apusupa
Active member
As the result of my private initiative and with the wonderful support of my german friends (fascinated by the ecosystem of the Antarctic and penguins in general) the world's first bird webcam on the antarctic continent is now online (since 27th september 2004).
What, how and where?
A 100% weatherproof "MOBOTIX M10 Secure Dual" network cam will document the breeding activities of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) near the German Antarctic Research Station O'Higgins (north of the antarctic peninsula). The pictures are updated every 30 minutes by satellite. The first penguins arrived in middle of october, the last ones will leave in april. The camera was sponsored by about 20 people all over germany including a very creative school class which produced some very nice handcrafts (for example very beautiful penguins). These pieces of handicraft work could be sold for ~ 350 euro (!) and the children are now very proud to have supported the worldwide first animal webcam on the antarctic continent! of course the got very interested in the Antarctic now and observe almost everyday the penguins from school!
Why this camera?
Most of us will never travel to these remote places and fascinating but highly sensitive ecosystems. Anyway I just wanted to create the chance for all interested people to observe a small spot on the antarctic peninsula. I made some advertisement on Linux-Forums (the Linux operating system has a penguin as it's symbol), especially to users of Gentoo-Linux which is a very highend solution distribution of Linux. This was maybe the first good result of this cam: to get some hardcore PC-freaks interested in nature which isn't an easy job! One Linux user supports us now with a server for our picture database.
Apart from the gentoos you can regular see Chionis Alba, White Sheatbills, strolling around.
I wish you interesting observations |=)| of this place so far from our home!
Sometimes you can see not much on the webcam pic. Reasons might be:
1. Snow in combination with storm/hurricane (occures very often!) has covered the lens
2. Salty spray from the ocean (just a few meters apart) has left a thin layer of crystals on the lens. It disappears automatically after the next snowfall or rain (during summer)
3. It's night
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Webcam Link: Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) webcam
=====> http://www.martingrund.de/pinguine/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
At last 3 short time lapse videos made of the pics (some MB -- only for broadband users!)
Macromedia Flash-Animation:
[size=-1]http://www.einbecker-wetterstation.de/Videos/01.swf
http://www.einbecker-wetterstation.de/Videos/02.swf
DivX-Video:
http://www.einbecker-wetterstation.de/Videos/higgins_10_11_2004.avi[/size]
What, how and where?
A 100% weatherproof "MOBOTIX M10 Secure Dual" network cam will document the breeding activities of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) near the German Antarctic Research Station O'Higgins (north of the antarctic peninsula). The pictures are updated every 30 minutes by satellite. The first penguins arrived in middle of october, the last ones will leave in april. The camera was sponsored by about 20 people all over germany including a very creative school class which produced some very nice handcrafts (for example very beautiful penguins). These pieces of handicraft work could be sold for ~ 350 euro (!) and the children are now very proud to have supported the worldwide first animal webcam on the antarctic continent! of course the got very interested in the Antarctic now and observe almost everyday the penguins from school!
Why this camera?
Most of us will never travel to these remote places and fascinating but highly sensitive ecosystems. Anyway I just wanted to create the chance for all interested people to observe a small spot on the antarctic peninsula. I made some advertisement on Linux-Forums (the Linux operating system has a penguin as it's symbol), especially to users of Gentoo-Linux which is a very highend solution distribution of Linux. This was maybe the first good result of this cam: to get some hardcore PC-freaks interested in nature which isn't an easy job! One Linux user supports us now with a server for our picture database.
Apart from the gentoos you can regular see Chionis Alba, White Sheatbills, strolling around.
I wish you interesting observations |=)| of this place so far from our home!
Sometimes you can see not much on the webcam pic. Reasons might be:
1. Snow in combination with storm/hurricane (occures very often!) has covered the lens
2. Salty spray from the ocean (just a few meters apart) has left a thin layer of crystals on the lens. It disappears automatically after the next snowfall or rain (during summer)
3. It's night
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Webcam Link: Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) webcam
=====> http://www.martingrund.de/pinguine/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
At last 3 short time lapse videos made of the pics (some MB -- only for broadband users!)
Macromedia Flash-Animation:
[size=-1]http://www.einbecker-wetterstation.de/Videos/01.swf
http://www.einbecker-wetterstation.de/Videos/02.swf
DivX-Video:
http://www.einbecker-wetterstation.de/Videos/higgins_10_11_2004.avi[/size]