Update #7
13 - 23 February 2003

Our weather continues to change here as we steadily approach the beginning of winter.  Our daily temperatures are now reaching -7º C, and the winds have been blowing on many days by as much as 45-50 knots (55 mph), with gust over 60 knots.  In fact, as I write this today, it is a blizzard outside with winds above 40 knots and snow blowing to near white-out conditions.  It makes one wonder if we'll ever be able to get out of here when the ship arrives, but hopefully this storm will pass and the weather will clear in time.

The snow has been piling up at Casey Station this month.	A blizzard at Casey Station--view from front of red shed.

The penguins also know that winter is approaching. The last of the chicks are now beginning to fledge, or become independent of their parents and go to sea for the first time.  Groups of chicks, recognized by their white throats (adults have black throats) gather on the beach--their parents are no longer feeding them and they are getting hungry and know that they have to go to sea.  Eventually, one chick leads the way into the surf and the others follow excitedly.  They all then rush into the sea and try to swim with their heads above water, not yet realizing that they can swim better and more efficiently if they go under the water. After they are out 100 meters or more, they began to realize this as they sink and move better underwater.

A chick begs for one of its last meals from its parent.	A fledgling on Shirley Island--note the white throats and remnants of down still on these chicks.

During all the bad weather, we've been able to process lots of our samples in the lab.  We spend hours looking through the microscope to sort out the tiny fish otoliths and squid beaks, more evidence of past penguin diet. We also processed all the samples from Peterson Island this past week. Sure enough, they were rich in squid beaks supporting our idea that the younger sites will have more of these because they break down over time and are gone in the older sites.  Now we just need the radiocarbon dates to verify the age of the sites.

Fledglings gathering at the beach and getting ready for their first swim.	Rodney and Michele sorting sediments in the lab.

Besides working in the lab, I also had my share of station duties. I spent two days as a 'slushie', or kitchen helper.  This duty entails helping the cooks prepare meals, washing pots and pans, pealing potatoes, sweeping and mopping floors, wiping tables, and in general doing anything in the kitchen that needs to be done.  All of us take turns at doing this--it's the only way to keep things going at small stations where there's not enough space to bring in people just to do kitchen or other duties all the time.  The work is actually kind of fun and different from the usual routine.

A slushie washing dishes in the kitchen at Casey Station.	The chef (black cap) and a slushie preparing dinner.

Also, since there is not so much to report in this update, I thought I would share with you some of the words and phrases that Australians use that are unfamiliar to us.  So, I have put together a lexicon (alphabetical list of definitions) of some of the more common words and phrases we've learned during our time here.  As you'll see, they also like to shorten many words, often adding "ie" or "y" to the end.  Here is a brief lexicon of Australian terms and phrases:

arvo = afternoon
biscuit = cookie
biccies = bisquits
bloke = man, that guy, e.g., Who is that bloke over there?
boffins = scientists
breakkie = breakfast
chippie = carpenter
cobber = friend, e.g., Hey cobber, how are ya?
come a cropper = trip or fall over or off something
cuppa = cup of tea
donga = bedroom
fair dinkum = really
feral = gnarly
gone off = spoiled, e.g., This milk has gone off.
jolly = day off (with some work), e.g., We're going to Robo's Hut this weekend for a jolly.
no worries = no problem, or no sweat
no wuckers = no worries
odeon = theatre
sanger = sandwich
sarvo = this afternoon
shocker = screw up
sparky = electrician
sunnies = sun glasses
ta = thanks
tradies = tradesmen

I'll be able to provide one more update before we get on the ship and leave Casey Station early next month.  After that, I won't have access to the internet until we reach Hobart, but I should be able to provide more information on our travels in Tasmania and our trip home before it's all over..

Steve Emslie