Inside a Penguin Huddle
In Inside a Penguin Huddle, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how male emperor penguins huddle together to keep warm, and to keep their eggs warm. But when a winter blizzard becomes too much for a group of the penguins, the males must move from one side of the huddle to the other without dropping their precious eggs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Dynasties, a documentary that follows endangered species fighting for their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: Why is the penguin’s huddle always on the move? What is the benefit of this?
A: The male penguins are constantly trying to get to the best spots in the huddle. This keeps the penguins moving and makes sure that they are sharing the good spots.
Q: What did you notice about how the penguins were communicating?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention that the penguins appeared to be talking to each other using various calls.
Q: What challenges did the penguins face in the storm?
A: The penguins faced the challenges of keeping themselves warm, keeping their eggs warm, and not dropping their eggs.
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In Emperor Penguins Return to the Colony, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how emperor penguins evade leopard seals to get back on the ice and back to their chicks. Learn how emperor penguins take care of their chicks and then return to the water. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Traversing Extreme Winters in Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how two animals, the Weddell seal and the emperor penguin, live in the extreme environment of Antarctica. Watch the aurora borealis in the northern and southern hemispheres. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Arctic Summer Visitors, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how and why animals arrive at the Arctic in summer. Learn about the guillemots and beluga whales that arrive in the Arctic in summer. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In King Penguins and Their Survival Suits, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights how king penguins go through a dramatic change on the remote South Georgia island. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.