Mr. Daniel Zitterbart, a doctoral student at the University of Erlangen-Nüremberg in Germany, and fellow researchers spent a winter monitoring the movements of the birds at Dronning Maud Land, the Antarctic.
They observed that the birds huddle together to withstand the minus 50 degrees Celsius temperature and chilly winds of up to 180 kilometers an hour for 110 days.
Furthermore, the penguins, most of whom are fathers protecting an egg on their feet, move forward in unison 5 to 10 centimeters every 30 to 60 seconds.
In this way, they are constantly shifting positions, so that no one is situated for too long at the edge, where the wind is highest.
Our thankfulness, Mr. Daniel Zitterbart and team, for shedding light on this ingenious group arrangement of our gentle feathered friends. May beautiful Emperor Penguins continue to flourish and bless our planet for eons to come.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/06/03/Penguins-do-the-wave-to-stay-warm/UPI-30241307125969/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/warm-penguins-wave/ http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/1001665BF