The Adelie penguin migrates to sea in the Antarctic winter where it lives amongst the pack ice consuming its preferred food – krill. During the Antarctic summer, from October to February these medium-sized penguins return to the exposed rocky shores of Antarctica where they breed in large colonies.

By mid-November, after making a nest of pebbles, the female lays two eggs and the male takes turns with the female incubating the eggs. The chicks hatch in December and are fledged with their adult feathers in February when they head to the sea.

The cold Antarctic waters are dangerous with leopard seals stalking the penguins.

Being well adapted to the cold climate 2.5 million pairs of Adelie penguins live in the Antarctic region and are relatively secure in their population.