Poop scoop: Satellite images reveal Antarctic penguin haunts
By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press 2 hrs ago



Markings points to a patch of penguin guano on an image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite mission Aug. 26, 2019. British scientists say they've confirmed that there are more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than previously thought. Researchers at the British Antarctic Survey used satellite images to spot tell-tale evidence of bird droppings. (Copernicus Sentinel-2/ESA via AP)

Copernicus Sentinel-2/ESA

BERLIN (AP) — British scientists say there are more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than previously thought based on evidence of bird droppings spotted from space.

A study published Wednesday by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey counted 61 emperor penguin colonies dotted around the southernmost continent, 11 more than the number previously confirmed.

Scientists used images from Europe's Sentinel-2 satellite mission to look for smudges on the ice that indicated large amounts of guano, or penguin poop.

The majestic emperor penguin breeds in remote areas where temperatures can drop as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit). Researchers have long relied on aerial photographs and satellites to spot colonies of the flightless marine birds.

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