Call Sea World's PR department in San Diego and ask to talk to one of the "bird people" there and then ask them how they protect their cameras when they are doing penguin censuses.

We used to use an external battery that was right next to our bodies (under layers of clothing) to keep them warm (they do not perform well when cold). There is also a technique for keeping the camera lens in a "cold locker" between uses, only bringing in the film (or memory card) with the battery between shoots.
References :
proFotog