Penguins: Spy In The Huddle

Three of the 17 penguin species go to extraordinary lengths to reach their barely accessible and/or inhospitable breeding grounds and produce offspring there. The emperor penguin makes an expedition on foot over the murderous surface of Antarctica. The rock penguin braves surf and steep cliffs at the rocky, barren Falklands coast. The Humboldt penguin passes huge, hostile seals to breed in the Chilean desert.

The three penguin species have laid eggs and seen most hatch, for the less fortunate it's a huge waste of energy. But the parents face continuous major threats to themselves and their young, from the elements, obstacles and predators.

The three penguin species' hatchlings grow fast into lively, mobile chicks, which are soon forced to learn while they grow, cared for ever less by the parents, who need to go fishing. They still face continuous major threats, mainly from parasites and predators. The chicks must soon contend with various obstacles to reach the sea and start fishing their own food.