The first egg was spotted near the Ukrainian Arctic station, where several thousand penguins gathered. Photo

The first egg has been spotted near the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base, where several thousand penguins have gathered. According to the polar explorers, the chick will hatch in a little over a month.

This wonderful "gift" was found by a biologist of the 29th UAE Svitozar Davydenko. The researchers reported this on the center's Facebook page.

"I knew by the date that the first egg was about to appear. So I purposefully searched for and checked the nests, because we need to record the exact date. With this date, we can track whether there are any changes over the years and how it depends on external conditions, including climate change," said Svitozar Davydenko, whose job is to monitor the success of penguin reproduction.

The scientist also shared a life hack on how to quickly detect a nest with an egg. "During the nesting season, when biologists make their rounds and approach the nests, the penguins usually move away. If they behave on the contrary – when a scientist approaches them, they stay on the nest and press firmly against it, then there is an egg there," Svitozar said on the National Antarctic Science Center's website.

According to Ukrainian polar explorers, Galindez Island, where the Vernadsky is located, is home to mostly sub-Antarctic penguins, which usually lay 2 eggs, rarely 3. "But this does not happen simultaneously. Males and females take turns hatching them," the experts emphasize.

The Vernadsky researchers note that there is a lot of snow on the island now, so not all penguin nests are paved yet. But those located on the hills are already suitable for hatching eggs.

"The first egg appeared in such a nest – on a rock near the laboratory where our scientists continuously receive radio frequencies to study geocosmos. So, while the future penguin is still in the egg, signals from faraway places on our planet are already reaching it," Ukrainian polar explorers say.

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