Do Penguins Watching JetsTopple?

L O N D O N,  Nov. 2 -- Do penguins fall over backwardswhen watching aircraft fly overhead?

Two British scientists are traveling to South Georgia inthe south Atlantic to find answers to that question and othersfrom a study of the island’s 400,000 King Penguins.

Falling Over Backwards

Scientists have usually been skeptical about reports ofpenguins falling over backwards to watch aircraft flying abovethem.

But a senior officer on the British navy ship HMS Endurance,which is taking the scientific team to South Georgia, said hebelieved the reports.

“The penguins always look up at the helicopters and followthem all the way until they fall over backwards,” StuartMatthews, the ship’s operations officer, told the DailyTelegraph.

Aircraft May Disrupt Breeding

Dr Richard Stone of the British Antarctic Survey said that scientists were concerned that low-flying aircraftcould cause stress among penguins and affect their breedingperformance.

“There may be an increase in heart rate as helicopters flyover,” Stone said.

“The worst possible effect is that there would be areduction in their breeding performance. If they were incubatingeggs this could be quite devastating for them.”

Stone said helicopters from HMS Endurance would fly atdifferent altitudes over the penguins to help in the research.