Penguin Family Life

Cherry Kearton specialised in animal photography, havingtaken the first ever photograph of a bird's nest with eggs in 1892. In thesummer of 1896 he and his brother, a naturalist, reached the islands of St. Kilda and many other remote places. In 1898 their famousbook, With Nature and a Camera, illustrated by 160 photographs, Published inLondon. Cherry Kearton contributed photographs to seventeen of RichardKearton's books, and wrote and illustrated a further seventeen titles of hisown.He made the first phonograph recording of birds (anightingale and a song thrush) singing in the wild in 1900; took the first filmof London from the air in 1908, and the first footage of hostilities in theFirst World War at Antwerp in 1914. Cherry and Richard Kearton are perhaps bestremembered for the development of naturalistic photographic hides, includingthe hollow ox of 1900 and the stuffed sheep of 1901.

PenguinFamily Life CherryKearton’s 1920’sStudy of PenguinsTheauthor of this book, Cherry Kearton from Thwaite/Mucker in upper Swaledale inthe Yorkshire Dales was the David Attenborough of his time at a time whenwildlife photography was in its infancy. Hespent a lot of his time devising new methods of gaining ever better vantagepoints for photographing wildlife. These ranged from sitting in trees,abseiling down cliff faces, to constructing ever more elaborate hides. Asresearch for this book the author used the unusual approach of living in apenguin colony of three quarter of a million for a period of five months livingin a tent amongst them. During this time the author and the penguins almostdeveloped ‘family’ relationship with each other and the author even gave namesto individual penguins which were appropriate to each of the penguin’scharacteristics and personalities. The book is written in a very clear, concisemanner whereby the study of the wildlife is written explained in context andthe reader can really feel’ the experience of having been in the Antarctic.Having lived there for nearly three years the experience is very difficult toexplain but this book meets the description of the experience in a true andconcise manner.Overthe period of time (five months), the author was able to identify with thepenguin’s individuality and also their affection within the family group aswell as their parenting skillsThereare many books written about the Antarctic and they all have their owndifferent ‘slant’ about the way that the Antarctic is portrayed. Having livedand worked there myself when we still use dogs (huskies) I can emphasise withthe comments and ethos of those who served in the Antarctic as the Antarctic isa cruel mistress.Anybodywho has spent time in the Antarctic is worthy of respect and this includes thatauthor of this book. Kearton was there when the chances of rescue was very slimbut he put his life at risk purely to study these fascinating creaturesTheauthor has a very ‘easy’ gentle writing style, supported by appropriatephotographs which makes for very enjoyable reading without losing any of thedetailThisbook is must for budding naturalists or for people who think that one penguinis much like another and offers  aninteresting and valuable insight into these fascinating creatures.Reviewed by Steve Wroe ex BritishAntarctic Survey