Home»Other Lands»Patagonia 2012 Obsolete»Magellanic Penguins & Skua in the Beagle Channel 11/1/2012

In 1996 (???) there was a big snowstorm. It killed many sheep and trees, and seems to have changed the ecology of the region. Estancia Harberton, an historic land grant, had always relied on raising sheep as its primary activity; this looked increasingly problematic. But the change in climate brought a colony of Magellanic Penguins to an island there. They changed their business model from sheep to tourism (a more sophisticated sheep??), and seem to be doing well. Isla Yécapasela (this is the native name; Isla Martillo on many maps) is home to Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) and the Skua (Catharacta chilensis) who prey on them.