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Magellanic penguin populations in the Falkland Islands may have decreased over the past decade. The post‐breeding migration may be the period in which the birds are most vulnerable. To investigate this we equipped ten Magellanic Penguins after their moult at Seal Bay (51d̀38'S, 58d̀03'W), East Falkland, with satellite transmitters. The movements of the penguins were tracked for between 15 and 99 days until transmission ceased. All birds initially migrated to the northwest. However, four birds entered Argentinean coastal waters, then headed northeast following the coastline, The other penguins remained offshore, but also changed to a northeasterly course. Two birds migrated beyond 36d̀S with a maximum distance to the colony of more than 1800 km, while the minimum distance travelled was up to 2700 km. Initially, the birds migrated quickly but their speed was reduced and became more variable as time progressed. A high concentration of positional fixes, associated with low travelling speeds, indicated at least four different areas where birds were assumed to forage efficiently. The relevance of these areas is discussed with respect to the diet of Magellanic Penguins and possible interactions with human activities.

In 3 successive years (1998 to 2000), the winter migration of rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome from 3 separate breeding colonies on the Falkland Islands was monitored using satellite transmitters. After their moult, 34 penguins were followed for a mean transmission period of 81 ± 21 d. While there were substantial spatial and temporal variations in migration patterns, we identified several foraging areas where food availability is presumably higher than elsewhere.

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The foraging patterns of ten male rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome from the Falkland Islands were recorded during the incubation period by using satellite telemetry. Irrespective of study site and year, two different foraging areas could be identified. Three foraging trips were directed towards the slope of the Patagonian Shelf c. 140 km to the northeast of the breeding colony and these trips had a duration of 11–15 days. The seven other rockhopper penguins travelled c. 400 km towards the edge of the Falkland Islands’ waters; all these foraging trips followed an anti‐clockwise direction and lasted 16–27 days. The calculated mean daily travelling speed, based on the time spent underwater and the distance covered between two positions, was significantly higher in birds travelling to the edge of the Falkland Islands’ waters compared with those foraging at the shelf slope (4.4±1.6 km/h vs. 3.4±2.0 km/h, respectively). The consistent foraging patterns exhibited during the long trips may be linked to the Falklands current, allowing the penguins to reach remote areas while reducing their energy expenditure. Potential interactions between commercial fisheries and hydrocarbon exploration are discussed.

ABSTRACT1. Falkland Islands' tourism is evolving at an increasing pace. A record number of passengers, 23 497, visited the Islands during the 1999-2000 season. This rise was due to an increase in both the frequency of vessel visits and the average passenger capacity of vessels, with the number of luxury cruise ships of >1000 passengers steadily increasing. The Falklands' industry is made up of three types of vessel: the expedition cruise vessels (ca. 100-200 passengers); larger cruise vessels (ca. 400 passengers), and the luxury cruise vessels (ca. 1000 passengers).2. The cruise ship industry has seen a diversification within the market, with cruises now available to a wider audience thus increasing the need for new experiences and landing sites. A similar diversification is being seen within the Islands themselves as the capacity to take larger vessels at remote sites is being developed. Whilst the expedition cruise vessels visiting the Islands are operating to high environmental standards as members of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), vessels with 400+ passengers may not become members of IAATO, due to Article III of the organization's Bylaws which limits the number of passengers. These larger capacity vessels are therefore not subject to the same self-regulating guidelines. The implications of increasing passenger numbers in the islands are discussed with regard to pressures on both the wildlife and vegetation.3. This study outlines the need for an island-wide approach and a legislative framework to ensure high standards of operation are adhered to within the Islands from all visiting vessels and that accurate information is provided to all visitors along with a suitable code of conduct. The collection, collation and analysis of visitor data to identify trends and implement appropriate management strategies, and further research into the potential impacts of tourism on wildlife in the Falklands are also recommended.

ABSTRACT1. During the breeding season 1998/99 the foraging movements of magellanic penguins breeding at Seal Bay to the northeast of the Falkland Islands were tracked using satellite transmitters.2. The penguins studied foraged for varying time periods of between 1 and over 67 days. Foraging trips generally followed a looping course and distance from the colony increased with the duration of the foraging trip. The area most frequented was to the northeast of the colony.3. Typically, penguins travelled in an anti-clockwise direction, i.e. birds left the colony on an easterly course and returned from a westerly direction. This pattern may be linked to the main current surrounding the Falkland Islands.4. Two birds headed further north and foraged over the Patagonian Shelf and along the continental slope up to 418S.5. Average daily activity of the birds ranged between 32 and 53%, with a tendency to be slightly higher during foraging trips of less than a week.6. Average travelling speeds ranged between 2.2 and 6.6 km/h, being significantly higher in birds with foraging trips lasting more than a week. Maximum travelling speeds achieved were occasionally higher than 12 km/h, always achieved by birds foraging for more than 20 days, consequently moving further away from the colony and becoming associated with the prevailing currents.7. The implications of the findings are discussed with respect to potential threats from human activities in the area, namely oil exploration and fisheries.