Dispatches: Greetings from the Falklands

I?m arriving in the Falkland Islands riding a tsunami of storylines: Prince William is here; a 167 billion dollar oil well may lie offshore; Argentina?s steadfast claim to the islands has escalated, just as the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War nears. I?m here to find out why these tiny islands off Argentina?s southeast coast spark such passion. So far, the answer isn?t an easy one, and comes with it?s own wave of realizations.
For starters, the islands only look small on a globe, and their largest contingent of residents are neither British nor Argentine, and outnumber the island?s locals by millions to one. They?re also rather photogenic, curious and quite smelly. Sure, the birds of the Falkland Islands are lost to today?s headlines, but to step foot on the islands, to walk among them, and it?s clear they?re the starting point to any Falkland?s story. After all, they were here first.



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Photo by: Eddy Patricelli

Here?s a peek at a few of the birds on Bleaker Island, one of 776 lesser islands that comprise the Falkland Islands. Did I mention this region isn?t tiny?
Pictured: Rockhopper Penguins aren?t shy ? especially the juveniles. One of them walked right up and nibbled on my jeans. Here ISLANDS photographer Jon Whittle orchestrates a photo shoot with willing models. His final take: ?Best day of shooting ever!? 
 ?Eddy Patricelli

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