fish. They go up to grab a meal. Then they go down again for another look at the ice. The penguins make a few of these food-finding trips. Then the penguins pop out of the water with stomachs bulging full of fish.

The Crittercam team also strapped cameras pointing in the other direction on some penguins. Why? So they can find out what was happening behind the penguins. The reason for this is because scientists wondered if penguins fish on their own or in groups. What did they find out? These penguins dine alone!

Crittercams on emperor penguins