More random thoughts about bartending
9 years ago
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
A New Letter from Dr. Dee Boersma
Penguin_Update
Hello Penguin Fans,
The 2009 Spring update is here! Learn how the 2008-09 season went and what is new at the Penguin Project. The 2009 Spring Newsletter text can be found below. We also recently renovated our website (www.penguinstudies.org) to include up-to-date penguin news from around the world as well as anything and everything Magellanic Penguin. You can find all of our newsletters, including this most recent one, on the website under 'Publications'. Additionally, Turbo is now on Facebook so make sure to search for 'Turbo the Penguin' and add yourself as a fan to see exciting pictures, videos and stories all about Turbo!
Dee
Spring 2009 Penguin Update
by Dee Boersma
Five consecutive years of successful chick rearing is in many ways a hopeful sign. Despite a storm that likely killed 16% of the chicks, adults raised 3/4 of a chick per nest, which is well above the 25 year average of a 1/2 chick per nest (most pairs don't raise any chicks). In the areas we call the Canada and Sea we checked 181 nests and 32 pairs fledged both chicks. But in spite of another successful year, the number of active nests in the colony is down 23.1% from 1987. Winters still are tough on the penguins. Only about 2 to 5% of the penguins on the beach this year were juveniles, so few chicks from last year apparently survived. Getting penguins to breed at Punta Tombo requires that they survive several winters, but last winter many juveniles swam to northern Brazil where they eventually starved. Penguins also encountered an oil spill in their winter grounds. There are several dozen groups dedicated to rehabilitation of penguins in northern Argentina, Uruguay and south Brazil, so we need your help to turn our attention to solving this problem. Penguins with petroleum in Chubut are nearly as rare as hen's teeth. We saw one penguin with some petroleum at Punta Tombo, but that was it. Moving the shipping lanes in 1994 and a decrease in illegal dumping of ballast water has helped the penguins. In March, when Esteban Freres and I walked 25 km of beach along the Chubut coast, we found no penguins either dead or alive with petroleum. Penguins are still getting oiled in the north (northern Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil), however.
For the second year in a row, we found featherless or ‘naked’ chicks at Punta Tombo. The chicks hatched with an initial layer of down but failed to grow in their second layer of down. They then remained ‘naked’, resembling plucked chickens, until they grew in their juvenile plumage when they were approximately one month old. We speculate that a virus may be the culprit, and our newest graduate student, Olivia Kane, will be investigating this problem.
We deployed 27 satellite tags at Punta Tombo and 10 at Cabo dos Bahìas this season. Penguins are traveling farther to find their food since we began satellite tracking 12 years ago. This year, they swam a mean distance of 430 km from Punta Tombo during incubation, nearly the same as in 2007 (431 km), but approximately 40 km farther than in 2006 (394 km), and almost 100 km farther than the distances traveled prior to 2001.
We had several unexpected and amazing visitors this year. A young man from Ireland, Keith Norris, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, and whose wish was to see penguins in the wild visited thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We taught him how to measure the volume of a (plastic) egg, and showed him the weigh scale, and walked with him through the penguin colony to give him a sense of how we keep track of all the penguins. In November and again on December 25th, the cormorant colony at the tip of the point had a visitor from southern Africa, a Cape Gannet (Morus capensis). Cape Gannets are rarely seen in Argentine waters. This is the second year we saw a Cape Gannet at Punta Tombo, and it's likely the same one from last year.
Our third visitor, a King Penguin, arrived for a day in December. The beautiful giant preened and made contact calls while resting on the beach. When no King penguins answered he left, but seeing him was a pleasant surprise for everyone except the Magellanic penguins, which seemed to think he was weird.
In 2007, we implanted radio identification tags (similar to those implanted into dogs and cats by veterinarians) in approximately 150 birds, and put out two reading pads that recorded tag numbers, time of day, and direction of travel when penguins cross them. This year we put out a scale to weigh penguins as they walked over it. We got over 10,000 readings and are in the process seeing if we can translate those light and heavy footsteps into weights. We are designing a system to tell use who, when and what direction a penguins was going and its weight. If and when our system works, we can determine the effect of opening and closing of the fisheries on adult penguin fishing success and chick growth. The penguins continue to be a challenge as they pull out cords and walk around the pads, and some only put one foot on the scale. The penguins and technology are a constant challenge, but we hope to win the battle and get accurate and reliable data this coming season.
On April 4, 2009 we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Penguin Project by unveiling the U of WA Center for Penguins as Ocean Sentinels. The Penguin Project, The International Penguin Society, Conservation magazine, and volunteer student research and education programs are the four pillars of the Center. The Penguin Project will continue to follow individual penguins, monitor the colony and develop the data needed to plan effective conservation efforts. The International Penguin Society, launched with a Pew Fellowship to Dr. Pablo Borboroglu, an Argentine conservationist, will develop and advocate solutions for sustainable marine activities and management, drawing on penguins as a charismatic, keystone species. Conservation magazine, started in 2001, is the voice for the science behind conservation. The magazine’s mission is to raise the bar on environmental thinking and writing. The Center is dedicated to educating the next generation of conservation leaders. We believe the new University Center will increase our ability to make a positive contribution to the lives of penguins, people, and conservation. As always we are honored by and welcome your support. These are challenging times and it is your support that makes it possible to continue our satellite work: $5,000 allows you to name a penguin that we will follow closely and provide you with maps and its life story each year.
Best wishes,
Dee
P.S. If you would like to accompany me and other wildlife enthusiasts on the trip of a lifetime. there is still room on the University of Washington expedition to the Galápagos (October 31 through November 8, 2009) . If you are interested please contact Olivia Kane at oliviaj@u.washington.edu.
Penguin chicks -- bundles of fun
Penguin chicks -- bundles of fun
Published Date: 27 May 2009
SPRING is an uplifting time of year for many people but at Drusillas Park, Alfriston, it also heralds the arrival of many baby bundles of feathers – and this year is no exception.
Among the baby boomers of 2009 are two fluffy Humboldt penguin chicks.
In the wild, Humboldt penguins are found off the west coast of South America, in Peru and northern Chile, where they are a threatened species as a result of pollution, overfishing of their prey species, hunting and habitat destruction.
The group at Drusillas is part of an International Breeding Programme created to secure their future survival.
Humboldt penguins are monogamous, staying with the same partner for life. They lay one or two eggs, which both sexes will take it in turn to incubate for a period of about 39 days.
Since hatching at the beginning of April, the two chicks have been slowly finding their flippers and waddling within the safety of their nest boxes.
However, following the moult of their fluffy down feathers, the new additions will gradually follow in their parents' footsteps out to the pool.
In the meantime, the rest of the group have been making the most of the showery weather this week, which is ppppperfect for penguins.
Zoo manager Sue Woodgate said, "The zoo keepers are kept very busy with all the extra mouths to feed at this time of year.
"We are always excited by the new arrivals and are hoping for a few more happy events in the near future."
Located just off the A27 in Alfriston, Drusillas is open from 10am until 6pm daily.
For more information call 874100 or visit the website at www.drusillas.co.uk
Source:
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/seaford/Penguin-chicks-and-marmosets-.5306035.jp
Image: Flickr
Resort prepares for invasion of penguins
Artist Rob Rutherford with some of the creationsResort prepares for invasion of penguins
Last updated: 5/28/2009 12:00:00 PM
NORTHERN hemisphere beaches are not somewhere you would normally find one of the planet's most popular birds.
This summer though an incredible clay colony of penguins will be living on Felixstowe's shore in a special art installation.
The idea arose after artist Rob Rutterford placed a single ceramic penguin on the beach at Art on the Prom last year.
Seeing the penguin standing in isolation on a shore where they would not usually be found and the reaction of people who saw it made him want to try something bigger at the art event this time.
Students show off their workThrough his Association of Suffolk Art Teachers work, Mr Rutterford contacted Paul Rearden, director for learner achievement at Deben High School, a specialist college for the visual and performing arts, to set up a project to create more than 100 of the birds.
“I have been working with students across all year groups to produce as many pot penguins as possible in three days,” said Mr Rutterford, of Halesworth.
“Tall, short, fat, thin and in their hundreds the clay penguins occupy every corner and shelf in the art room at Deben.
“Thanks should go to all the students for the work and effort they put into producing the penguins, and to the staff for their support.”
Mr Rearden said: “Rob has such a great personality that the students can't fail to be enthused by his energy and passion for his art.
“Not only have all the year groups from year seven to year 13 and some staff enjoyed working with Rob, they have also learned a great deal about how a professional artist works and makes a living.
“I can't wait to see these brilliant pieces of individual work all come together to make such an exciting exhibit at Art on the Prom.”
Kathryn Thorogood, year ten student, said: “I really enjoyed the workshops because it was interesting to hear from and work with an established artist.
“I enjoyed being able to be creative with the clay and make good quality sculptures. It was great to have the opportunity to see the life of an artist who sells his work.”
Art on the Prom takes place on August 30 where the penguins will be sold to support the school.
Source:
http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED27%20May%202009%2010%3A13%3A10%3A030
African Penguins Released --wallpaper alert!
Copy and paste this url for 18 wallpaper sized images of the great African penguin release:
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2009/05/022596.html
Thursday, May 28, 2009
New pix and video at Earth-Touch
New pix and video at Earth-Touch:
http://www.earth-touch.com/result.php?i=Rockhopper-penguins-nest-above-a-steep-incline
http://www.earth-touch.com/result.php?i=EXPEDITION:-Gentoo-penguins-take-care-of-nests
Check 'em out!
Images of the Day
Steven Sarro, right, the director of animal programs at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, looks over the African penguin colony in their new exhibit, Wednesday. The National Aviary hopes to breed members of the group as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Penguin Species Survival Plan, a breeding program to preserve healthy, genetically diverse populations of African penguins. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
(May 27, 2009)
Visitors to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh watch African penguins in the new exhibit, Wednesday. The National Aviary hopes to breed members of the group as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Penguin Species Survival Plan, a breeding program to preserve healthy, genetically diverse populations of African penguins. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
(May 27, 2009)
Source:
http://www.seattlepi.com/photos/popupV2.asp?SubID=458&page=1>itle=Day%20in%20Pictures&pubdate=5/27/2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Pittsburgh loves its penguins
Penguin Point: The Latest and Greatest from the National Aviary
By: Debra Diamond Smit
May 27, 2009
Pittsburgh loves its penguins.
We’ve got the Antarctic variety at the Pittsburgh Zoo. The Stanley Cup-winning ones at Mellon Arena, and now an expanded African colony has moved into a beautiful new, public-friendly outdoor space at the National Aviary.
Penguin Point invites the public into the craggy, natural habitat of the African penguin that lives in colonies along the rocky coastline of southwestern Africa. The new $1.7 million project gives the penguins a large swimming pool, warm boulders to pad around on and cozy nesting caves where, hopefully, a few of the romantically inclined will set up house.
“When we first put them in they were a little nervous,” says Erin Estell, project manager for Penguin Point. “They weren’t sure what to do. So we gave them a little shove (into the water) and they’ve been happy ever since. Even Stanley, who doesn’t swim that well, is acting like a real penguin.”
Ah, if life was that easy.
Penguin Point brings the Aviary’s five celebrated penguin celebrities—Stanley, Elvis, Patrick, Simon and Sidney—together with six new penguins, including two that are considered genetically valuable to the species’ existence. All were born in captivity. The hope is that they will become feathered friends, doing what penguins do in the wild: frolic in the water, eat fish, stand erect and waddle awkwardly and, most importantly, make little penguins.
Sydney, who only recently molted into early adulthood, is ahead on attitude, playing sentry, standing guarding outside of one of the caves that he has claimed as his own.
The exhibit gives visitors an up close, nose-to-beak look at their everyday antics, now getting underway. Kids and adults can crawl into the Kids’ ViewTube Tunnel for a peek at the underwater action; a pop-up dome places visitors right in the middle of the action.
The names of the six new recruits are still pending, but we won’t be surprised if there’s a Fleury or Malkin by the end of the week, says Estell. In the meantime, it’s important to note that Patrick, as in The Division, is really a girl who only has eyes for Stanley, as in The Cup. Of the 11 of the penguins, 7 are male and 4 are female.
“The challenge that I see is for our penguins to help kids learn about the impact that human behavior has on wildlife species,” says Steve Sarro, director of animal programs. “Our penguins are ambassadors for their wild cousins who need our help.”
The Aviary is actively involved in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan, a managed breeding program that works to preserve a genetically strong population of African penguins in U.S. zoos. Their wild population, once numbering in the millions, has declined by a drastic 90 percent in the last 100 years. In 2000 the population fell to 150,000; in 2008 to 60,000.
The ecological pressures on the species are many, ranging from severe oil spills in the region, egg harvesting and the overfishing of their food supply. Sarro was active in the recent rescue of 129 oiled African penguins along the southern Namibian coastline last month, an effort organized by the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coast Birds. (SANCCOB)
Penguin Point hopes to show visitors how they can help by eating fish that are harvested in a sustainable manner. It may mean forgoing Chilean Sea Bass, but Pacific Halibut and U.S. farmed Tilapia are on the list. To learn about sustainable fish choices, click here.
“Pittsburgh loves its penguins,” Sarro says. “Our hope is to teach Pittsburgh to support sustainable fisheries.”
Penguin Point is part of the Aviary's $26 million, multiphase, multiyear project that will include architectural renovations and a major facelift by SPRINGBOARD Architecture Communication Design LLC. The penguin’s space was designed by Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.
Source:
http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/penguinsaviary0527.aspx
More on the TN Aquarium Macaroni Parents-to-be
Paulie and Chaos, a pair of macaroni penguins, are preparing to be parents. They take turns sitting on the nest that contains one egg. Incubation will be 33 to 39 days.
Now that the kids are out of school for the summer, a trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is in order. If you’ve been before, go again. There are new developments at Penguins’ Rock.
If you go
The Tennessee Aquarium is located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. It is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $21.95 per adult and $14.95 per child, ages 3-12. Each ticket purchased helps support Aquarium conservation programs. The IMAX® 3D Theater is next door to the Aquarium. Ticket prices are $8.50 per adult and $6 per child. Aquarium/IMAX combo tickets are $27.95 for adults and $19.95 for children. Excursions aboard the new River Gorge Explorer depart daily into “Tennessee’s Grand Canyon.” Cruise tickets are $29 per adult and $21.50 per child (3-12). Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.tnaqua.org or by phone at 1-800-262-0695.
Interesting facts
Egg incubation: Macaroni – 33-39 days. Gentoo – 36-41 days
Both penguin species lay two eggs approximately four days apart. Penguin chicks hatch without help from parents. It usually takes 24-48 hours for a chick to fully hatch.
Both penguins share in parental responsibilities by taking turns on the nest keeping the chick warm and regurgitating food as needed. Parents sit on the chick for approximately 15 days until the chick is able to maintain its own body heat. Chicks remain at or around nest until fledging.
Penguins fledge (or become independent from parents) between 65-75 days.
Watch the penguins on the Tennessee Aquarium’s live webcam at: www.tnaqua.org.
Parents to be: Aquarium penguins produce first eggs
From Staff Reports
Originally published: May 26. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: May 25. 2009 8:24PM
If you haven’t been to the Tennessee Aquarium lately, a pair of penguins are giving the perfect excuse to go back.
A pair of macaronis have produced the first eggs inside Penguins’ Rock. They were laid in the nest built by “Paulie” and “Chaos” a little more than six weeks after the nesting materials were given to the birds.
The first egg was broken by the parents almost immediately, a process that is perfectly normal for this species.
“Macaroni penguins on exhibit or in the wild lay two eggs,” said Amy Graves, the Aquarium’s senior aviculturist. “The first egg is 50 to 60 percent smaller than the second egg and is usually kicked out of the nest or crushed by the parents. The female will lay a second egg anywhere from four to six days after the first egg is kicked out.”
The first egg was laid by this couple a little over a week ago. The second egg was discovered by keepers five days after the first. “They are very protective of that egg and each other right now,” said Loribeth Aldrich, a Tennessee Aquarium aviculturist. “Even while one bird is lying on the nest, they are preening each other and supporting each other. The way they are acting is very sweet.”
Paulie and Chaos may be first-time parents if the egg they are protecting is fertile, but right now that cannot be determined. Penguin keepers are observing the egg and the behavior of this pair closely. Both parents take turns incubating the egg with Paulie appearing to rule the roost. Paulie was clocked spending over six hours on the egg at a time with Chaos nearby. From time to time the parent lying on the nest will raise up to carefully rotate the egg using its feet and beak. The only other movement is to change shifts to eat or defend the nest. “Both birds will chase other birds off,” said Aldrich. “They are protecting that egg and keeping the other birds very far away.”
It will be some time before anyone knows whether or not this egg is viable. The incubation time for macaroni eggs is anywhere from 33 to 39 days.
If the egg is fertile, the chick will have to hatch without any parental help. This process, called pipping, can take 24 to 48 hours to complete. After that, the chick’s struggles continue explained Dave Collins, the Aquarium’s curator of forests.
“Newborn chicks must overcome high infant mortality rates and have diligent parents. Paulie and Chaos would be first-time parents, so hopefully their instincts will be strong enough to raise a chick successfully,” said Collins.
A penguin chick is dependent upon the parents for warmth during the first two weeks of life. “After about 14 or 15 days, a chick will be able to maintain its own body temperature,” said Aldrich. “Then a chick can be left alone in the nest and both parents can go off to feed and bring back food to the chick.”
Penguin chicks go through three different types of plumage before they are able to take their first swim. They hatch with a very soft, downy set of feathers which are replaced by juvenile feathers. It takes 60 to 75 days for a baby penguin to grow their adult feathers depending upon the species. “Those are the waterproof ones, the nice black and white feathers you see on the adult penguins,” said Graves.
Right now there are three other penguin pairs that seem to have very strong bonds and are being watched closely. One other pair of macaronis, “Hercules” and “Sweet Pea”, have been diligently building their nest and have been observed laying on that nest for long periods of time. And gentoo pairs, “Biscuit” and “Blue” and “Poncho” and “Peep” have shown strong bonding and nesting behaviors.
For now Paulie and Chaos are the only ones with an egg. But according to the penguin keepers, that’s enough to raise the excitement level at the Tennessee Aquarium this summer. “If all goes well, Paulie could be a dad around Father’s Day,” said Aldrich.
Source:
http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20090526/LIFE/905259997
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sea lions, penguins, whales and dolphins find a new home
Curtain call(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / May 21, 2009)
Shedd Aquarium President and CEO Ted A. Beattie, far right, and Ken Ramirez, a Shedd vice-president, leave a podium after announcing the beginning of a media preview for Shedd Aquarium's new Oceanarium. Behind them is a new curtain that can cover the windows that face Lake Michigan. The logo is a projection.
Place for the penguins(Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / May 21, 2009)
Penguins swim in a newly modified habitat during a media preview for Shedd Aquarium's new Oceanarium.
Sea lions, penguins, whales and dolphins find a new home
Shedd Aquarium's Oceanarium reopens after $50 million makeover
By Tara Malone | Tribune reporter
May 25, 2009
Bif settled into his new home Sunday, maneuvering his 750-pound girth on a rocky ledge as water lapped nearby and onlookers marveled at one of the Shedd Aquarium's newest residents.
The whiskered sea lion is among a pair of the large, loud marine mammals that were added to the Oceanarium, which opened its doors this weekend after a nine-month, $50-million renovation. Bif acknowledged the occasion by going for a dip in the pool and then, with a contented sigh, resuming his waterside perch.
What began as a project to "scrub the 3-million gallon tub" grew to include a revamped underwater exhibit area, a waterfall and stream for salt-tolerant fish, a kids play area and a new exhibit of penguins that thrive in temperate weather, rather than colder temperatures. The renovations to the Oceanarium, a cornerstone of the aquarium, were needed for the pools that dated to 1991. With the beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins and sea otters temporarily relocated -- shipped via FedEx, no less -- organizers opted to modernize the Oceanarium complete with a new filtration system for the animals and new restaurants for visitors, officials said.
The additional work came in an effort to make the marine animals more accessible to the 2 million visitors to the aquarium each year.
"We've always tried to pride ourselves in not having that much distance between our animals and guests, but there's less now. We tried to keep guests close," said museum spokesman Roger Germann.
Beyond Bif and Otis, eight Magellanic penguins also are new occupants of the Oceanarium. They join a dozen rock-hopper penguins in a new display near the new Polar Play Zone, where kids can don penguin costumes, learn about cold-water ocean environments and touch sea stars.
Cari Davis guided her 2-year-old son's hand toward the orange sea star in a shallow pool watched by three aquarium experts. The St. Louis mother traveled to Chicago with her husband and three sons specifically to visit the reopening of the big exhibit.
"You get up so close. They feel they are in the middle of it all," Davis said.
Even guests who've toured the aquarium may want to head back to meet the newest additions. As with Sunday, the first 100 visitors will enter for free Monday.
Starting July 3, the Oceanarium plans to unveil a new exhibit where visitors who pay a special fee will be allowed to meet and touch the seven beluga whales as they observe how trainers work with the sociable mammals, nicknamed the "canaries of the sea" because of their high-pitched squeaks and squeals, Germann said.
Aquarium officials expect the penguin eggs that are just now hatching will be ready for display by August.
Source:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-090521-shedd-oceanarium-pictures,0,5605413.photogallery
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
National Aviary's New Outdoor African Penguin Exhibit Opened Today
National Aviary's New Outdoor African Penguin Exhibit Opened Today
By Laura Ellis
Pittsburgh, PA - Penguin Point, the National Aviary’s new outdoor African penguin exhibit, opened Saturday, May 23, giving visitors the opportunity to see Stanley, Simon, Sidney, Elvis and Patrick -- and six new team members -- interacting, playing, swimming and diving in a natural setting that emulates the rocky shores of the birds’ native South Africa.
Penguin Point affords up-close, 360-degree views of African penguins in an open-air space. A wheelchair accessible Kids ViewTube tunnel under the exhibit provides underwater views of the penguins “flying” through the pool, while domed bubbles allow young guests the chance to pop up in the middle of the penguin group. The $1.7 million exhibit was designed by Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. of St. Louis (PGAV).
“With the opening of Penguin Point, guests will for the first time have the opportunity to see all of the Aviary’s penguins together on exhibit,” says National Aviary Executive Director Patrick Mangus. “We’ve designed the space to give the closest possible experience for our guests. Not only will you be able to watch their antics in and out of the water, the open-air setting will allow you to hear and smell the penguins, much like you would if you visited the beaches of South Africa.”
The exhibit will also feature a number of educational components focusing on the plight of African penguins in the wild.
“African penguin populations are dropping so rapidly that it has been predicted that they could be extinct in the wild within 15 years,” adds Mangus. “We will draw attention to the human impacts that are causing this drop, and will inform guests about the Aviary’s involvement in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan. This program, directed by Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a carefully managed breeding program that works to preserve a genetically strong population of African penguins in U.S. zoos. Several of the new penguins we have acquired are of genetic importance and will likely be bred at the National Aviary.”
African penguins are listed as “vulnerable” to extinction on the Red Data list. Their wild populations, once numbering in the millions, have dropped to just 27,000 breeding pairs, down from nearly 60,000 pairs just two years ago.
Penguin Point will be open daily beginning Saturday, May 23. National Aviary summer hours (9 am – 5 pm) begin May 23. National Aviary admission is $10 adults; $9 seniors; $8.50 children ages 2 and up. Under 2 admitted free. More information at www.aviary.org or by calling 412.323.7235.
National Aviary
700 Arch Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
www.aviary.org / 412.323.7235
Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1502-National_Aviarys_New_Outdoor_African_Penguin_Exhibit_Opened_Today
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Penguins Return Home to Shedd Aquarium
Dolphins, whales and penguins return home
by Sarah K. Norris
May 21, 2009
The Shedd Aquarium’s dolphins, whales and marine mammals are home, after nine months on vacation while their permanent home at the Oceanarium underwent renovations.
The Oceanarium reopens Saturday with new environments, including an interactive area designed specifically for children ages two to seven. Kids can try out life as a penguin and even touch the sea stars.
This Polar Play Zone has five areas, each offering young children interactive experiences as well as viewing access to the Oceanarium’s Pacific white-sided dolphins, Beluga whales, Alaskan sea otters, California sea lions and the penguins.
In the tidal touch pool, kids can don raincoats and get their hands on sea stars and a variety of shellfish, like mussels, limpets and barnacles.
Children and adults alike can really get inside a penguin’s head in the Icy South section by climbing into a penguin suit and exploring an environment of rocks, tunnels and slides that mimic the penguins’ own habitat.
“This entire exhibit is really about exploration and learning,” said Ken Ramirez, senior vice-president of animal collections and training. “What we try to do is hide the learning in games and fun.”
The aquarium also introduces a new species of penguin, warm-weather Magellanic penguins, which will come out and meet the public later in the summer.
Other new animals at the Shedd include two California sea lions, rescued from Bottleneck Dam in Washington, and a Pacific white-sided dolphin on loan as part of the aquarium’s successful breeding program. Three of the seven Beluga whales at the facility were born at the Shedd and the staff is hoping to replicate that success with their dolphins.
Another feature coming later in the summer is the return of the Oceanarium’s marine mammal show.
“When the Oceanarium opened in 1991, it doubled our attendance,” said Mike Delfini, the Shedd’s vice-president of planning and design.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, the aquarium is offering free admission to the first 100 visitors on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In addition, the facility will keep pricing the same as last summer and will introduce a new student discount. The Shedd will also offer a free and reduced admission week from June 14-19.
Video also at source:
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=130641
by Sarah K. Norris
May 21, 2009
The Shedd Aquarium’s dolphins, whales and marine mammals are home, after nine months on vacation while their permanent home at the Oceanarium underwent renovations.
The Oceanarium reopens Saturday with new environments, including an interactive area designed specifically for children ages two to seven. Kids can try out life as a penguin and even touch the sea stars.
This Polar Play Zone has five areas, each offering young children interactive experiences as well as viewing access to the Oceanarium’s Pacific white-sided dolphins, Beluga whales, Alaskan sea otters, California sea lions and the penguins.
In the tidal touch pool, kids can don raincoats and get their hands on sea stars and a variety of shellfish, like mussels, limpets and barnacles.
Children and adults alike can really get inside a penguin’s head in the Icy South section by climbing into a penguin suit and exploring an environment of rocks, tunnels and slides that mimic the penguins’ own habitat.
“This entire exhibit is really about exploration and learning,” said Ken Ramirez, senior vice-president of animal collections and training. “What we try to do is hide the learning in games and fun.”
The aquarium also introduces a new species of penguin, warm-weather Magellanic penguins, which will come out and meet the public later in the summer.
Other new animals at the Shedd include two California sea lions, rescued from Bottleneck Dam in Washington, and a Pacific white-sided dolphin on loan as part of the aquarium’s successful breeding program. Three of the seven Beluga whales at the facility were born at the Shedd and the staff is hoping to replicate that success with their dolphins.
Another feature coming later in the summer is the return of the Oceanarium’s marine mammal show.
“When the Oceanarium opened in 1991, it doubled our attendance,” said Mike Delfini, the Shedd’s vice-president of planning and design.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, the aquarium is offering free admission to the first 100 visitors on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In addition, the facility will keep pricing the same as last summer and will introduce a new student discount. The Shedd will also offer a free and reduced admission week from June 14-19.
Video also at source:
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=130641
Snippets of Penguin/Zoo News
National Aviary Welcomes Six New Penguins
Posted: 10:20 pm EDT May 21, 2009Updated: 10:38 pm EDT May 21, 2009
PITTSBURGH -- There are some new penguins in town.
The National Aviary welcomed six African penguins to its new Penguin Point exhibit on Thursday.
The new penguins were found on the West Coast of Africa and now need a name.
Friday night, the Aviary will auction off the rights to name the new guys.
The five older penguins are named Stanley, Simon, Sidney, Elvis and Patrick.
The new Penguin Point exhibit will allow visitors to have an up-close, 360-degree view of penguins swimming, playing, nesting and scaling rocks in an open-air space.
It officially opens on Saturday.
Source:
http://www.wpxi.com/news/19533420/detail.html
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Reporter: Suzanne Hobbs
What's Waiting for You at The Tautphaus Park Zoo- Plenty!
The Tautphaus Park Zoo is ready for this Memorial Day weekend. It's the kick-off to a summer of "unbearable" fun. Not only are the Asian sloth bears a week away from their debut, a new zoo friend was introduced Thursday.
Zoo Superintendent Bill Gersonde says the Tautphaus Park Zoo has a three fold mission to educate, promote conservation as well as just help everyone have a good time.
Already this year, Gersonde says the number of zoo visitors is up from this time last year as more people discover what this impressive little zoo has to offer.
And there's a new friend at the zoo. Percy the Penguin is the zoo's first mascot in it's 74 year history. In Percy's first minutes of greeting children and adults, it's clear, this new zoo animal is a huge hit.
Bill Gersonde: "A mascot character of an animal is another way for us to reach people with our important conservation message. If they like Percy, if they like feeding the pelicans or feeding the goats it develops and opportunity, allows for an opportunity for us to get our educational conservation message across."
Percy the Penguin can be found on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 2:30 p.m. at Penguin Cove.
The zoo's fun and informative Animal Encounters show also begins this Saturday and runs twice daily through Labor Day.
The schedule for the zoo is Tuesday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Mondays it has extended hours 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
SNIP/ Source:
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=10405732&nav=menu546_1
Posted: 10:20 pm EDT May 21, 2009Updated: 10:38 pm EDT May 21, 2009
PITTSBURGH -- There are some new penguins in town.
The National Aviary welcomed six African penguins to its new Penguin Point exhibit on Thursday.
The new penguins were found on the West Coast of Africa and now need a name.
Friday night, the Aviary will auction off the rights to name the new guys.
The five older penguins are named Stanley, Simon, Sidney, Elvis and Patrick.
The new Penguin Point exhibit will allow visitors to have an up-close, 360-degree view of penguins swimming, playing, nesting and scaling rocks in an open-air space.
It officially opens on Saturday.
Source:
http://www.wpxi.com/news/19533420/detail.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter: Suzanne Hobbs
What's Waiting for You at The Tautphaus Park Zoo- Plenty!
The Tautphaus Park Zoo is ready for this Memorial Day weekend. It's the kick-off to a summer of "unbearable" fun. Not only are the Asian sloth bears a week away from their debut, a new zoo friend was introduced Thursday.
Zoo Superintendent Bill Gersonde says the Tautphaus Park Zoo has a three fold mission to educate, promote conservation as well as just help everyone have a good time.
Already this year, Gersonde says the number of zoo visitors is up from this time last year as more people discover what this impressive little zoo has to offer.
And there's a new friend at the zoo. Percy the Penguin is the zoo's first mascot in it's 74 year history. In Percy's first minutes of greeting children and adults, it's clear, this new zoo animal is a huge hit.
Bill Gersonde: "A mascot character of an animal is another way for us to reach people with our important conservation message. If they like Percy, if they like feeding the pelicans or feeding the goats it develops and opportunity, allows for an opportunity for us to get our educational conservation message across."
Percy the Penguin can be found on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 2:30 p.m. at Penguin Cove.
The zoo's fun and informative Animal Encounters show also begins this Saturday and runs twice daily through Labor Day.
The schedule for the zoo is Tuesday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Mondays it has extended hours 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
SNIP/ Source:
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=10405732&nav=menu546_1
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The cutest chicks in town
The cutest chicks in town: Baby penguins the star attractions at Twycross zoo
By Daily Mail Reporter
19th May 2009
A pair of rarely-seen Humboldt penguin chicks are set to become the latest attraction at a zoo after staff decided to rear them by hand.
Described as 'utterly adorable' by keepers at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, the week-old penguins were taken from their nests to improve their chances of survival.
Zoo spokeswoman Kim Riley said the pair - named Ann and Barbara after members of the Twycross management team - were taken from separate nests just two days after they hatched because Humboldt penguins often only raise one chick if two eggs hatch.
Ms Riley said: 'What normally happens is that the parents will push out the weakling and will raise one chick, so we have taken one chick out of each nest.
'When they are three months old we will introduce them back to the parents.'
The penguins - which have been mistaken for ducklings - are being hand-fed a diet of herrings and vitamins five times a day, Ms Riley added.
Visitors will be able to see the chicks in the ape nursery at Twycross from Friday.
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1184545/The-cutest-chicks-town-Baby-penguins-star-attractions-Twycross-zoo.html
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Twycross Zoo's Humboldt Penguin Chicks Debut Friday 22nd May
By Kim Riley
Twycross, UK - Making their debut appearance to the public on Friday 22nd May, are two, tiny adorable grey coloured hand reared Humboldt penguin chicks. Twycross Zoo have four in total, two chicks in each nest, one chick was taken out of each nest two days after they had hatched. Due to the inexperience of our adult birds Twycross Zoo is giving an extra helping hand by hand rearing these youngsters so that the remaining two chicks will stand a better chance of survival.
Originally the penguin was named after Alexander von Humboldt, but our cute chicks are named after members of our management team Ann and Barbara. The cute downy bundles are fed five times a day between 8 am and 6 pm through a small syringe. Ann and Barbara will take 15 mls of purified herring and vitamins in a saline solution each feed time; they will be introduced to solids when they are approximately three weeks old.
In the wild the chick care begins with parents alternating jobs of one sitting with the chick and the other hunting for food. After about two months, the chick would be left alone during the day while both parents search for food. Ann and Barbara will molt when they are about 70-90 days old, they will then lose their down feathers and these will be replaced with all grey adult feathers which become darker over time. They will reach sexual maturity when they are between 2 and 7 years old.
Ann and Barbara will use their strong wings as flippers, they will 'fly' underwater, usually just below the surface, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, taking small herring and eating them whole. They will steer with their feet and tail. Their feathers will be stiff and overlap to waterproof and insulate their bodies. Like all penguins, they have excellent eyesight both underwater and on land.
In the wild Ann and Barbara would live mostly on the rocky mainland shores, especially near cliffs, or on islands off the coasts of Chile and Peru. They do not migrate as they prefer to reside in these pleasant waters all year round.
Ann and Barbara will live approximately 30 years at Twycross Zoo and will be very pleased to see all the school children and their adopters over the coming years.
To view Twycross Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-712-Twycross_zoo
Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1473-Twycross_Zoos_Humboldt_Penguin_Chicks_Debut_Friday_22nd_May
P-p-p-pick of the penguins
P-p-p-pick of the penguins
20 May 2009
A new fab four were making a splash yesterday as Beatlemania was replaced by penguin power at Yarmouth Sea Life Centre.
Ringo, Boomer, Arnold and Lola waddled and swam around their new home in a £200,000 enclosure at the seafront attraction.
From this weekend, the four Humboldt penguins are sure to draw the crowds when they go on display for the first time.
The aquatic birds came from Sea Life Centres at Hunstanton and Weymouth, Dorset. And, after spending a few minutes eyeing up their new penguin pad, they soon dived in and started exploring their spacious home.
It was soon obvious that breeding pair Lola and Arnold had hit it off with their new-found friends as they cavorted around the enclosure's 22,000-litre pool.
The four penguins will soon be joined by eight others after a public vote revealed that the birds were the most wanted attraction.
Centre manager Mike Salt said: "People like penguins because they are fun to watch and are comical. It is great to see that our new penguins have settled in really well."
There are only 10,000 breeding pairs of Humboldt left in the wild.
Source:
http://www.advertiser24.co.uk/content/advertiser24/news/story.aspx?brand=GOROnline&category=News&tBrand=GOROnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED20%20May%202009%2009%3A05%3A41%3A557
Image:
Flickr
Where do penguins go in winter?
Where do penguins go in winter?
20 May 2009
Penguins leave Antarctica after summer, but where they go in winter was a mystery. Now, thanks to a tiny location device, scientists discovered that macaroni penguins do not go sunbathing: they spend winter feeding in the cold southern oceans.
Macaroni penguin
The macaroni penguin.
Macaroni penguins are the most common penguin species and one of the top consumers of fish and krill in Antarctica. During the summer they nest in islands surrounding Antarctica, where their breeding and feeding habits are quite well known. But after the moult at the end of the summer, the macaroni penguins disappear from sight. So what do they do over the next seven months?
To find out, Dr Charles-André Bost and colleagues from the Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CNRS) in France and the British Antarctic Survey, headed out to the Kerguelen Islands, home to one of the biggest colonies of macaroni penguins. The team attached miniature global location sensors to the legs of 21 penguins at the end of the breeding season in March-April.
Six months later, the team returned to Kerguelen as the penguins were coming back from the winter migration. They caught 14 of the tagged penguins and managed to download data from 12 devices.
'To our knowledge this was the first time these penguins were followed outside the summer breeding season to their winter grounds,' says Bost. The penguins headed east as soon as they leave Kerguelen and travel long distances, swimming on average about 10,000 km, says the report published this week in Biology Letters. None of the birds came ashore during the six months of winter.
The macaroni penguins did not stay together but scattered shortly after departure. Some continued eastbound, while others turned south half way. 'The penguins did not disperse randomly and stayed within the Polar Frontal Zone,' says Bost. The zone, which has seawater temperatures between 1 and 5°C, is the northern limit of Antarctic waters.
It's not clear why some penguins prefer swimming east and others head south, 'maybe it's due to individual differences or variation of fitness,' suggests Bost. But the scientists found that south-bound penguins were in best physical conditions on the way back.
'Despite choice of routes, the penguins stay within the Polar Front waters,' says Bost. While macaroni penguins are not currently under threat of extinction, their global population is declining worldwide. 'It's useful to know where their winter feeding grounds are to have a proper understanding of their ecology,' adds Bost.
The penguin's position was calculated with light (about 6g) that did not hamper movement. The device measured sea water temperature and the levels of light every 10 minutes for six months. With this information, Bost and his team were able to tell the timing of sunset and sunrise, which they used to calculate the daily latitude. Longitude was estimated using the length of each day.
The paper: C. A. Bost, J. B. Thiebot, D. Pinaud, Y. Cherel, and P. N. Trathan. (2009) Where do penguins go during the inter-breeding period? Using geolocation to track the winter dispersion of the macaroni penguin. Biol. Lett. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0265
Source:
http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=430
Aquarium celebrates baby penguin
Aquarium celebrates baby penguin
Officials at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas are celebrating today with the naming of a baby penguin.
"Penguin dancers, fun-filled penguin activities and a first live look at the penguin chick will all be taking place in front of the penguin exhibit in the Living in Water gallery located on the second floor," a news release says. "Please join us as we announce the penguin's name and have some penguin fun along the way!"
The Aquarium has been holding a contest to find the best name.
The penguin chick will also be joining the rest of the penguins in the public exhibit at 2:30 this afternoon.
Source:
http://www.wwl.com/Aquarium-celebrates-baby-penguin/4435088
Penguin books to celebrate the new penguin habitat at Woodland Park Zoo
Penguin books to celebrate the new penguin habitat at Woodland Park Zoo
May 20, 12:57 PM
The penguins at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo have gotten their new habitat. The new space opened on Monday to the delight of penguin fans. My kids can’t wait to go see it—kids seem to have a thing for penguins.
So, in celebration of all things penguin, here are some books that feature the little waddling wonders.
Early Non-fiction
The Emperor’s Egg, by Martin Jenkins and Jane Chapman, is an entertainingly written life-of-an-Emperor-penguin tale. It is factual but funny and should interest even a young listener.
Penguins (See How They Grow), by DK Publishing, is an informative and entertaining look at the life of a penguin as it grows from chick to adult. The photographs are appealing and the text is simple. This is part of a series that introduces animals to young listeners. The book also has a sheet of stickers that are appealing to little ones.
Fiction for younger children
Penguin Pete, by Marcus Pfister, is the first story of Pete, who is featured in a number of tales. These stories are gentle tales of Pete’s adventures and are illustrated in Pfister’s soft almost fuzzy watercolors. Being a little penguin who can’t wait to do all the great penguin things, Pete really appeals to the younger set.
Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger, is the first of a number of books involving this character. Tacky is a bit loud and brass and annoying and, well, tacky. But that doesn’t stop him from having a great time and marching to his own beat. His refusal to follow the pack often ends up saving the day in the end.
Non-fiction for older kids
Penguins, by Wayne Lynch, is a picture-book style book written for an older audience. With lots of factual information on various aspects of penguin life and full of colored photographs, this book will appeal to any 9-12 penguin fan or report writer.
Penguins and Antarctica (Magic Tree House Research Guide), by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce, is a great compilation of penguin facts in the fun format of Osborne’s Research Guides. Loads of information about Antarctic penguins, their habitat, the explorers of the region, and the animals that live there are all covered here.
Fiction for older kids
Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard Atwater is a classic silly tale about refrigerator dwelling penguins and the adventures they bring to the family they live with. This is one of those stories of silly antics that have stayed fresh even after decades. It is a great read aloud story that will entertain both reader and young listeners.
Eve of the Emperor Penguin, Magic Tree House #40, by Mary Pope Osborn, is one of the latest of this series. As with all these books, the story is primarily a mystery, but there are nuggets of factual information sprinkled within the story.
Source:
http://www.examiner.com/x-4776-Seattle-Childrens-Literature-Examiner~y2009m5d20-Penguin-books-to-celebrate-the-new-penguin-habitat-at-Woodland-Park-Zoo
African penguin numbers in sharp decline: scientists
African penguin numbers in sharp decline: scientists
CAPE TOWN (AFP) — African penguins are disappearing at an alarming rate, as commercial fishing decimates food stocks and global warming affects breeding patterns, experts said Wednesday.
"Last year there were only about 26,000 pairs of African Penguins left in southern Africa (this represents their global population) -- a decline of about 121,000 breeding pairs since 1956," read a statement issued after an international African penguin conference in Cape Town.
Research presented at the conference showed that urgent action was needed to halt the decline in the Western Cape province where the annual survival rate in key breeding colonies had halved since 2000.
"We need to understand the underlying causes. Of course, food supply must be a major factor," said researcher Peter Barham of Britain's Bristol University.
He said the food supply may have been disrupted by overfishing, or by fish stocks moving with changing ocean currents due to the effects of global warming.
Pollutants may also have weakened penguins and affected their ability to find fish.
"Other issues affecting penguins include increased predation by fur seals around some colonies, the continuing risk of oil spills, and as the climate warms up, the lack of suitable, cool, places to breed within the traditional colonies."
In recent years researchers have set up nesting boxes in colonies to shelter the birds from the heat and protect eggs from opportunistic gulls.
Sardines and anchovies, their major source of food, have been affected by fishing and sea temperature changes, pushing penguins to form new colonies closer to food supplies.
The African Penguin, also known as a jackass penguin because of its donkey-like bray, is the only species of the charismatic animal which breeds in Africa and is found only around southern Africa.
Source:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5idHqvHw6NraoEI3h2Jy0c8-wpI5w
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News from Africa
20/05/2009 11:33 CAPE TOWN, May 20 (AFP)
African penguin numbers in sharp decline: scientists
African penguins are disappearing at an alarming rate, as commerical fishing decimates food stocks and global warming affects breeding patterns, experts said Wednesday.
"Last year there were only about 26,000 pairs of African Penguins left in southern Africa (this represents their global population) -- a decline of about 121,000 breeding pairs since 1956," read a statement issued after an international African penguin conference in Cape Town.
Research presented at the conference showed that urgent action was needed to halt the decline in the Western Cape province where the annual survival rate in key breeding colonies had halved since 2000.
"We need to understand the underlying causes. Of course, food supply must be a major factor," said researcher Peter Barham of Britain's Bristol University.
He said the food supply may have been disrupted by overfishing, or by fish stocks moving with changing ocean currents due to the effects of global warming.
Pollutants may also have weakened penguins and affected their ability to find fish.
"Other issues affecting penguins include increased predation by fur seals around some colonies, the continuing risk of oil spills, and as the climate warms up, the lack of suitable, cool, places to breed within the traditional colonies."
In recent years researchers have set up nesting boxes in colonies to shelter the birds from the heat and protect eggs from opportunistic gulls.
Sardines and anchovies, their major source of food, have been affected by fishing and sea temperature changes, pushing penguins to form new colonies closer to food supplies.
The African Penguin, also known as a jackass penguin because of its donkey-like bray, is the only species of the charismatic animal which breeds in Africa and is found only around southern Africa.
Source:
http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=africa&item=090520113318.kxmgtysz.php
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The TN Aquarium Macaroni Penguins and their new egg
Paulie and Chaos take very good care of that egg and each other. They're going to make spectacular parents! :)
The water's fine: A resident of the new Penguin Point at the National Aviary
The water's fine: A resident of the new Penguin Point at the National Aviary
New digs at the National Aviary
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
I bob up in the glass dome and right there, on the other side, looking me in the eye, is Sid the Kid, the penguin.
I tap the glass -- actually, the acrylic -- and Sid taps back with his beak. He's one of nine penguins around the pool but there's no worry about any of them knocking a peer into the glass.
"They're a little bit tamer than the NHL," Erin Estell, project director for Penguin Point, assures me.
The new $2.7 million exhibit at the National Aviary opens this Saturday morning, just down the hall from the bald eagles. The red-crowned cranes were loaned to the Pittsburgh Zoo to make room, and I don't know anyone questioning the trade. Nothing against long-legged birds, but penguins are what's happening these days.
Only hours after the birds were introduced to their new home, Ms. Estell handed me a hard hat and I bent over into a Groucho Marx crouch to walk into the Kids ViewTube under the exhibit. That's where you get the underwater views of swimming birds.
Stanley, Elvis, Patrick, Simon, Sidney and their brethren were still getting the feel of their new digs yesterday morning and weren't swimming much. Their trainers, Christopher Gaus and Teri Grendzinski, were moving big rocks around, the way any family would move the furniture around in a new home.
Bill Wade/Post-Gazette
Penguin Point project manager Erin Estell with a satisfied guest.
These African penguins, unlike their crosstown cousins at the zoo who hail from the Greater Antarctic area, don't have to stay refrigerated. They can play outside all day and night, year round. Their native habitat is the southwestern coast of Africa, a temperate area with milder winters than ours.
"They don't have to stand on the ice with an egg on their feet for months and months," Ms. Estell said, which surely beats the life of those Antarctic penguins Hollywood loves so much.
It should never get too hot for them here.
"If Pittsburgh ever gets as hot as South Africa," Ms. Grendzinski said, "I'm moving."
Standing less than knee-high to a man, with coats so thick with feathers they feel like fur, they're friendly birds. Reaching over the side of the pool to pet the birds won't be among visitors' privileges, but they'll get close enough to smell and hear them.
Their call sounds almost like a donkey's bray. Though that has led some to call them jackass penguins, they're smart enough to know one person from another.
"Stanley loves Teri," Ms. Estell said. "Simon is my guy. Elvis likes Chris."
If some of these names seem to have a hockey flavor, it's no coincidence. Stanley, the aviary's first penguin, arrived eight years ago and was named for the Stanley Cup. Then came Elvis, named for Penguins play-by-play man Mike Lange's signature victory call, "Elvis has left the building." There's also a Patrick, because the team plays in the Patrick Division, although the trainers discovered later Patrick is actually Patricia. (She and Stanley are now an item.) And I already mentioned Sidney.
Simon? He arrived the year of the hockey strike.
Watching these birds move on dry land, that hockey metaphor can be extended further. They seem as awkward as a player walking on his skates from the locker room. Once in their natural milieu, however, penguins and Penguins become one with their environment, visions of grace and speed.
If the birds' legs were longer they wouldn't walk so funny but they wouldn't swim as well. All their swimming is done with their wings.
"It's more important to be fast in the water because that's where the predators are," Ms. Estell said.
None of the sharks on the North Side swim much, so these birds should be OK.
Bill Wade/Post-Gazette
Trainer Chris Gaus and friends.
Yesterday, after school, I brought my older daughter, Curran, and her friend Jessica Britton, both 11, for a kid's-eye view. By mid-afternoon, the birds were more acclimated, and three were swimming. My daughter liked that she could see the birds from all angles, above and below, and figured little crawling kids would particularly like the ViewTube. Jessica said she liked that the exhibit allowed the feeling of being under the water.
There will be 11 penguins in all and, yes, there's also a Mario in the bunch. If there's a naming contest for any others, my money is on "Evgeni" or "Malkin."
The National Aviary, with more than 600 birds, is open seven days a week. Summer hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., begin Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8.50 for children 2 and up. For more information, see www.aviary.org or call 412-323-7235.
Brian O'Neill can be reached at boneill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1947
May 19, 2009
Source:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09139/971105-155.stm
Zoo shows off new penguin chicks
Zoo shows off new penguin chicks
(See video at site!)
Two Humbolt penguin chicks will go on show to visitors at Twycross Zoo for the first time on Friday.
Staff are having to rear the pair by hand to boost their chance of survival, as the adult birds at the Leicestershire zoo are inexperienced.
The grey-coloured chicks are two of four which hatched at the zoo a week ago and were taken out of two different nests at two days old.
The pair have been named Ann and Barbara after staff at the zoo.
Visitors will be able to see the chicks in the ape nursery at the zoo, until they are about three months old, when they can join the penguin colony.
The Humboldt penguin is native to South America.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/8057434.stm
(See video at site!)
Two Humbolt penguin chicks will go on show to visitors at Twycross Zoo for the first time on Friday.
Staff are having to rear the pair by hand to boost their chance of survival, as the adult birds at the Leicestershire zoo are inexperienced.
The grey-coloured chicks are two of four which hatched at the zoo a week ago and were taken out of two different nests at two days old.
The pair have been named Ann and Barbara after staff at the zoo.
Visitors will be able to see the chicks in the ape nursery at the zoo, until they are about three months old, when they can join the penguin colony.
The Humboldt penguin is native to South America.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/8057434.stm
Fairy penguin washed up at Bar Beach
RECOVERING: Native Animal Trust carer Trudy Fennell with Daryl, the fairy penguin found washed up on Bar Beach. - Picture by Dean Osland
Fairy penguin washed up at Bar Beach
BY MELISSA LYONS
20/05/2009 4:00:00 AM
MOST would think a fairy penguin found washed up at Bar Beach was a long way from home.
But the sea bird best known to inhabit winter wonderlands has long lived off Newcastle's coast.
"People don't realise they are out there in the water around Newcastle, everywhere," Native Animal Trust Fund president Audrey Koosmen said.
Native Animal Trust Fund carer Trudy Fennell rescued Daryl, the penguin, who is named after a beachgoer who found him at Bar Beach on Sunday.
He weighed just over 600 grams, almost half the weight of a healthy fairy penguin, or little penguin as they are also known.
"He has an eye injury, which may have been from a sea eagle attack and when he can't see well, he can't fish, which means he can't eat," Ms Fennell said.
Predatory sea eagles join boat strikes and discarded fishing gear as some of the constant threats faced by the penguins.
Wild storms add to the list, throwing penguins against rocks and sending up to a dozen into care each week.
"Some unfortunately don't make it," Mrs Koosmen said.
Daryl is due to go to Taronga Wildlife Clinic for specialist eye treatment today and will be returned to Newcastle for release.
If his physical recovery is as healthy as his appetite, Daryl is sure to be back in the water in no time.
"He's already put on 50 grams. He eats 25 whitebait in one sitting," Mrs Koosmen said.
Rescue Hotline: 0418 628 483.
Source:
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/fairy-penguin-washed-up-at-bar-beach/1517537.aspx
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Penguins of Madagascar-a Review
`Penguins' take flight
Tue, 19 May 2009
Who doesn't love the tough-talking, scheme-hatching, dynamite-regurgitating penguins from the Madagascar films?Well, fans, rejoice, because now they have their own show, appropriately titled The Penguins of Madagascar, premiering on Friday on Nickelodeon (Sky digital channel 41).
After carrying the weight of Madagascar and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa on their ... well, whatever the animated-penguin-equivalent of shoulders is, they're back in the Central Park Zoo, where high jinks and hilarity abound.
Of course, it isn't their first time in this rodeo - there was a Christmas Caper in 2005 and a series pre-pilot in November 2008.
But this time it's personal, er, permanent, at least in a cartoon-series-type way.
Joining them is the delightfully mad lemur King Julien, voiced by Danny Jacobs, who does as good a high-pitched crazy as Sacha Baron Cohen did in the films.
Many of the original penguin players have returned, most importantly, Tom McGrath as Skipper, the group's leader, who is so cool and deadpan he might have been a Raymond Chandler character if Chandler had ever thought to dabble in aquatic flightless birds.
John DiMaggio also returns as Rico, the pyrotechnic wizard with a stomach of steel, and Andy Richter as Mort, the big-eyed, chatter-prone Pygmy mouse put on Earth to do King Julien's whacked-out bidding.
Which isn't to say that all the new folks aren't terrific; they are.
Jeff Bennett gives Kowalksi his brilliant, stern-voiced due, and James Patrick Stuart is a properly obsequious Private.
Maurice, the reasonable lemur, is also back, voiced now by Kevin Michael Richardson, and of course there are a host of guest stars, including crazy cats, kindly alligators and an otter with sleep issues.
But Mark McCorkle and Robert Schooley, the executive producers of The Penguins of Madagascar, have not just reunited an excellent comedic team; they've resurrected the good old-fashioned cartoon.
You know, the kind that doesn't revolve around bratty/neurotic children and their pets.
The kind that has really cool action scenes and dialogue that is not so shrill and snarky that it can turn a perfectly calm parent who happens to be working in the next room into a screaming idiot. (May I take this moment to remind every parent of a cartoon-watching child that the iconic Tom and Jerry and Roadrunner were essentially silent - oh, time, time, go back in thy flight.)There are wisecracks aplenty in The Penguins of Madagascar, but they're mercifully made mostly in non-squeaky voices and the staccato cadences of a really good 1940s gangster flick, which everyone can appreciate.
And there's all sorts of Wile E.Coyote-like gadgetry involved too: In the first episode, the penguins attempt to launch themselves to the moon; in the second, they must rescue Mort from a vicious toy-recycling machine, which involves a classic conveyor belt scene, and in another they take to the sewer to investigate the spooky noise that is keeping Marlene the otter (Nicole Sullivan) awake.
Source:
http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/television/56701/penguins039-take-flight
Shedd Aquarium's Oceanarium to Reopen
World's premier marine mammal pavilion reopens to the public on Saturday, May 23
May 18, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- After nearly nine months of being "on vacation," the Shedd Aquarium today announced the return of its beloved beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and Alaska sea otters.
Shedd also welcomed some new animals to the Oceanarium family, including two California sea lions, temperate weather penguins, a new Pacific white-sided dolphin and several Pacific Northwest fishes.
"Animal care is our top priority and all of the animals travelled extremely well, thanks to the months of training we did with them beforehand. Whether by road, by air, or a combination of the two, we carefully planned each transport to ensure all animals traveled safely and quickly," said Ken Ramirez, senior vice president of animal collections and training. "It's hard to believe nine months ago our animals and their trainers went to other accredited zoos and aquariums and now they are back. We missed our animals and staff, and we are very excited to have all of them back home in Chicago. We are equally excited to welcome some new animals to our 'family' and can't wait for our guests to connect with all the animals in the Oceanarium on May 23."
Shedd has acquired two California sea lions from the state of Washington as part of a relocation plan to protect endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam along the Washington/Oregon border. The two sea lions - named Otis and Biff - were named for places along the Pacific Coast where they live.
Pacific white-sided dolphin Ohana has arrived at Shedd from the Miami Seaquarium as part of the two accredited marine mammal organizations' support of the North American breeding cooperative. Ohana was born at the Seaquarium in 2006 and will remain at Shedd while Kri and Tique are away.
In further support of its mission, Shedd modified its penguin habitat and collection to feature temperate weather penguins. Shedd's 12 resident Rockhopper penguins, which spend considerable time in temperate climates, are now joined by eight Magellanic penguins.
For the first time, the Oceanarium will be home to dozens of fish. From anemome, octopus, jellies and isopods in the Polar Play Zone exhibit, to flounders, surfperch, sculpins and more in the South River estuary, Shedd's marine mammal pavilion is expanding its educational reach.
Opening Events
On May 23, Shedd reopens the Oceanarium doors to the public with a weekend-long celebration. Check Shedd's Web site for more details about the animal homecoming festivities: www.sheddaquarium.org.
Source:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=6818251
May 18, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- After nearly nine months of being "on vacation," the Shedd Aquarium today announced the return of its beloved beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and Alaska sea otters.
Shedd also welcomed some new animals to the Oceanarium family, including two California sea lions, temperate weather penguins, a new Pacific white-sided dolphin and several Pacific Northwest fishes.
"Animal care is our top priority and all of the animals travelled extremely well, thanks to the months of training we did with them beforehand. Whether by road, by air, or a combination of the two, we carefully planned each transport to ensure all animals traveled safely and quickly," said Ken Ramirez, senior vice president of animal collections and training. "It's hard to believe nine months ago our animals and their trainers went to other accredited zoos and aquariums and now they are back. We missed our animals and staff, and we are very excited to have all of them back home in Chicago. We are equally excited to welcome some new animals to our 'family' and can't wait for our guests to connect with all the animals in the Oceanarium on May 23."
Shedd has acquired two California sea lions from the state of Washington as part of a relocation plan to protect endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam along the Washington/Oregon border. The two sea lions - named Otis and Biff - were named for places along the Pacific Coast where they live.
Pacific white-sided dolphin Ohana has arrived at Shedd from the Miami Seaquarium as part of the two accredited marine mammal organizations' support of the North American breeding cooperative. Ohana was born at the Seaquarium in 2006 and will remain at Shedd while Kri and Tique are away.
In further support of its mission, Shedd modified its penguin habitat and collection to feature temperate weather penguins. Shedd's 12 resident Rockhopper penguins, which spend considerable time in temperate climates, are now joined by eight Magellanic penguins.
For the first time, the Oceanarium will be home to dozens of fish. From anemome, octopus, jellies and isopods in the Polar Play Zone exhibit, to flounders, surfperch, sculpins and more in the South River estuary, Shedd's marine mammal pavilion is expanding its educational reach.
Opening Events
On May 23, Shedd reopens the Oceanarium doors to the public with a weekend-long celebration. Check Shedd's Web site for more details about the animal homecoming festivities: www.sheddaquarium.org.
Source:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=6818251
Penguin Pair Lay Eggs at TN Aquarium!
Tennessee Aquarium
Penguin Pair Lay Eggs
May 18, 2009 - 12:39 PM
Another fascinating aspect of penguin life is on display at the Tennessee Aquarium as a pair of macaronis have produced the first eggs inside Penguins' Rock. The first eggs were laid in the nest built by "Paulie" and "Chaos" a little more than six weeks after the nesting materials were given to the birds. The first egg was broken by the parents almost immediately, a process that is perfectly normal for this species. "Macaroni penguins on exhibit or in the wild lay two eggs," said Amy Graves, the Aquarium's senior aviculturist. "The first egg is 50 to 60 percent smaller than the second egg and is usually kicked out of the nest or crushed by the parents. The female will lay a second egg anywhere from four to six days after the first egg is kicked out."
The first egg was laid by this couple one week ago. The second egg was discovered by keepers this past Thursday, five days after the first. "They are very protective of that egg and each other right now," said Loribeth Aldrich, a Tennessee Aquarium aviculturist. "Even while one bird is lying on the nest, they are preening each other and supporting each other. The way they are acting is very sweet."
Paulie and Chaos may be first-time parents if the egg they are protecting is fertile, but right now that cannot be determined. So penguin keepers are observing the egg and the behavior of this pair closely. Both parents take turns incubating the egg with Paulie appearing to rule the roost. Over the weekend, Paulie was clocked spending over six hours on the egg at a time with Chaos nearby. From time to time the parent lying on the nest will raise up to carefully rotate the egg using its feet and beak. The only other movement is to change shifts to eat or defend the nest. "Both birds will chase other birds off," said Aldrich. "They are protecting that egg and keeping the other birds very far away."
It will be some time before anyone knows whether or not this egg is viable. The incubation time for macaroni eggs is anywhere from 33 to 39 days. "Today marks day number five since the day the second egg was laid, so we have a long way to go," said Graves.
If the egg is fertile, the chick will have to hatch without any parental help. This process, called pipping, can take 24 to 48 hours to complete. After that, the chick's struggles continue explained Dave Collins, the Aquarium's curator of forests. "Newborn chicks must overcome high infant mortality rates and have diligent parents. Paulie and Chaos would be first-time parents, so hopefully their instincts will be strong enough to raise a chick successfully," said Collins.
A penguin chick is dependent upon the parents for warmth during the first two weeks of life. "After about 14 or 15 days, a chick will be able to maintain its own body temperature," said Aldrich. "Then a chick can be left alone in the nest and both parents can go off to feed and bring back food to the chick."
Penguin chicks go through three different types of plumage before they are able to take their first swim. They hatch with a very soft, downy set of feathers which are replaced by juvenile feathers. It takes 60 to 75 days for a baby penguin to grow their adult feathers depending upon the species. "Those are the waterproof ones, the nice black and white feathers you see on the adult penguins," said Graves.
Right now there are three other penguin pairs that seem to have very strong bonds and are being watched closely. One other pair of macaronis, "Hercules" and "Sweet Pea", have been diligently building their nest and have been observed laying on that nest for long periods of time. And gentoo pairs, "Biscuit" and "Blue" and "Poncho" and "Peep" have shown strong bonding and nesting behaviors.
For now Paulie and Chaos are the only ones with an egg. But according to the penguin keepers, that's enough to raise the excitement level at the Tennessee Aquarium this summer. "If all goes well, Paulie could be a dad around Father's Day," said Aldrich.
Egg incubation: Macaroni - 33-39 days. Gentoo - 36-41 days
Both penguin species lay two eggs approximately four days apart. Penguin chicks hatch without help from parents. It usually takes 24-48 hours for a chick to fully hatch.
Both penguins share in parental responsibilities by taking turns on the nest keeping the chick warm and regurgitating food as needed. Parents sit on the chick for approximately 15 days until the chick is able to maintain its own body heat. Chicks remain at or around nest until fledging. Penguins fledge (or become independent from parents) between 65-75 days.
Watch the penguins on the Tennessee Aquarium's live webcam at: www.tnaqua.org.
Source:
http://www.newschannel9.com/sections/article/gallery/?pic=1&id=978391
Monday, May 18, 2009
More on the Penguin Olympics in NZ
New Zealand hosts penguin Olympics
By Matt Glazebrook
New Zealand's commitment to great sports that are considered weird by the rest of the world (cricket, rugby) is undoubted. But now the island nation is finally set to claim a new sport of its own with the Penguin Olympics.
The amphibious birds have been competing in a variety of sports -- Frisbee, soccer, swing ball, surfing and waddle races -- at a nature center near Auckland this month.
Gentoo and King penguin varieties are participating in the games, and from the look of the video footage, the flightless fowl could hold their own in game of tennis-ball cricket at least.
Source:
http://www.asylum.com.au/2009/05/17/new-zealand-hosts-penguin-olympics/
Aviary penguins ready to make move
ElvisKeith Hodan/Tribune-Review
Erin Estell
Keith Hodan/Tribune-Review
New digsKeith Hodan/Tribune-Review
Aviary penguins ready to make move
Buzz up!
By Michael Machosky, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Erin Estell
Keith Hodan/Tribune-Review
Penguins vs. penguins
Hockey fans may have noticed a few similarities between Pittsburgh's two favorite groups of penguins. Most of the Aviary's African penguins have hockey-related names -- Patrick, for the old Patrick Division; Stanley, for the Stanley Cup; Sidney for Sidney Crosby; and even Elvis, for Pens announcer Mike Lange's catchphrase "Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building."
Only Simon — named for his previous home, Simontown in South Africa — has no hockey name.
"We do have a Mario (named for Pens owner Mario Lemieux) coming in," Erin Estell says. "We're really excited about having him. We'll probably have a naming contest (for the others) at some point."
A certain crew of penguins from Pittsburgh would like to invite you to visit their spacious new home on the North Side, when they move in this month.
What -- you think Sid, Fleury, Geno & Co. are the only penguins in town?
Patrick, Simon, Stanley, Sidney, Elvis and at least six new friends are moving in to their new digs, Penguin Point, on Saturday, the culmination of the National Aviary's $1.7 million project to build a more interactive, public-friendly home for their ever-popular flightless waterfowl.
"They're our most popular attraction," says Patrick Mangus, executive director of the National Aviary. "The first thing people say when they come here is, 'Where are the penguins?' "
Previously, the penguins only came out a few times a day for special shows. That wil change when Penguin Point opens, giving the penguins a permanent home that the public can see up close -- very close. Visitors will be able to crawl underneath the exhibit, and peep through domed bubbles into the penguins' pool and rock-walled enclosure.
"You'll be nose-to-beak with the penguins," says Erin Estell, manager of community outreach and education at the Aviary.
There will be small cave-like cubbyholes for nesting penguins, and video cameras linked to displays -- and the Aviary Web site -- to watch baby penguins hatch, feed and grow.
The exhibit will be open to the elements, and visitors will be able to observe from vantage points indoors and outside. All the penguins at the Aviary are African penguins, who, unlike their Antarctic relations, don't mind a temperate climate.
Of course, penguins frolicking in the pool figures to be the main attraction. Penguins may seem to waddle awkwardly on land, but their torpedo-shaped bodies are perfectly suited for the water. They can swim at speeds as fast as 25 miles per hour.
"Penguin Point" also attempts to explain the many ecological pressures that penguins face, particularly to their food supply -- which also happens to be our food supply.
"One of the things we want to teach people is to eat fish that are fished sustainably -- not fish that are the food sources for penguins," Estell says. "If we take away one species of fish, it affects dozens of others.
"That's something right here in Pittsburgh that we can do to help the penguins."
The exhibit is just one part of a $26 million project to transform the Aviary over the next several years.
"It's part of a long-term project to expand and make the Aviary more user-friendly," Mangus says. "This is a facility built in 1952, and has had only modest upgrades since then. It will better deliver our messages of conservation and appreciation or nature."
New additions will eventually include the Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater, a new entrance, expanded offices, a rooftop theater for raptor demonstrations, classrooms, a cafe, expanded gift shop and new interactive bird exhibits.
Each upgrade will begin when fundraising permits. The permanent fundraising campaign is the new reality for nonprofits, Mangus says.
Those who grew up in Pittsburgh may assume that most cities have an aviary, but there are actually very few -- and almost all exist as an attachment to a zoo.
"We have to recognize that people in Pittsburgh take their institutions for granted," Mangus says. "It's really incumbent upon us as an organization to keep it fresh, keep it new. People only have so much time and money, and we have to earn their patronage."
Penguin food
It's one thing to state that penguins' food supplies worldwide are threatened by overfishing. Penguin Point attempts to go the extra mile to explain the problem of unsustainable fishing, and tell visitors how they can help -- by not eating the most threatened species of fish.
Luckily for seafood aficionados, there is a long list of fish that are harvested in a much more sustainable manner:
Avoid
Chilean Seabass/Toothfish
Cod: Atlantic
Crab: King (imported)
Flounders, Soles (Atlantic)
Groupers
Halibut: Atlantic
Lobster: Spiny (Caribbean imported)
Mahi mahi/Dolphinfish (imported)
Monkfish
Orange Roughy
Rockfish (Pacific)
Salmon (farmed, including Atlantic)
Scallops: Sea (Mid-Atlantic)
Sharks
Shrimp (imported farmed or wild)
Snapper: Red
Sturgeon, Caviar (imported wild)
Swordfish (imported)
Tuna: Albacore, Bigeye, Yellowfin (longline)
Tuna: Bluefin
Best Choices
Arctic Char (farmed)
Barramundi (U.S. farmed)
Catfish (U.S. farmed)
Cod: Pacific (Alaska longline)
Crab: Dungeness, Stone
Halibut: Pacific
Herring: Atlantic/Sardines
Lobster: Spiny (U.S.)
Mussels (farmed)
Oysters (farmed)
Pollock (Alaska wild)
Salmon (Alaska wild)
Scallops: Bay (farmed)
Striped Bass (farmed or wild)
Sturgeon, Caviar (farmed)
Tilapia (U.S. farmed)
Trout: Rainbow (farmed)
Tuna: Albacore (U.S., British Columbia troll/pole caught)
Tuna: Skipjack (troll/pole caught)
Source:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/museums/s_625035.html
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