Image of the Day

Galapagos Penguin, Bartolme, originally uploaded by f1nutter.

How to Keep Captive Penguins Happy

Little Penguin News

Island penguins are right little breeders

BY ALEX JOHNSON
8/09/2008 5:21:00 PM

MIDDLE Island's little penguin population is enjoying a resurgence with a once-in-a-decade early breeding season, according to a Deakin University expert.

Amanda Peucker, a PhD research student at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the Warrnambool campus, said the reason behind the early breeding remained a mystery.

``We went out (to Middle Island) two weeks ago expecting to see a few pairs of eggs and we found some chicks about to fledge (leave the nest).''

It takes about 36 days for the eggs to incubate and hatch, then another eight weeks for the chicks to grow adult feathers before they leave their burrow, she said.

She had counted eight chicks on Middle Island plus another three eggs that were yet to hatch last Tuesday.

She noticed that one of the eight chicks had already left the island two weeks ago to fend for itself in open water.

``Maybe they're some more experienced breeders or older breeders, I'm not really sure,'' she said of the chicks' parents.

Some penguins breed twice in the one season and were known as ``double brooders''.

``Maybe these eight chicks are just from those double brooders but this season, for some reason, they're really, really early,'' she said.

One reason for the early arrivals could be a bountiful supply of food being pushed up from the depths at the Bonney Upwelling, off the coast, she added.

About 10 chicks were counted last season and a similar number is expected this year.

One factor behind the strong numbers was the Maremma guard dog project which, she said, had kept foxes off the island and allowed the population to grow naturally.

She was confident that despite the dogs accidentally killing 10 birds last year, the Maremma project would continue to foster greater penguin numbers when the dogs returned in October.

Article courtesy of the Fairfax Standard @

http://warrnambool.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/island-penguins-are-right-little-breeders/1265402.aspx

Another Article on the Worn Hoiho (it's worth the read)

Hoiho on mend after a little R&R at wildlife ward



The hoiho takes a shower at it's last medical check in the wildlife ward.

One of the world's rarest penguins has enjoyed a three-week stay at the University's wildlife ward. After almost doubling its arrival weight, a young adult hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin) is to return to Otago tomorrow and, hopefully, find a mate.

Wildlife vet Dr Roberto Aguilar says the penguin was found extremely emaciated on the Wellington coast. It was initially cared for by the Native Bird Rescue Wellington Trust and was then moved to Massey's specialist wildlife facility.

“It was a young adult and whether it had swum or followed a wrong current, it was very thin and extremely dehydrated. It was doing what we call hock-sitting, where it is unable to stand up properly,” Dr Aguilar says.

Yellow-eyed penguins are a true sub-Antarctic species, Dr Aguilar says, and the penguin was either lost or at the very least wandering to have arrived at the North Island. Staff at the wildlife ward, which is sponsored by Shell New Zealand, did the usual medical tests but found nothing other than some parasites.

“We treated those and short of being debilitated there was nothing else wrong,” Dr Aguilar says. “It may just have had what we call mal-adaption, that is he just didn't know how to survive properly without access to proper food.

“We started feeding it, making sure it got enough energy and it started coming around pretty fast. It has gone from 3.5kg to 5.3kg and it's gaining about 100g a day. It now looks pudgy, which is good because it's the fat store that protects them from the environment.”

Although it is not known whether the penguin is male or female, it is being sent back to the Otago Peninsula early tomorrow, so that it will be able to find a mate.

Department of Conservation programme manager David Agnew says the penguin will be taken straight to a site where there are no dogs and the area is bordered by public conservation land.



“We will just let it go on the edge of the vegetation and allow it find its feet - find its way into the sea to fish when it is ready,” Mr Agnew says.

He says there are about 470 breeding pairs in the South Island, with the rest of the 6000-7000 population on Stewart and the sub-Antarctic islands. The penguin will be tagged so that if it is picked up again by the department its history will be available.

The penguin is named for its distinctive yellow headband and yellow iris, with the Maori name hoiho referring to its shrill call. Some hoiho can live until their 20s, with the birds reaching 65cm and 5.5kg.

News article courtesy of Massey University in New Zealand @

http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=hoiho-on-mend-after-a-little-rr-at-wildlife-ward-11-09-2008

Peep's artwork sells for a whopping $400!

Peep's Original Artwork Sold By Auction Network For $400
Art by Animals Auction for Wildlife Conservation Nets Over 20 Grand
by Thom L. Benson
posted September 18, 2008


Peep's work sells for $400.
One of the Tennessee Aquarium's gentoo penguins is now an accomplished artist after her original painting sold for $400. Peep's untitled watercolor was one of the numerous pieces up for sale during The Art by Animals auction.

The Auction Network, in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, held the first-ever auction featuring artwork created by animals. The three-hour event was broadcast live from Milwaukee, Wi., by AuctionNetwork.com as animal and art lovers from around the world bid in real-time on the unusual collection of paintings.

Throughout the event, the audience at the auction and viewers watching online were entertained and informed by the animal artists, their caretakers and by wildlife celebrities Jack Hanna and Nigel Marven.

The Art by Animals auction brought in $20,295 to help support conservation programs at the AZA institutions that participated in the event.

"We are honored for Peep to represent the Tennessee Aquarium during this special auction event," said Amy Graves, senior aviculturist at the Tennessee Aquarium. It appears the other gentoos and macaronis at "Penguins Rock" are not very impressed with Peep's new professional status in the art world. "The other birds are always honking, calling, splashing and swimming around. And I think Peep is happy being a penguin and gobbling down fish," said Ms. Graves.

A highlight show of the Art by Animals auction will debut on AuctionNetwork.com on Sept. 20.

Article courtesy of The Chattanoogan.com @

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135384.asp

Season Uncertain for Yellow-eyed Penguin

Future of yellow-eyed penguins remains uncertain
By AMY MILNE - The Southland Times | Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Stewart Island has reported to have recorded the best yellow-eyed penguin breeding season since monitoring began there five years ago but the birds' future remains uncertain in some areas, the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust said.

The trust's five-year study into breeding on Rakiura/Stewart, Whenua Hou/Codfish and Bravo islands has now been completed.

Trust co-founder Lala Frazer said while the warmer La Nina weather patterns had been linked to a successful season this year, bird numbers on the Anglem coast of Stewart Island remained volatile.

"This season was much better.

Six chicks (19 percent success rate) fledged from the Anglem coast and 56 (76 percent) and 27 (69 percent) chicks respectively (fledged) from Whenua Hou/Codfish Island and the Bravo islands," Mrs Frazer said.

The Anglem coast had improved on the previous year's zero percent but 19 percent was still much lower than the expected 60 percent average, she said.

Nest numbers on the Anglem coast had also halved in the past decade. Only 16 were located this season, compared to 32 in 1999.

"That is a very disturbing statistic showing a considerable reduction in the number of breeding pairs over nine breeding seasons," Mrs Frazer said.

Of the 25 chicks which hatched from those 16 nests, 19 died. Most died within three weeks of hatching.

No predation was recorded but starvation and disease were evident.

Heavy commercial fishing could be behind the problems on the Anglem coast.

However, Ms Fraser said this was hard to determine because most of the waters around Stewart Island and surrounding islands were commercially fished and birds in other areas were doing well.

The trust had secured funding from the Department of Conservation and Community Trust of Southland to undertake a census of these areas which would hopefully provide some answers, she said.

News story courtesy of the Southland Times @
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4710008a6568.html

Image of the Day

Posing adelie, originally uploaded by Antarctic M.

AWWWW.... can't get any cuter than this little guy

Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust Wins Awesome Award

Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust wins International Award
Sunday, 28 September 2008, 3:33 pm
Press Release: Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust


Sunday 28 September
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust has been awarded a prestigious BirdLife International Conservation Achievement Award for their innovative conservation work. The Trust is the first New Zealand conservation organisation to receive this award.

Her Imperial Highness, Princess Takamado of Japan, Honorary President to BirdLife International, presented the award to the Trust on September 27 during BirdLife International’s World Conference in Buenos Aires.

Mike Britton, General Manager of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand accepted the award on behalf of the Trust.

Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding international achievements in bird conservation. Previous awards were given in 2004. Ten awards were made in total, five to BirdLife International partners and five to individuals or organisations world-wide who are making a significant difference for bird conservation in the wild.

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust is a charitable conservation Trust based in Dunedin dedicated to preserving the yellow-eyed penguin – an endangered bird that lives around the South Island’s Eastern coastline (Banks Peninsula to Southland) and on some of the sub-Antarctic islands. The Trust carries out a range of activities including land purchasing for natural habitats, fencing and planting, predator control, research funding, advocacy, education and awareness campaigns. In November 2007, the Trust celebrated 20 years of achievements in penguin awareness and conservation on-the-ground.

Euan Kennedy, Founding Trustee of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust says, "This award confirms New Zealand’s place as a world leader in bird conservation. It’s international recognition for our vision and hard work. We could not have done this without the thousands of Kiwis—Trust members, volunteers, schools, community organisations, businesses, local and central government—who have helped us along the way. Special thanks also to the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand who nominated the Trust for the award."

"Without question, this award also celebrates the invaluable support of Mainland Cheese who have been our principal sponsor for 19 years. Through the Mainland bar-code redemption scheme, thousands of New Zealanders have contributed to saving yellow-eyed penguins and their coastal habitats ".

David McFarlane, Field Officer for the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, says, "The yellow-eyed penguin is an endangered species and needs on-going help to restore their populations to sustainable levels. For the foreseeable future, we will need to continue our conservation activity so that these iconic penguins have safe, high quality habitats in which to breed and prosper again."

Chris Earl, Brand Manager for Mainland, says "We are thrilled the Trust’s great work has been recognised internationally. We also wish to thank the thousands of New Zealanders who have sent in their Mainland barcodes, which has allowed us to donate over $1 million to the Trust. However, the Trust still needs ongoing support so we urge New Zealanders to continue to send in their barcodes found on the back of Mainland cheese and butter products."

For more information on how to support the Trust and help save yellow-eyed penguins please visit www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz

-Ends-


Background:

Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust: New Zealand’s first charitable trust dedicated to the conservation of a specific species throughout its natural range. Based in Dunedin, the Trust was formed in 1987 by residents of Otago Peninsula who recognised that yellow-eyed penguins were in danger of disappearing from South Island coastlines.

The yellow-eyed penguin is unique to New Zealand. It is classed as an endangered species in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The penguins are limited in their distribution to the South Island’s eastern coastline (Banks Peninsula to Southland), Stewart Island, and Auckland and Campbell Islands in the sub-antarctic. Approximately 496 pairs breed on South Island coasts, a figure regarded as well below natural or sustainable levels.

Today, the Trust has interests wherever yellow-eyed penguins are found. Its ambitious efforts to restore the penguins to their traditional habitats, along with all the rich biological inventory of southern coastlines, are recognised nationally and internationally

The Trust’s activities are diverse and depend on mobilising community support for:

• Purchasing land or negotiating protective status for breeding habitats • Fencing and replanting • Control of predators such as stoats and ferrets • Annual production up to 10,000 native trees and shrubs in a purpose-built nursery

• Funding of research Advocacy and publicity • Education and awareness in schools and communities

The Trust is administered by a Trust Board of 10 trustees and employs 7 staff (5.5 full-time equivalents). Members are drawn from New Zealand, USA, Australia, Europe, Asia and UK. The Trust’s patron is ex-All Black Anton Oliver. Anton has recently worked with BirdLife International in Fiji's outlying Ringgold Islands where he has been studying the link between biodiversity and economic security as part of his dissertation.

Mainland Cheese has been the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust’s principal sponsor since 1989. In addition to its memorable advertising campaigns and initiatives, Mainland has donated more than $1 million to the Trust. They donate $1 for every barcode returned from the purchase of Mainland butter or cheese products. The relationship has set a precedent for corporate sector support of conservation in New Zealand.

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. BirdLife Partners operate in over one hundred countries and territories worldwide. BirdLife Partners collaborate on regional work programmes in every continent.

The BirdLife International conference is the largest ever gathering of the BirdLife family and friends including 108 national conservation organisations that make up the BirdLife International Network, plus their existing and potential collaborators and supporters. Over 400 delegates from all over the world attended the conference from 22 – 27 September 2008.

http://www.birdlife.org/worldconference/programme.html

www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz

www.mainland.co.nz


News courtesy of Scoop-Sci/Tech @
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0809/S00084.htm

Image of the Day

Humboldt Penguin Chick, originally uploaded by anikarenina.

Nothing more sweet than a penguin chick

Mystic Aquarium News

A Penguin Run And Waddle At Mystic Aquarium

By Becky Giantonio

Mystic, CT - Lace up your sneakers and get ready to run or walk for the good of our feathered friends. Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration will hold a 5k run and two-mile walk at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 to benefit our much loved African penguins.

The event consists of a 5k run on a trail, field and road course, two-mile walk and ¼-mile kids’ race. The walking route winds through the aquarium and Olde Mistick Village. Prizes will be awarded in eight age divisions for males and females. Participants who raise $50 or more will receive a free commemorative race T-shirt. The top fundraiser will be awarded an original piece of penguin art created by the penguins themselves, and the runner-up will receive a free Penguin Encounter, during which he/she will interact face-to-face with a penguin.

For the first time this year, the event includes a merchants competition open to local business teams and a middle school cross-country team competition. The winners of both competitions will receive an engraved trophy that will be passed to each year’s winning team. Each of the members on the middle school winning team will also receive a meet-and-greet with a penguin.

All participants will receive free admission on race day to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, where they can visit the 26 African penguins in the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit and see over 70 other exhibits featuring more than 12,000 fish, invertebrates and marine mammals from around the world, including the four Pacific white-sided dolphins and seven belugas visiting from Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for a limited time.

The money raised from the race will go toward the aquarium’s penguin research and conservation efforts. During a recent research project (September 8 to 19), Laurie Macha, supervisor of sea lions, seals and penguins at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, traveled to South Africa to participate in a study investigating the 40 percent reduction in the African penguin population over the last three years. The research group examined possible factors, such as the effects of the 2000 Treasure oil spill and fishing on the penguins’ breeding. The group also looked at ways to improve penguin tags, studied chicks’ growth and placed loggers on penguins to monitor their travel. The findings of this important research will be shared with peers in the field, as well as integrated into research done here at the aquarium.

Visit mysticaquarium.org to download a registration and donation form and get additional event details. If you are unable to participate but would like to make a donation, please e-mail sponsorship@mysticaquarium.org or call (860) 572-5955, ext. 553.

WHAT: 2nd Annual Penguin 5k run or two-mile walk



WHEN: Saturday, October 18 at 9 a.m.

WHERE: Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355

WHY: To benefit our penguin research and conservation efforts

COST: $20 entry fee; $25 after October 11. Children ages 3 to 13: $10. All participants receive free admission to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration on race day.

For more information, visit mysticaquarium.org or e-mail Race Director John Trahan at jdtrahan@comcast.net.

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Presents are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit, charitable organization incorporated in the State of Connecticut. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.


News courtesy of Zoo and Aquarium Visitor @

http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-442-A_Penguin_Run_And_Waddle_At_Mystic_Aquarium

Image of the Day

penguins swim? who knew., originally uploaded by -simplyaesthetic-.

This week's Pencognito!

Please check out Jen and her pengie friends at Pencognito!

Image of the Day

White-flippered Penguin, originally uploaded by cavekurt.

Better protection for Lillico’s much-loved penguins

Michelle O'Byrne, MP

Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

Thursday, 25 September 2008


Better protection for Lillico’s much-loved penguins

A new viewing platform at Lillico Beach will help give better protection to the much loved North West Coast penguin colony as well as an enhanced visitor experience.

The Minister for the Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne said today the improvements are the result of a long term partnership between the Friends of Lillico Penguins and the Parks and Wildlife Service.

There are more than 5000 people who use the viewing platform each year to catch a glimpse of the penguins coming in to land.

“For more than 20 years, the Friends group has looked after the penguins at the Lillico Beach Conservation Area, a coastal reserve only six kilometres west of Devonport on the busy Bass Highway,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“This group must be one of the most dedicated wildlife carers groups in Tasmania.”

The Friends group patrols the beach every evening from October to March to look after the welfare of the penguins. They also help with maintenance of the site and provide a free interpretation service for visitors, engaging with visitors to talk about how to view the penguins safely.

Ms O’Byrne said improvements at Lillico Beach viewing platform include new welcome and interpretive signs, planting of native species, landscaping works to improve penguin access and re-design of the car park to reduce headlight glare into the penguin colony.

Thirty new penguin nesting boxes were constructed and 10 of these have been placed in the colony to date.

Two new specialist viewing scopes will further enhance the opportunities for visitors to see other wildlife such as sea birds and whales and dolphins.

A remote camera will be placed in penguin burrows to provide a more intimate look at penguin activities and the viewing scopes and the burrow camera will be connected to a viewing screen at the visitor platform.

Ms O’Byrne said the Parks and Wildlife Service is undertaking a statewide program to improve wildlife viewing experiences in Tasmania.

“Lillico is a significant site because it offers visitors the opportunity to view penguins up close in a natural environment,” she said.

Lillico Beach penguin viewing is one of the activities supported by PWS’s annual Discovery Ranger Program and features in the Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts Tasmania’s Discoveries Guide.

Courtesy of a news release from the Tasmania Government:

http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=24866

Image courtesy of Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8332387@N02/883464455/

Image of the Day

penguin cake, originally uploaded by Sandra (socake).

yum!

Penguins and Politics

September 23, 2008, 4:22 PM
Climate Change – From Antarctica To The Campaign Trail
Posted by John Blackstone, who is a CBS News correspondent based in San Francisco.
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/23/couricandco/entry4472492.shtml

When I was asked to prepare a report on how the candidates’ positions on climate change would impact voters, I remembered one voter who cares deeply about global warming. I first met her in January while I was on assignment in Antarctica. Jean Pennycook studies penguins there, and she has seen the devastating impact on penguin colonies when glaciers melt more rapidly than anyone has seen before. I decided it was time to check in with Pennybrook again.

When she’s not in Antarctica, Pennycook teaches environmental science at Awhanee Middle School in Fresno, Calif. I sat in on a class where she talked to students about the science of global warming and about the real-world results she has seen first hand down in the Antarctic penguin habitat. The most significant thing she sees in this presidential campaign is that – after eight years of the Bush Administration pretty much denying that global warming is caused by human activity – both parties' nominees accept the scientific conclusion that climate change is real. While she hopes that will bring new sense of urgency at the top in Washington, she continues to work from the bottom up, telling students that doing things like saving energy at home is a step toward saving some penguins at the other end of the earth. She asks them the kids: "are you willing to turn out the lights in your room to save the penguins?"

Some people are doing much more than turning out the lights. John Fiscalini is a California dairy farmer who was shocked when people started pointing fingers at agriculture as one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases. He discovered the truth: Manure from his 3,000 cows produces huge amounts of methane, which is a particularly potent greenhouse gas. As a matter of fact, scientists believe that livestock worldwide have more impact on climate change than cars, trucks, and airplanes combined.

The proposals put forth by both presidential candidates provide encouragement and incentives for farmers like Fiscalini to clean up their emissions. But Fiscalini isn’t waiting for the election. Right now, he's finishing construction of two methane digesters – big silos where all the manure will be collected, so the methane can be captured. The gas will then be pumped into a brand-new "green" generator, where it will produce more than enough electricity to run the whole farm, as well as the cheese factory where Fiscalini makes his prize-winning cheddar cheese.

But Fiscalini's experience shows it won’t be easy or cheap to do the right thing. So far, making his dairy farm "green" has cost him about $2 million of his own money, and he’s received another million in public and private grants. He plans on making some of his money back by selling his left-over electricity back to the local power company.

Fiscalini is the model for what many farmers may be asked to do as the nation steps up the fight against global warming after the election. But the complexity of climate change and the global nature of the problem means there’s no way to calculate just how much John Fiscalini’s efforts will slow the melting of Antarctic ice.

By Election Day, Jean Pennycook will be back with the penguins in Antarctica. She knows the threat is beyond the scope of any one person – even any one president. But she is encouraged that it finally seems climate change will be on the presidential agenda, no matter who is elected in November.

Image of the Day

Humboldt Penguin, originally uploaded by Rodrigo da Cunha.

If you live in New Jersey... or thereabouts

Penguin returns to the Clark Public Library
by Suburban News
Tuesday September 23, 2008, 9:00 AM

CLARK--The Clark Public Library will now be open Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. To celebrate, on Sept. 28, Clark residents are invited to see a live penguin and enjoy free ice cream sundaes at the library. Beside watching the penguin waddle around, attendees will learn about their care and habits.

Sunday programs include crafts such as a pumpkin painting contest and basket weaving with a professional weaver, live performances, storytelling, movies and more.

Due to the popularity of the penguin program, registration is mandatory. Clark residents may register for either the 2 or 3 p.m. program online at www.clarklibrary.org or by calling 732-388-5999. Every person attending (adults and children) must be registered. Sundaes will be available only to those people who registered for the penguin program. Non-residents will be placed on a waiting list and will be notified if there are openings.

For additional details about the penguin program or a complete schedule of Sunday programs, visit the website at www.clarklibrary.org or stop by the library to pick up a flyer.



From Suburban News community life

Image of the Day

Magellanic Penguin, originally uploaded by hobbes8calvin.

In honor of Dr. Boersma and a great weekend celebration of the return of the Magels to Punta Tombo...

A Letter from Dr. Dee Boersma re: Punta Tombo Penguins

Penguin_Update

As you know we had a hard time a couple of years ago when the Province was about to put a tourist trail over about 200 nests right before the eggs hatched. In the end, the Director of Conservation was fired by the Governor of the Province, the road within the reserve closed to traffic, and the new trails removed. It was a real victory for conservation and the penguins, but we continue to face mounting pressures. The dirt road was paved to within about 25 km of Punta Tombo. The challenge we face will be the growing number of visitors to Punta Tombo. A management plan for Punta Tombo has been adopted by the Province, and there is a strong interest in protecting the penguins. New bridges were built along the tourist trail to let penguins cross the trail to their nests while people walk in the reserve. Penguins are arriving at Tombo to begin the breeding season and have been eating squid, so food is in the area. I hope we can continue to mitigate the increasing demand to see penguins, and I will be at Tombo in early October to see some of the arriving birds.

On September 12th, many high-level Argentine officials visited Punta Tombo where they announced plans to allocate almost $5 million for the Tombo Interpretation Center. Unfortunately, many officials view Tombo simply as a development site which presents challenges to preserving the penguins’ habitat. While in Punta Tombo, the President of Argentina put on a penguin project cap. Our project hat with penguins of global sentinels made most of the front pages of the newspapers. We are thrilled the President of Argentina is wearing our symbol of penguin conservation and have included the picture for you to see.

Regards,
Dee

P. Dee Boersma, Ph.D
Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science
Department of Biology
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195

wiinterrr's note: Dr. Boersma is, as far as I'm concerned, the patron saint of the Magellanic penguin. Her work, that has spanned the course of a lifetime, has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. She has provided break-through scientific papers that provide the world audience with solid support for conservation of these beautiful birds. Students of avian science need only look as far as their nearest database, and the public in general, will find reports of her work printed in such prestigious online sites, as Science Daily and the BBC.

If you would like to subscribe to her database and keep up with her work, please go to:
Subscription home page

... and follow directions. Be the first to know, by doing so. :)

And thank you Dr. Boersma. You ARE my personal hero.

Awesome pictures of Antarctica

You like? Lots more HERE (lots!):

Magels are at Punta Tomba TODAY Live!!!

HERE

The Magellanic penguins are coming!

From the Basque News and Information Channel@
http://www.eitb24.com/new/en/B24_111625/sci-tech/TO-MATE-AND-BREED-Magellanic-penguins-begin-their-arrival/

TO MATE AND BREED
Magellanic penguins begin their arrival to Argentine coasts

09/21/2008
The migratory sea birds travel thousands of miles every year around this time from the coasts of Brazil to meet their partners and reproduce in the Patagonia's penguin colonies.

Thousands of Magellanic penguins have begun their yearly arrival to the coasts of the southeastern Argentine province of Chubut, where they will mate and breed for the next few months.

Local media on Friday broadcasted live images of the penguins walking ashore to meet their mates in what they call "The Penguin's Vigil".

And for the first time, this year the local Chubut government have also set up a website which is streaming the penguins' arrival to the Patagonia for 72 consecutive hours.

The migratory sea birds travel thousands of miles every year around this time from the coasts of Brazil to meet their partners and reproduce in the Patagonia's penguin colonies.

As temperatures begin to drop the penguins will then make their way back up the continent in search of warmer waters.

Image of the Day

Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes), originally uploaded by TVN.

This week's Pencognito!

Please visit Jen and all the pengies at:

http://pencognito.com/

VIDEOS!

--

Image of the Day

Macaroni Penguin, originally uploaded by Jack Pearce.

Sergio's Painting Update

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Penguin painter
Updated: 09/16/2008 07:08 PM
By: Web Staff

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In the world of art, one piece was sold during an online auction and a penguin was the artist.

One-year-old Sergio resides at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. His paint of choice is non-toxic and washable! His keeper, Deb Tobin, says it wasn't too difficult getting the Humboldt penguin on the canvas.

"With Sergio, his temperament, he was kind of used to being around us. We do reinforce for stepping through the paint. So any kind of food reinforcement for Sergio, he does like to be around us and he does like to be scratched sometimes, so that also is a good reinforcement for him, so he's kind of used to it now," Tobin said.
Penguin painter
In the world of art, one piece was sold during an online auction and a penguin was the artist.


Sergio's painting sold online for $350.

Video embedded at website:

http://news10now.com/content/all_news/124213/penguin-painter/Default.aspx

Awards for pengie promotion

Visiting Penguins Win Award For Virginia Aquarium

By Joan Barns

Virginia Beach, VA - The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center changing exhibit Penguins: Birds of Play garnered a 2008 Hampton Roads Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Pinnacle award in the special events category at the annual Pinnacle Awards Ceremony September 17.

In addition to the six South African penguins that were featured in the exhibit, five members of the advertising agency’s staff, BCF, dressed in penguin costumes and created penguin “sightings” throughout the area. These life-sized penguins were seen eating sushi at the shopping mall, strolling along the oceanfront boardwarlk and selecting fish sticks in the frozen foods aisle of the supermarket. Consumers were encouraged to submit photos and video footage to a specially-created blog site for a drawing. In addition, 10,000 tiny rubber penguins, half with BONGO coupons attached, were “dropped” all over town – in public fountains, at hotel swimming pools, and on bus-stop and park benches. A giant 30 foot inflatable penguin at the front of the Aquarium helped penguin-finders know they’d come to the right place!

The special events resulted in the over 130,000 visitors during the Aquarium’s 2007 non-peak season of February, March and April, the highest attendance for those months since 1999.

Judged by non-local PRSA peers with strict criteria, the Pinnacle Awards are awarded for both strategic programs and individual tactical projects demonstrating the highest standards of excellence.

News courtesy of Zoo and Aquarium Visitor @
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-410-Visiting_Penguins_Win_Award_For_Virginia_Aquarium

One more thing today

Really, truly, very neat pengie wallpaper:

http://reliableanswers.com/images/wallpaper/africa_penguins.jpg

Rod at SeaWorld

September 12, 2008
Rod Stewart at SeaWorld


Photo by Bob Couey, SeaWorld San Diego

Aging rock crooner Rod Stewart was in town Thursday, and he and his family made a stop at SeaWorld San Diego.

Stewart checked out a macaroni penguin during a behind-the-scenes tour at the marine park's Penguin Encounter.

The raspy-voiced singer/songwriter, 63, married his third wife, model Penny Lancaster, in 2007. They have a 3 year-old boy, one of Stewart's seven children.

Story and image courtesy of:

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2008/09/rod_stewart_at_seaworld.html

They're trying to give penguins a bad name

Penguin Surprise, originally uploaded by Photographers Eye.

"Penguin Panic" trojan targets Windows iPhone users

iPhone-toting Windows users should keep an eye out for a trojan targeting their somewhat specific demographic. Spam e-mails advertising iPhone games—often with subject lines of "Virtual iPhone games!," "Take a break!," and "Apple: The most popular game!"—have begun circulating around the web toting a zip file called Penguin.Panic.zip. When opened, the Troj/Agent-HNY trojan is released and will wreak havoc on Windows systems.

SNIP

The rest of the tail...er.. tale is here:
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/09/18/penguin-panic-trojan-targets-windows-iphone-users

Image of the Day

Curious, originally uploaded by Ben Tubby.

curiouser and curiouser

Very very neat story

A Young Cancer Survivor Gets Up Close And Personal With A Penguin At Florida Aquarium

By Tom Wagner

Tampa, Fla. - Cancer survivor and spokesperson for Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels program, Sammy Heim, 10, took time out from her brief stop in Tampa to visit The Florida Aquarium and experience the Penguin Promenade: Backstage Pass.

SNIP

Read the rest of this endearing story here:

http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-405-A_Young_Cancer_Survivor_Gets_Up_Close_And_Personal_With_A_Penguin_At_Florida_Aquarium

Something to wear on your trip down under

From Svenska Studios... wear your penguins!

http://www.cafepress.com/svenskastudios

How about that cruise to lands beyond the Tropic of Capricorn?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=55793606.blog

Quark has a really good cruise... but not for po' folks. :)

Image of the Day

Royal Penguin, originally uploaded by MidnightElf.

Gorgeous!

Image of the Day

Galapagos Penguin, originally uploaded by Wiggum03.

Pencognito Time!

Visit the pengies at http://pencognito.com/

Image of the Day

Penguin singing, originally uploaded by rebelot.

It's true... penguins really DO have a heartsong. :)

Penguin cupcakes

Doomed, originally uploaded by CDaisyM.

Follow the recipe with these stylish photos in a series. Begin here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdaisym/sets/72157607301962656/

Ah! a surprise video

Image of the Day

Today's surprise image(s) can be reached by checking out Antarctica. Srsly's page. He has taken a delightful amount of penguin pix and he promises more to come. Also, he posted one of the cutest penguin videos I've ever seen on his blog. Be sure to check him out, as his posts are so cool to read:

http://frozennerd.blogspot.com/2008/09/and-again-penguins.html

Is Opus Set For A Meeting With the Great 'Guin?

Check out this strip from Mr. Berkeley Breathed... should we fear that Opus is about to meet his end?

http://www.comics.com/wash/opus/index.html

And yes... it IS continued. Let's hope Opus gets a reprieve. :)