At the "Vernadsky" station, a thousand penguin chicks were born. Check out these fascinating feeding moments captured on video!

On the island near the Antarctic Vernadsky Station, researchers have counted the first hatchlings of 2025. Scientists found about 1,000 chicks but hope that the number will be at least seven times greater. In a video recorded by Antarctic researchers, an unexpected feeding process of the chicks can be seen. An interesting story about the birds appeared on the Facebook page of the National Antarctic Scientific Center.

Polar explorers reported that after the New Year, penguins began to hatch near the Antarctic station on Galindez Island. As of January 11, approximately one thousand have already been counted. It is expected that there will be more, as some chicks have yet to emerge from their eggs. In the video published on the center's page, the feeding process of the chicks is shown. We see how an adult bird approaches a chick that has just started chirping and asking for food. The adult then lowers its head, opens its beak, and the head of a barely noticeable gray chick disappears inside. Moments later, the head reappears, no longer chirping but swallowing something. Scientists explained that the chicks are fed by regurgitating undigested food from the esophagus into the beak. They also added that the main diet of the penguins and chicks consists of krill.

Interesting Facts About Birds — How Penguins Live in Antarctica

Biologist Svyatoslav Davidenko from the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition (UAE) shared some details about the life of a penguin colony on Galindez Island. He explained that most pairs incubate two eggs. However, the chicks do not hatch simultaneously. As a result, some chicks are nearly the size of adults, while others are barely noticeable gray balls of fluff.

"They are very different right now: some have just hatched, while others are already big and almost the size of their parents," — said Svyatoslav.

In a note from the Antarctic station, it was mentioned that last year, seven thousand chicks hatched on the island, meaning that the current process is just beginning. Scientists also added that the penguins living near the station are not emperors but sub-Antarctic penguins, also known as "jackass" penguins. This unusual name arose due to the loud sounds they make.

It is worth noting that in November, Svyatoslav Davidenko showed the penguins that were incubating eggs. He also explained why scientists are searching for the nests of these birds and counting the future brood. As it turns out, the data is collected to understand how climate change and human activity affect Antarctic birds.

We remind you that Live Science reported on a bird known as the "butcher of the feathered world" due to its particular cruelty towards its prey.