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Wet King Penguin
Originally uploaded by Stewart 50

Taken at a very wet Edinburgh Zoo

Calgary Zoo to build $24.5-million penguin exhibit

A gentoo penguin eats a fish snack in its enclosure at the Melbourne Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia, May 25. Melbourne Aquarium began its breeding program with the arrival of 16 new king and gentoo penguins, obtained through aquarium-bred stocks from Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. Photograph by: Mick Tsikas, Reuters

Calgary Zoo to build $24.5-million penguin exhibit by next spring


By Kim Guttormson Calgary Herald, Calgary HeraldJuly 30, 2009

The Calgary Zoo plans to start building a $24.5-million penguin exhibit — featuring about 80 birds from four species — by next spring after the project spent months in limbo.

It’s the only piece of the ambitious Arctic Shores proposal that will be built in the near future.

Antarctic Landing will give visitors a chance to see King, rockhopper, Gentoo and Humboldt penguins at play, including a viewing area in the middle of a chilly indoor pool that allows the birds to be seen both above and underwater.

There will also be a separate outdoor pool.

“It will be one of the most eagerly anticipated openings in quite some time,” Don Peterkin, the zoo’s director of facilities, said of the display they hope to open in 2011. “It’s one of those exhibits that absolutely captures people’s imaginations.”

The Calgary Zoo will join Montreal’s Biodome and the West Edmonton Mall with a penguin exhibit.

Gillian Gibbs-Gray, at the zoo with five-year-old Emily and three-year-old son Jamie, said the birds would be a draw.

“Absolutely, my kids would love it,” she said. “We love the opportunity to see animals we wouldn’t otherwise get to experience.

“I know the zoo’s had some tough times, I hope they think it through and it’s something that will be sustainable.”

This fall the zoo will ask the city to free up $14.5 million already committed to the project and will take plans to its board of directors for approval.

The city typically releases its share of funding when a group has hit the 90 per cent fundraising mark.

The zoo also has $3.6 million remaining from a grant previously given by the province and $3 million generated in interest on the overall grant. It is also launching a $3.4-million fundraising campaign for private donations.

The 18,000-square-foot Antarctic Landing — plus a 6,000-square-foot gift shop — is a small piece of what was originally envisioned as Arctic Shores. When a development permit was filed on that project in 2006, it was expected to be a 294,554-square-foot facility with a price tag of more than $120 million and an opening date of next year. Polar bears, beluga whales, penguins, seals and arctic foxes were all on the list of animals being considered.

But soaring construction prices saw the zoo start to scale it back the following year, removing belugas from the wish list to rein in costs. Polar bears, otters and penguins were still hoped for, but donations also weren’t pouring in.

“It became cost prohibitive,” said Grahame Newton, the zoo’s chief financial officer.

Now, spending less than a fifth of the original estimate, penguins will be the sole featured attraction.

An outdoor, 1.5-metre deep pool with a rocky shoreline will house Humboldt penguins — warm weather birds found living along the Pacific coast of South America — in the summer. Part of the rocky slab can be heated, to accommodate Calgary’s cooler nights and only Plexiglas will separate birds from patrons.

In the colder months, King penguins — the second largest species, usually found on subantarctic islands such as South Georgia — will take up residence outside.

The second pool will be indoors and climate controlled to keep it cool for the Gentoos and Rockhoppers, also subantarctic birds, as well as the Kings during the summer.

Visitors will walk in through the middle of the pool, just over a metre of Plexiglas on either side, so they can see the penguins on the rocks or swimming around. Peterkin said the pool will continue under the pathway — which will have glass viewing areas in the floor — so the penguins can swim in a loop, as they like to do.

The new exhibit comes on the heels of some controversy at the zoo, including the death of 41 of cow nose rays last year, which was blamed on human error.

Its newest baby elephant, Malti, died at 15 months last fall after contracting elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.

In October 2007, a hippo died after being confined too long in a shipping crate while travelling to Calgary from Denver. And in the span of a year, between 2006 and 2007, four gorillas died at the zoo.

Rob Laidlaw, executive director of Zoocheck, said the penguins are a bad idea.

“I’ve seen a lot of penguin exhibits and very few of them are up to snuff when you look at (the birds’) behaviour,” he said, pointing to the fact many species in the wild wander over a large expanse. “We’d certainly like to see the zoo stop going for these big entertainment-based types of attractions.”

Dee Boersma, the Wadsworth endowed chair in conservation science at the University of Washington and with Penguin Sentinels, said the birds do quite well in zoos, if they have the appropriate environment.

“As long as they’ve got food, they’re fairly happy,” Boersma said, adding the four species that will live in Calgary are never found together in the wild. “Whether you like zoos or not, that’s one issue. But the real issue is most people are never going to see penguins in the wild.

“If we really want to conserve these species in the world, we have to make room for them and people have to care about them. If you never see them, you’re never going to care about them.”

Pointing to her local zoo, she said the penguin exhibit is a success, where “the kids just go wild and so do the penguins, chasing people’s fingers (along the Plexiglas.)”

Cheryl Martin, at the zoo with her son Kyle, 5, and Kim Zizakovic, with daughter Milana, 6, and son Maksim, 5, said given the slew of animated penguins in movies recently, the birds will appeal to kids.

“I think it will be really interesting,” Martin said, “but animal safety is paramount.”

Kyle said he’d like to see the birds, deeming them “cute,” an opinion echoed by Milana.

Source:
kguttormson@theherald. canwest.com
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Calgary+build+million+penguin+exhibit+next+spring/1844847/story.html

Penguin Slideshow

Slideshow here:HERE

Image of the Day

Antarctica
Originally uploaded by TeodorB

Image of the Day

Face-Off
Originally uploaded by filterfed

Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo taken by Cheryl Garin

Penguin predator tests inconclusive

Penguin predator tests inconclusive

Tests on DNA, taken from the carcasses of dead penguins found on beaches along Sydney's North Head, have not been able to identify whether the attackers were dogs or foxes.

Ten litte penguins, also known as fairy penguins, were killed by foxes or dogs over a nine day period earlier this month.

The department of environment and climate change says not enough DNA material was left on the penguins for investigators to make a conclusion.

Since the attacks, the department has hired trained marksmen to watch over the penguin colony after dark.

Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/29/2639647.htm

Bill and Sookie Cuddle the Penguins at Sea World

Bill and Sookie Cuddle the Penguins at Sea World


This year, it seemed like a ton of celebs flocked down to San Diego for Comic Con from Robert Pattinson to Scarlett Johanssen to Johnny Depp and Megan Fox. And just how do all the Diegans feel about celebs invading their turf? Um, they kinda love it. Since most of the celeb actions happen "so close yet so far" away in Los Angeles, San Diegans actually get pretty thrilled when they spy celebs walking down their streets, or so one of our local friends says.

Still, it's good to see that the sexy vampire-human couple, Bill Compton and Sookie Stackhouse (aka Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin of True Blood), did the tourist thing and visited some of the attractions of San Diego during their Comic-Con stay. The duo hit up Sea World and frolicked with the penguins at the park's Penguin Encounter. JustJared.com has all the pics of the cuteness.

Non-celeb visitors to the Penguin Encounter can admire the 300 cold weather birds during the exhibit's regularly scheduled tour but it doesn't look like normal folk can go behind the scenes and cuddle the penguins like Bill and Sookie did.

However, there are two different ways to get up close with the dolphins. The Dolphin Encounter allows you to touch and feed the dolphins and starts at $45 per person. The Dolphin Interaction allows you to actually hop in and swim with the dolphins (which is what Anna did) and that starts at $170 per person. Regular park tickets are $65 for ages 10 and up.

Source:
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/28/02730/3692/travel/Bill+and+Sookie+Cuddle+the+Penguins+at+Sea+World

Images of the Day

Adorable pictures of Stephen & Anna at San Diego Sea World

On the last day of their stay in San Diego (Sunday July 26) Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer visited Sea World and played with a two-month-old Magellanic penguin chick and a macaroni penguin.

Penguin deaths stopped but sharp shooters remain

Penguin deaths stopped but sharp shooters remain
July 28, 2009 - 10:29AM

Snipers will continue to protect Sydney's rare penguins from predators despite no deaths being recorded in the past fortnight.

Foxes or dogs have mauled 11 of the endangered birds as they totter up the beach in Manly and North Head.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service got so worried the area's population of 60 breeding pairs was going to be decimated earlier this month they stationed snipers in the North Head grass to pick off any marauders.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change said that, although no more deaths have been recorded recently, the snipers would remain firmly in place.

"The good news is since we set up our intensive fox control program, coupled with widespread community appeal to keep dogs under control, we have not had any more penguins killed," a department spokeswoman said.

"The National Parks and Wildlife Service is continuing with measures which include comprehensive baiting and rotational shooters.

"Foxes are very sensitive to scent so the operation can only be successful if the shooters are only active for a few nights at any time.

"A number of baits have been taken over the last week although its possible we'll only know that we have been successful when we continue to have no further penguin mortality or no further baits taken."

DNA tests taken from the bodies of dead penguins found in the area are due to be available tomorrow.

It should finally establish whether dogs or foxes are responsible.

The colony of little penguins is said to be the only one on the NSW mainland.

There used to be hundreds of the birds on the north shore but attacks and urban development have dramatically reduced their numbers.

Angelika Triechler, who, with 30 volunteers from Manly Environment Centre, patrol Manly and North Head, said she had also not found any more dead penguins in the past fortnight.

Video available at source:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/penguin-deaths-stopped-but-sharp-shooters-remain-20090728-dz00.html

Image of the Day

Rockhopper 2
Originally uploaded by tworockdocs

Image of the Day

Rockhopper
Originally uploaded by Med Gull

Penguin patrol halts vicious attacks_Yay!

Penguin patrol halts vicious attacks
July 25, 2009

Vicious attacks on rare penguins in Sydney's northern beaches have been stopped, according to campaigners.

There was uproar earlier this month after it emerged the famous population of 120 little penguins at Manly and North Head was being mauled by foxes or dogs.

The National Parks Service was so worried about protecting the 60 breeding pairs they stationed two snipers to pick off any beasts trying to pounce on the birds.

Post-mortems have been carried out at Taronga Zoo on the 11 penguins found dead and DNA taken from bite marks has been examined to determine the identity of the attackers.

The National Parks Service even set up infrared sensors around North Head and let a sniffer dog loose to hound out any foxes.

Angelika Treichler, who along with 30 other Manly Environment Centre volunteers patrols Manly in a bid to protect the penguins, says the attacks have completely stopped.

"In total there's been 11 penguins killed now but none in the last two weeks since all this came out," she told AAP.

"I'm sure it is dogs that have been doing this because foxes tear out penguin's guts and eat their livers.

"Dogs just play with them and all the bodies we've found have been relatively few marks on them.

"Ever since it was published that DNA was being tested the attacks have stopped.

"Personally I think that is because dog owners are worried their animals may be identified as being responsible and are now keeping them under better control."

Ms Treichler admits she has snuck onto private beaches to protect the penguins.

There are several private beaches in Manly and North Head where she is not supposed to patrol.

But the campaigner said she could not stand idly by and watch the penguins be attacked.

"Some of the attacks happened on these beaches so we have been on there to make sure no more happen," Ms Treichler said.

Results of the DNA tests carried out on the penguins are due to be available on Wednesday.

Source:
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/penguin-patrol-halts-vicious-attacks-20090725-dws0.html

Image of the Day

Yellow-eyed penguin
Originally uploaded by dmonniaux

This yellow-eyed penguin is molting. In the morning, out of its nest in the beach bluff at Oamaru, New Zealand, it blocked the path of another penguin, making menacing cries.

This Week's Pencognito!

Please visit Jen and all the pengies HERE

Image of the Day

20090720_5
Originally uploaded by zepposfamily

Image of the Day

Day watch
Originally uploaded by Cpt Spaulding

Police Look for Penguin-Suited Robber

Police Look for Penguin-Suited Robber
By Elizabeth Braun, Melanie Stout

Jul 22, 2009

GREENFIELD - The gas station clerk was surprised to see a guy she thought was wearing a penguin costume. But when she saw the gun she knew what was happening.

It happened at 12:15 Wednesday afternoon at the Phillips 66 station at Highway 100 and Layton.

The clerk called 911 and gave this description: "He's a white male and has a penguin suit on with like a scarf covering his face, and he had, I'm not sure if the gun is real. I just saw a gun."

So the call went out: Penguin suit-clad robber on the run.

Officers took a closer look at the store's video.

"He was dressed in a black and a white hoodie underneath which made it look like a costume, but as we look at the video it was just different colored hoodies that he wore," says Detective Dave Patrick of the Greenfield police.

Penguin suit or not, as the bad guy waddled off, they did get video of the getaway car.

"Squads were close. He just happened to slip through this time," Patrick explained.

No one in the store was injured and video could help nab the robber.

Source:
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/51436617.html

Zoo's penguins to be treated to 'fishsicles'

Woodland Park Zoo's Humboldt penguins, a desert species, will be treated tomorrow to "fishsicles," as a cool-down for the heat on Wednesday.

Zoo's penguins to be treated to 'fishsicles'

By Robinson Newspapers Staff
July 21, 2009
Woodland Park Zoo

The colony of Humboldt penguins at the Woodland Park Zoo will be treated to five-gallon “fishsicles,” a block of ice with small fish, such as herring and smelt, on Wednesday, July 22 at 3:30 p.m.

Why would penguins at Woodland Park Zoo be cooled off during a heat wave? According to the zoo, Humboldt penguins is a species that lives in one of the harshest and driest desert habitats on earth.

Fishsicles are part of the zoo’s ongoing enrichment program to help enhance the lives of the zoo’s animals, promote natural animal behavior, keep animals mentally stimulated and provide added enjoyment for visitors.

Enter through Woodland Park Zoo’s West Entrance at North 55th Street and Phinney Avenue North. If late, proceed to the new penguin exhibit near the restaurant.

Source:
http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2009/07/20/features/zoos-penguins-be-treated-fishicles

Galapagos penguins harbor malaria threat

Galapagos penguins harbor malaria threat

Penguins and malaria are not two organisms you would normally associate with each other, yet biologists have found the malaria parasite in an endangered species of the black-and-white waddlers.

Iris Levin of the University of Missouri at St Louis and her colleagues took blood samples from 362 Galapagos penguins – already listed as being threatened with extinction – on nine islands in the Galapagos archipelago.

All of the birds appeared healthy, but the tests revealed that 19 of the penguins, 5 per cent, carried the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria. The infected birds were spread across the archipelago, suggesting the parasite is not restricted to one small colony of penguins. Galapagos penguins move around the islands, so the parasite is likely to spread further, say the researchers.

"Plasmodium in Galapagos penguins is potentially disastrous for this species," says Bruce Hofkin, a parasitologist at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, who was not involved in the study. "Most penguin species are very susceptible to Plasmodium and avian malaria is a real problem in zoos, where it is a major problems in penguin exhibits."

Dangerous visitor

The mosquitoes that can carry Plasmodium arrived on the archipelago in the 1980s, presumably on incoming boats or flights. Researchers have been concerned that the parasite may take hold but had not found any evidence of it until now.

Levin says that although the birds were healthy, there is still cause for concern. The biologists point out that Plasmodium has decimated wild bird populations in Hawaii; that the strain they found is closely related to a strain that causes avian malaria in captive penguins; and that the Galapagos penguins are unlikely to have encountered the malaria parasite before, making them vulnerable to it.

One other factor concerns them at least as much as all of the above is the El Niño phenomenon. The reduction in fish numbers during El Niño seasons can slash the penguin population in the Galapagos by up to 80 per cent. The researchers fear that this could trigger malaria symptoms and deaths in infected birds.

Although the Galapagos penguin population has been on the rise since the major El Niño event of 1997-98, when the penguins are thought to have been free of Plasmodium (Marine Ornithology, vol 29, p 43), it is still only half of what it was before.

Other research has suggested that stress can increase the death rate among birds that have malaria. And computer models suggest El Niño events may become slightly stronger with climate change. Put all this together, say the researchers, and you get the picture of the Galapagos penguins under attack from all sides.

Journal reference: Biological Conservation (DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.06.017)
Source:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17501-galapagos-penguins-harbour-malaria-threat.html

Image of the Day

Penguin
Originally uploaded by danielle_b_

Berliner Zoo

Image of the Day

Little Penguin
Originally uploaded by urbanmenagerie

Image of the Day

Magellanic penguin chick
Originally uploaded by diametrik

Image of the Day

Adelea Penguin
Originally uploaded by Daedra Nicole

Adelie penguin at Brown Bluff Antarctica

Image of the Day

Three ages: Chick, Adolescent, Adult
Originally uploaded by cjuel

King penguins, Gold Harbour, South Georgia

This Week's Pencognito!

Please visit Jen and all the pengies HERE

News from TN Aquarium's Penguin Parents

Macaroni Chick: Day 1
(Below) Gentoo Chick: Day 1





The Tennessee Aquarium has another new addition to "Penguins' Rock." A baby gentoo was born yesterday and so far parents Bug and Big T have been doing a pretty good job with their chick. There has been some concern because these new parents were pretty rough while they were turning and incubating their eggs. In fact, one of the eggs was crushed in the nest and the remaining egg had a small chip out of it. Senior aviculturist Amy Graves showed me the second eggshell and it's amazing that the chip didn't go through to the interior of the shell. But penguin eggs are much thicker than chicken eggs, and therefore durable enough to take some scrapes and bumps in a nest built out of stone. However, one misstep by the parents now could cause injury to this tiny newborn.


One month ago, we watched Paulie and Chaos caring for their tiny baby. There are some differences between the two in the "Day one" photos above. For example, the mac chick is darker and doesn't resemble the parents at this early stage. However, the lighter colored gentoo chick already sports an orange beak and white circle around the eyes like its parents. But the baby doesn't have the signature gentoo white head stripe yet.


The baby macaroni penguin started off with light gray feet, but now they are turning pink like the adult macaronis. Notice that it still lacks the signature "macaroni" crest feathers in this more recent image.
You'll also notice how quickly this youngster has grown. The baby macaroni can be heard in the gallery while visiting the Tennessee Aquarium now. His loud calls are keeping Paulie and Chaos on a busy feeding schedule. This growing penguin seems to be famished all the time.

Source:
http://tennesseeaquarium.blogspot.com/

Friday Videos!

Image of the Day

IMG_2516
Originally uploaded by pownkie1@yahoo.com

out of the water after a surf!

More Info on TN Aquarium's 1st Gentoo Chick

First Gentoo Penguin Is Born At Tennessee Aquarium
by Thom L. Benson
posted July 16, 2009


The Tennessee Aquarium�s penguin exhibit is quickly becoming a nursery as another newborn penguin was welcomed into the world this morning.

Yesterday we noticed a small dime or nickel-sized hole in the egg, but there wasn�t much progress throughout the day, said senior aviculturist Amy Graves. But when I came in this morning, the fluffy little chick was out.

Since spotting the newborn early this morning, Ms. Graves has been able to see the whole chick several times. The Aquarium�s first baby gentoo penguin already resembles its parents Bug and Big T and looks different than the macaroni chick born nearly four weeks ago.

This gentoo chick is lighter in color on the back and has a darker head than the macaroni baby,ms. Graves said. It already has that orange gentoo beak with a few darker markings.

Big T fed the tiny bird on Thursday which is a bit early for a newborn penguin. While Aquarium staff members are encouraged by this sign, they also point out that the first days of a baby animal�s life are some of the most crucial for survival. There�s no way to know right now whether the chick is 100 percent healthy.

In addition, Bug and Big T are first-time parents and they haven�t exactly been gentle with their eggs.

They were a little rough while turning their eggs and tending them,� Ms. Graves said.They broke one in the nest and chipped their remaining egg. Hopefully they are gentler with the baby because one misstep by the parents could injure the chick in the nest.

Macaroni parents Paulie and Chaos are model parents according to Graves.

They have been great about protecting their chick, feeding it, keeping it warm and taking turns, Ms. Graves said. Ideally that's what will happen with Bug and Big T. Then as we saw with the macaroni chick, if things go well, baby penguins grow fast. So if you really want to see a baby penguin, you need to visit soon.

In fact, at Wednesday�s weigh-in, the four-week-old macaroni baby tipped the scales at slightly more than four pounds.

While many Aquarium visitors are amazed at how fast the macaroni baby has grown, they are also fascinated and excited to see this new gentoo baby penguin.

Bug and Big T�s nest is in the center of the exhibit in an elevated position, said Ms. Graves. We've already had several groups that were thrilled to see this new baby. It is so tiny and cute.

The nest is also in a perfect spot for the aquarium�s live webcam. While it's tough to see the small chick online, you can see the parents as well as curious neighbors stopping by to see the new addition.

There are two other gentoo pairs with eggs. If Poncho and Peep�s two eggs are viable, they could hatch later this month. The pair of eggs that Zeus and Pebbles are incubating could hatch around the first week of August. And penguin keepers are still observing the late nesting activities of Nipper and Flower.

Source:
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_155015.asp

TN Aquarium's 1st Gentoo Chick Born Today

The offspring of Bug and Big T...

Image of the Day

Fiordland Crested Penguin
Originally uploaded by Photovolcanica

Portrait of the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin taken on the W Coast of S Island New Zealand

Australia investigates mysterious penguin killings

A fairy penguin takes a look around at the boardwalk on Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday



Australia investigates mysterious penguin killings
AP

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer Kristen Gelineau, Associated Press Writer – Wed Jul 15, 5:58 pm ET

SYDNEY – The first battered bodies were found on a small Australian beach, the white sand around them stained crimson with their blood. A few days later, the killer struck again — this time on the nearby cliffs overlooking Sydney Harbor. The cluster of victims were covered in bite marks, their tiny tummies slashed open.

Through blood-spatter evidence and DNA testing, a profile of the killer began to emerge: Stealthy. Fast. Furry.

What is killing the little penguins in Sydney's beachside suburb of Manly? A fox? A dog? Both?

The investigation so far has yielded some clues. Officials can almost certainly rule out humans; the bite marks and blood patterns point to foxes, which often hold prey in their mouths and prance around shaking it, said Sally Barnes, head of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.

To Manly's "Penguin Wardens," a 30-member group of volunteer penguin protectors who spend hours each night guarding the birds, the culprit behind what they've dubbed the "Massacre at Manly Point" is less important than making sure it doesn't happen again.

"It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from," said grief-stricken chief penguin warden Angelika Treichler, a 67-year-old retired teacher who has been watching over the fluffy blue-and-white waddlers nearly every night for the past five years.

The investigation into the nine penguin deaths to date — and efforts to protect those still alive — has spread beyond the wardens to the New South Wales government. The parks service has sent DNA samples to a lab, but won't have results for at least a week.

As they hunt for the killer, parks service officials have set fox bait and traps, and warned residents to keep dogs locked up or on a leash.

"Really, it doesn't matter whether it's a fox or dog — we're not going to wait for the results," Barnes said. "We're just throwing everything we can at keeping the penguins safe."

This week, the parks service sent two "snipers" — trained sharpshooters from the state pest authority, armed with night vision goggles and .22-caliber rifles — to the cliffs to kill any foxes caught in their crosshairs.

Extreme? Not so much. This is, after all, a country that's considering building fences across chunks of Tasmania to help prevent endangered Tasmanian Devils with a contagious cancer from infecting the healthy population.

"Australians are generally animal lovers, and I think they're also very connected to native animals," Barnes said. "So they will do whatever's reasonable to protect particularly endangered ones."

And, as Manly Mayor Jean Hay noted: "Everybody's saying, 'Do whatever it takes to protect them.'"

To an outsider, however ...

"Snipers?" U.S. tourist Christy McLeod, from Bend, Ore., asked from her seat on Manly wharf, eyes darting to the sand where her son was playing. "Really?"

Not anywhere nearby, she was assured. And their targets are foxes, not people.

"That's creepy," she muttered. "They're PENGUINS."

Little penguins, actually. Also known as fairy penguins, they are the world's smallest penguin species, standing around a foot tall.

They are often seen in southern Australia and New Zealand, but are rare in New South Wales; the 120 that live in Manly are the only breeding colony left on the state's mainland, and they are considered endangered by the state government.

Five years ago, Treichler noticed a small group of penguins shuffling each night from the ocean to their nests under the wooden ramp leading to the adjacent beach. She was smitten — and petrified. Who would ensure their safety?

Thus began her nightly vigils next to the birds' nests. She puts off what most would consider important tasks — such as hip replacement surgery — until the three months of the year that the penguins head out to sea.

Others soon joined her, and today, 30 volunteer Penguin Wardens rotate night shifts. Aside from dogs and foxes, 22-year-old warden Elissa Barr cited other dangers: Flash photography disorients the birds. Trash can get stuck around their necks. And drunks sometimes step — and, Barr noted dryly — urinate on them.

But the volunteers can't be everywhere, as evidenced by the recent killings.

Treichler believes the birds were taken during their nightly march home. "In autopsies that were done, they had fresh fish in their tummies," she said from her perch on the Manly pier, the chilly nighttime breeze ruffling her white hair.

So the wardens stepped up their watches. On this night, seven stand guard over a nest of four. The birds are laying low, including the normally flamboyant Mr. Stickybeak. Treichler believes the silence from the private beach where the latest slaughter happened has alerted the Stickybeaks and their neighbors — Mr. and Mrs. Silverwing — to the danger.

"They are usually singing their love songs," she said. "But it's eerily quiet at the moment."

Suddenly, a man and his 6-year-old son approached with unsettling news: Just yesterday, they saw a dead penguin at a beach south of Sydney.

"Did he have his tummy opened?" Treichler asked.

"Yeah," the man replied. "And he was missing his head."

Treichler's face fell. A pained murmur rustled through the group.

"That's a fox," Treichler said.

She and another volunteer scurried off to check on the nests at the private beach. As she slipped away into the night, she conceded with a smile: "It's a bit illegal."

But the chief penguin warden had a job to do. Somewhere in the darkness, the killer still lurked.

Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090715/ap_on_re_au_an/as_australia_penguins

Thanks to Kim Noyes for the heads up on this story!

Penguin: Facebook’s Future Twitter App?

Penguin: Facebook’s Future Twitter App?
July 15th, 2009 | by Ben Parr

We know that Facebook (Facebook) has recently been changing its privacy features and adding new features to open up its stream in a process we like to call Twitterification. And while Facebook’s adopting more and more features from its microblogging rival, we’re finding out that the reverse may also be true. Could an official Facebook Twitter app be on the horizon?

Well, a penguin is fueling speculation. Specifically, Penguin FB, a Twitter (Twitter) application that’s being tested on Facebook’s development servers. A tweet by Blake Ross, Facebook engineer and one of the founders of Firefox (Firefox), is riling up suspicions about an official Twitter app from Facebook.

The tweet, which we first learned about via Inside Facebook, is a test tweet from the unknown application. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Blake has deleted his tweet.

Source:
http://mashable.com/2009/07/15/penguin-fb/

Image of the Day

White Flippered Blue Penguin
Originally uploaded by Darren Scott Photo & Furniture

White flippered little blue penguin on Motinau Island , North Canterbury, New Zealand.

Penguins On Phillip Island

Penguins On Phillip Island, Australia - Choreographed By Nature

By Kalpana Sunder
14 July 2009 @ 11:08 am ET

We feel as if we were here to watch a football match. There is a palpable electric feel in the air and expectancy is high. We hear a cry of excitement, "I can see one!" The crowds strain their necks and try to focus on the moon-lit waters. I train my binoculars and catch my first glimpse of a pair of wobbly feet. Now the deep blue sheen of a wing and then the head!

We are on Phillip Island, 140 km from Melbourne, Australia known for its pristine beaches, wildlife and most importantly the 'Penguin parade'. George Bass discovered the island in 1798 and named it after Australia's first governor, Arthur Philip. In the late 1920s an access to this island was built and organized viewing of the fairy penguins was organized and tourist traffic boomed!

We enter Phillip Island through a bridge linking the mainland after a scenic drive from Melbourne. We see the Koala Conservation centre, where there's a boardwalk and we get to hug these sleepy leaf munching marsupials. We also visit the Nobbies centre, which has a camera link with a nearby Fur seal colony and we get to see them frolicking on the rocks! We walk through the main building with coffee shops, souvenir stalls and take a five minute walk along the Summerland beach to reach the amphitheatre- like grandstand.

There are flood lights here and a massive crowd of spectators, many Japanese tourists among them. We see that there are other options too to view the fairy penguins. One is a Penguins plus Viewing platform that gives you a little shelter from the cold winds-at a cost of course! The other one is the elevated Sky-Box only for five tourists, in an enclosed elevated tower that also makes use of latest night view technology and has rangers to give commentaries!

We are given maps and a list of Dos and Don'ts by the volunteers and strictly instructed that photography is prohibited. Penguins' eyes are specialized for seeing underwater and on land at low light and are highly sensitive to sudden brightness. We are all bundled up as the icy blast whips through our clothing and we are elated to see our first fairy penguins, the stars of the show tonight.

The fairy penguins are native only to Australia and New Zealand. These diminutive birds are only 33 cms tall whereas their Antarctic cousins are as tall as 70 cm! They waddle towards us, some get thrown back by the tide and others assume roles of leaders as they guide the pack towards the green path leading to the burrows in the sand dunes.

What begins with a few birds is now a magical procession of hundreds! Some of them look hesitant as if crossing a busy road, others preen themselves for some imaginary ramp show, and others walk with military discipline in a single file towards their young ones in the burrows. Some penguins are so full of their dinner that they take some rest on the beach before waddling home! We are told that these frail-looking birds leave for the sea at dawn and sometimes swim as much as 100 km in search of food! They lay eggs in their burrows and both parents take turns in incubation.

These tuxedo-clad penguins have the gait of choreographed drunks! They make their way by following the cries of their young. We find it amazing as to how these cuddly creatures reach the precise shores without any homing devices or GPS and make it a daily sunset ritual.

As the penguins walk towards the burrows, we follow them on the dimly-lit wooden boardwalks and see some amazing sights. A penguin feeding a small one with open beak his cache of fish, some penguins communicating in excited cries and others watching the crowds with some interest before disappearing into their subterranean homes.

The wardens lead us towards the exit as we reluctantly leave this grand spectacle of nature. The black and white birds have made hundreds of fans tonight! It is a totally surreal experience. An event of nature has been orchestrated into something like a fairground experience with a truly Australian flavour!

All the more surreal because I don't have one photograph of the Parade (except for a postcard from the souvenir shop), but I can vividly recall in my mind's eye even today the sequence of events that night!

Source:
http://www.ibtimes.com/contents/20090714/philip-island-choreographed-nature-australia.htm

Blue penguins hit by cars on coastal Wellington roads

Blue penguins hit by cars on coastal Wellington roads

Updated at 12:41pm on 15 July 2009

Drivers are being urged to slow down on coastal Wellington roads because of deaths among the blue penguin population.

About 600 nesting pairs of blue penguins exist and while the species is not endangered, it is in decline.

The Department of Conservation says three of the penguins, the smallest in the world, were hit by motorists last weekend.

Jennifer Lynch of the Forest and Bird Society says each death has wider repercussions on the population, as if the adult bird gets killed on the road in the breeding season, their eggs will not be incubated or their chicks will die.

Ms Lynch says the key times for drivers to take care is at dawn and dusk when the penguins cross roads between the sea and their burrows.

Source:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/07/15/1245bbf03069

Snipers to protect Sydney's penguins from fox attacks

Four little penguins walk towards the ocean in Sydney. Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Snipers to protect Sydney's penguins from fox attacks

Night watch on endangered species in Australia after nine birds mauled to death

Fox attacks on endangered penguins have led Australia's wildlife authorities to post snipers at night to protect the birds.

A colony of about 120 little penguins (Eudyptula minor), also known as fairy penguins, at Quarantine beach in Sydney has recently lost about nine of its number to attacks. On Sunday night, the two snipers took their first watch but were unable to shoot the animals responsible.

"We've got infrared cameras as well to detect fox movements along with fox baiting … This is really a microcosm of the devastation foxes can wreak in some areas," the National Parks and Wildlife Service told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Autopsies on the dead penguins showed foxes or dogs were probably responsible because of the nature of the bite marks. DNA swabs were being analysed.

Angelika Treichler from local group Manly Environment Centre told the Herald the attacks were happening at dusk when the nocturnal penguins come ashore. She urged dog owners to keep their animals on leads.

Meanwhile, the snipers are there to stay. "We've had no luck so far finding what has done this so we'll keep on trying," the parks service said. "We'll be there for as long as necessary."

Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/13/penguins-foxes-attacks-snipers

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Maremma dog on patrol: the penguin population on the island has boomed (AAP: Warrnambool City Council, file photo)
Sheepdogs to guard island penguins

Posted Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:29am AEST



Maremma sheepdogs will continue to guard the Little Penguin population on Middle Island, off the coast of Warrnambool in Victoria's south-west.

The Warrnambool Council has voted to retain the two dogs on the island for the third consecutive year.

The council's environmental planner Ian Fitzgibbon says since the dogs were put on the island, there have been no known cases of foxes killing any seabirds this year.

And he says the penguin population on the island has boomed.

"Each year we learn something new, so having a 12-month commitment is probably just a good way of saying we're learning each time and there's always things we can improve on," he said.

He says the Little Penguin population has increased to about 80 adult birds and 32 chicks.

"I think it just really supports the benefits of using maremmas in agriculture and conservation management," he said.

"We've seen how our project has been successful, and we've had a lot of phone calls from around the world, people interested in using maremmas for other areas of predation protection."

Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/14/2624983.htm

This Humboldt Penguin Chick Has Been Hiding in a Burrow at the Akron Zoo for 3 Months

This Humboldt Penguin Chick Has Been Hiding in a Burrow at the Akron Zoo for 3 Months
Mon, 7/13/2009 - 8:11 PM

By David Barnhardt

Akron, OH - The Akron Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of an endangered Humboldt penguin chick. The penguin chick has emerged from the burrow and can be seen on exhibit when the parents allow the chick to come out and explore. Because of the bravery already shown by the chick, it has been named Tadeo, which means courage, by the Animal Care Staff.

Tadeo hatched April 14, 2009 and currently weighs about seven pounds. Tadeo has been in the water, which it did on its own. Usually, the first swim is more supervised by the parents and Animal Care Staff, but Tadeo decided to be brave and test the water alone. In the next couple of weeks the Animal Care Staff should be able to determine if Tadeo is male or female.

Tadeo is not able to fully eat on its own yet so the parents are still doing most of the feeding. The parents, Bopp and Jill, are fed four times a day, twice as much as the other penguins at the Akron Zoo. They are fed two varieties of fish: capelin and lake smelt. The parents feed penguin chicks by eating first and then regurgitating the food into their mouths. Tadeo should start eating by him or herself in a couple of weeks.

Humboldt penguins are warm climate penguins, unlike their Antarctic relatives. Humboldt penguins are commonly found in more temperate climates like Peru and Chile.

The Humboldt penguin is currently an endangered species. This is due primarily to commercial harvesting of guano for agricultural fertilizer. Without nesting locations, the Humboldt penguins are in serious danger of extinction. Some estimates indicate the possibility of extinction in the wild in the next 10 years. The Akron Zoo houses these penguins as part of the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan, which is a cooperative effort with other zoos to save endangered species through work in captivity and in the wild. The birth is a result of a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan.

The Akron Zoo is home to over 700 animals from around the world and is open 361 days a year. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens, $6 for children (ages 2-14). Children under two are free and parking is $2.00. For more information visit www.akronzoo.org or call (330) 375-2550.

The Akron Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

To view Akron Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-165-Akron_Zoo_in_Ohio

Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1806-This_Humboldt_Penguin_Chick_Has_Been_Hiding_in_a_Burrow_at_the_Akron_Zoo_for_3_Months

Image of the Day

Pinguin :-)
Originally uploaded by oO ~ Tobi ~ Oo

Snipers patrol Sydney penguin colony

Snipers patrol Sydney penguin colony

The Daily Telegraph

July 13, 2009 12:01am

SNIPERS will patrol the beach to protect Sydney's endangered little penguins as CSI-style forensics are used to find the killer - or killers - of nine of the colony at Manly.

An investigation into the penguin deaths at North Head was dramatically stepped up yesterday after another little penguin was found mauled to death on Quarantine Beach on Saturday.

It was the ninth from an endangered colony of just 60 pairs killed by either a dog or fox in the past 10 days.

Four dead penguins were found last Friday and a further four in following days.

Autopsies at Taronga Zoo had confirmed the penguin's injuries were consistent with a dog or fox attack.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service contracted two gunmen armed with .22 calibre rifles to patrol Quarantine Beach and surrounding areas late last night after fox tracks were found in the area.

The shooters will return to the area again tonight.

Manly council has also enlisted the services of Australia's only animals forensics experts to try to find the animal responsible.

They hoped DNA swabs taken from the dead penguins would identify the breed of dog involved.

If a dog matching the description is identified, council have the authority to execute a warrant at the owner's address to sample the dog's DNA.

If it matched that taken from the penguins, the dog owner faced heavy fines and possible criminal charges.

Attacks on the penguins took place on private beaches with no public access, making the population difficult to monitor.

But a group of vigilante activists from the Manly Environment Centre have vowed to do "whatever it takes" to protect the penguins and have enlisted an army of 30 volunteers to watch over the penguins night and day.

Group spokeswoman Angelika Treichler said the attacks were occurring about dusk, when the penguins returned from their fishing trips, and during mating.

"They are being attacked when they have a full belly of fish, or when they are mating out of their burrows and not really paying attention," Ms Treichler said.

Sydney is home to eight colonies of endangered species, ranging from bandicoots and ospreys to frogs and squirrel gliders.

WIRES spokeswoman Jilea Carney said pet owners should keep domestic animals separated from wildlife at all times by locking them inside at night, attaching double bells to cat collars and never allowing a dog to roam in or near a national park.

National Parks and Wildlife director Sally Barnes said animals should be reported immediately.

"We are appealing to all dog owners in the region to be particularly vigilant," Ms Barnes said.

"The loss of any penguins in this fragile community is terrible."

Source:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25770457-421,00.html

Image of the Day

Penguin
Originally uploaded by 3yellowpups

Feathered penguins are winners, too

Feathered penguins are winners, too

Saturday, July 11, 2009
By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Penguins have brought a lot of joy to Pittsburgh this year, starting with our Stanley Cup-winning hockey players. Another group of penguins, including one named Sidney, are delighting fans at a new exhibit at the National Aviary on the North Side.

On my visit to see the 11 African penguins last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see the hallways packed with people -- on a weekday, no less. Attendance has been up since the Penguin Point exhibit opened on May 23.

Visitors get a 360-degree view of a re-created African penguin habitat. You can view the birds from the top of the exhibit or watch them underwater. You can crawl into pop-up plastic bubbles that put visitors amid the penguins, who often go nose-to-nose with visitors, separated, of course, by a thin layer of acrylic (similar to what you see at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's meerkat exhibit).

The little penguins are cute and charming, though timing is everything. They sleep a lot, and you hate it when they do that on YOUR time.

"They're usually swimming in the morning, but there's no guarantee," said Terri Grendzinski of Ross, senior trainer at the aviary. "Their swimming is all over the board."

There are two times when the feathered pens are guaranteed to be awake and active -- 12:30 and 4 p.m. when they are fed.

Penguins line up as two interns arrive with buckets of raw fish -- the only food that African penguins eat. The penguins politely wait their turn.

Penguins are hand-fed because each gets one fish especially formulated for them, stuffed with vitamins and minerals. After that it's "all you can eat."

"None of them overeat," Ms. Grendzinski said. "They let you know when they've had enough."

They swallow the fish whole, head first, except for one female who swallows hers tail-first.

An aviary employee -- Julia Ecklar on the day I visited -- gives a running commentary while all this is going on.

Here are viewing tips she and Ms. Grendzinski offer to get the most of the experience:

The female penguins wear ID bands on their left wings while the males have tags on their right wings.

Stanley, 8, the aviary's original penguin, "is the only one with a bow tie." It's actually a black spot on his neck. Kristin, one of the recent arrivals, "has a necklace -- a stripe of black feathers around her neck."

Sidney, introduced to the public last year as a gray-featherd baby, recently got his black-and-white adult plumage. You can pick him out of the crowd because he's the only one with a blue-and-white ID tag.

Elvis is the bird that guards the gate where staff enter and leave the feeding area.

Stanley and Preston have learned that if they snuggle by the knees of the feeder, they will get fish without having to compete with the rest of the flock.

Another tip: At 4 p.m. you'll get a better view because the fields trips have generally left, and the aviary closes at 5 p.m.

Penguins are peaceful birds. There is no "leader of the pack" or boss bird, although they often stake out their favorite resting areas.

African penguins are native to South Africa, where their numbers are declining said Steve Sarro, National Aviary director of animal programs. Their current status is "vulnerable," and they may be declared "endangered" this year. There are an estimated 60,000 in the wild and 688 in U.S. zoos and aviaries.

The National Aviary is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8.50 for children. For more information go to www.aviary.org or call 412-323-7235.

Source:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09192/983119-51.stm

Image of the Day

Wheres my damn food?
Originally uploaded by Yellow-Lime

TN Aquarium Chick Update (Yes, another one! :)

Toy robot penguin purrs with delight

Toy robot penguin purrs with delight
Buzz up!
By Kim Leonard , TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 10, 2009

Prime-8 runs on his arms, stops to sniff whatever's in his way and even can shoot a plastic rocket at an annoying little sister. Penbo purrs when she's petted, and plays games with the chirping baby penguin that hatches from her tummy.

Robots are all the rage this summer as toys from the latest "Transformers" and "Terminator" movies fill stores, and Carnegie Mellon University spinoff Bossa Nova Robotics Inc. plans to start selling its own two playthings with personalities in coming weeks on cable shopping channel QVC and online retailer Amazon.com.

The yellow, gorilla-faced Prime-8 and chubby pink penguin Penbo showed off their tricks, speed and agility Thursday at an event at the Oakland campus.

They're the first toys developed with technology from CMU's Robotics Institute to debut commercially, but others are in the design and prototype stages.

For consumers, "The most successful application for robots so far is in the toy business," said John Feghali, one of Bossa Nova's three founders.

Inspired by Furby and other interactive toys, Prime-8 and Penbo use mechanics adapted from a cockroach-like robot named RHex created several years ago at CMU.

Both toys walk or run on two rotating limbs, Prime-8 on his arms and Penbo on her legs.

They don't trip on carpet as many toy robots do, their creators say. And using sensors, they respond to their owners' moves, play games and dance and fall asleep if they're ignored. Blow a kiss to Penbo, and she'll kiss back.

Prime-8, geared for boys ages 8 to 12, goes on sale for $99.99 on QVC on July 25. Penbo, for girls 4 to 6 and costing $69.99, will follow with her first TV appearance in mid-August.

Amazon.com will feature both products starting Aug. 1, and they'll be in stores for the holidays.

Feghali along with Bossa Nova cofounders David Palmer and Sarjoun Skaff tested their play robots with children at Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore. The toys will continue to be used there as part of the Robot Workshop at the science center's new Roboworld, billed as the world's biggest permanent robotics exhibition.

Feghali, Palmer and Skaff met through CMU, shared a liking for bossa nova music and talked about starting a robotics business.

They decided to make entertaining and educational toys that would be priced competitively after watching a group of toddlers giggle as RHex chased them around a campus lawn.

The partners founded their company four years ago, secured money from several sources including the Pittsburgh Technology Council's annual EnterPrize contest, and brought in former Mattel, Hasbro and MGA Entertainment executive Martin Hitch as CEO.

While toy robots undoubtedly are popular with kids, gauging sales isn't easy.

Electronics claimed $865 million of the toy industry's total $21.6 billion in sales last year, but interactive technology is showing up in lots of classic playthings ranging from dolls to board games. The Japan Robotics Association forecasts that the market for personal and lifestyle robots will grow to $15 billion by 2015.

For kids, "Robotic toys are emulating what is happening in everyday life," said Adrienne Citrin, spokeswoman for the New York-based Toy Industry Association. Hasbro's iDog works with an iPod, for example.

As to truly interactive toys, industry expert Len Simonian said advances in technology have cut production costs and made robot playthings available to more children.

"They're no longer cost-prohibitive. You could make a great toy 10 years ago," he said, but if it retailed for $500 a manufacturer wouldn't sell many.

Most of the 500 researchers at CMU's Robotics Institute work on building robots for a variety of tasks including farming, aiding in surgery and exploring underground mines.

But the center has spawned a few other startup companies that could follow Bossa Nova's path.

Modular Robotics LLC is working on a robotics construction kit that's something like Lego Mindstorms, but unique because every piece has a computer inside, research director Mark Gross said.

The company is testing software that includes social networking — kids will be able to share their creations over the Internet, he said. The product could be introduced late next year.

And Interbots LLC, creator of the animatronic Quasi robot used at fairs, is working on software for its first interactive toy and has completed a second prototype and talked with manufacturers, CEO Seema Patel said.

"Our goal is to have the little guy on the shelves in time for the Christmas 2010 season," she said.

Source:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_633005.html

Zoo penguin couple breaks up

Move over, Harry: Penguins Harry, left, and Linda, right, are now a couple after Linda lost her mate and courted Harry, who was previously shacking up with Pepper, another male penguin at the San Francisco Zoo. (Cindy Chew/The Examiner)


By: Katie Worth
Examiner Staff Writer
July 10, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — Someone alert Perez Hilton: Harry and Pepper, the San Francisco Zoo’s long-term same-sex penguin couple, have split up. And you
might say there’s a disreputable dame to blame.

The couple’s relationship began in 2003 and the breakup came as a shock to the couple’s zookeepers because Harry and Pepper, both Magellanic penguins, had long seemed one of the zoo’s happiest avian partnerships, according to zookeeper Anthony Brown.

The two black-and-white birds paired off when Harry, whom Brown described as outgoing, befriended Pepper, an introvert who sticks mostly to his burrow. At the time, the two were adolescents and everyone assumed they were just friends.

But soon they were nesting together. Harry would gather grass and bring it home to Pepper, who would arrange it tidily in their burrow, Brown said. Single females would come around, but both birds never seemed interested.

Last year, the pair was allowed to incubate and hatch an egg another penguin had laid.

“Of all of the parents that year, they were the best,” Brown said. “They took very good care of their chick. He ended up being the largest chick on the island.”

One could say that all seemed to be going swimmingly with Harry and Pepper.

Enter the recently widowed Linda, who has long had a reputation of sorts, according to Brown.

Several years ago, she left her longtime companion and moved in with much older Fig just hours after Fig’s partner passed away, Brown said.

“That was the fastest we’d ever seen penguins move on,” he said. “To be completely anthropomorphizing, Linda seems conniving. She’s got her plan. I don’t think she was wanting to be a single girl for too long.”

This year, within weeks of Fig passing away in winter, Harry was seen in Fig’s old burrow spending time with Linda, Brown said.

Then one day, Harry and Linda approached Pepper’s pen and confronted Pepper. Harry began attacking Pepper violently and the three ultimately had to be separated, Brown said.

Harry and Linda successfully nested this year and eventually Pepper was returned to the penguin exhibit from a bachelor pad at the Avian Conservation Center, where he quietly took up his old residence. Zookeepers and fans are waiting with bated breath to see what might happen next.

“That’s the big question,” Brown said. “It’s molting season in late July and early August, and around that time we see couples getting shaken up. It’ll be interesting to see if Harry spends any of that time with Pepper. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Source:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Zoo-penguin-couple-breaks-up-50421527.html
Video Source:
http://sfappeal.com/alley/2009/07/people-talk-shit-about-the.php

Three New Penguins!

Zoo19: Three New Penguins!

Columbia (WLTX) -- Riverbanks Zoo has one tiny and two big additions to the Penguin Coast exhibit.

A rockhopper chick, born on June 18 and two adult king penguins from the Milwaukee County Zoo, are the newest members of the penguin colony.

The male chick, born to parents Calista and Skimmer, is the first penguin to be born at Riverbanks in five years. The chick, which hatched on exhibit, will stay with his parents until Saturday. Animal care staff will then take the chick and hand-rear him until he becomes independent. He is expected to be back on exhibit when the bird is about 3 months old.

This three-week-old penguin now boosts Riverbanks' rockhopper population to 14. Rockhoppers are the third smallest species of penguin and are approximately three to six pounds when fully grown.

The two larger additions are 21-year-old Niles and Fredrico, two male king penguins. King penguins are the second largest species of penguin.

If you visit the zoo in the next few weeks you'll see that Fredrico is in the middle of a complete molt, or shedding of feathers, to grow new ones. During a molt, a penguin's feathers are not waterproof, so they cannot swim and hunt for fish.

Source:
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=75856&catid=35

Penquin Update @ the Tennessee Aquarium

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Penquin Update @ the Tennessee Aquarium

July 9, 2009 - 10:35 AM

When a baby penguin no longer fits safely under its parents, it's time to give the parents a little break. So penguin keepers at the Tennessee Aquarium have erected an acrylic playpen to corral the macaroni chick. "This fence helps keep the other curious penguins out while allowing visitors to see the baby," explained senior aviculturist Amy Graves. "It has a gate so we can let the parents in and out throughout the day."

During an examination on Friday, the chick topped the scales at 990 grams. That's nearly two pounds - more than double its weight from the previous weight of 484 grams recorded one week earlier. "It's a little butterball. It still sticks its little head underneath the parents thinking we can't see its round bottom," said Graves. "But the baby is now so large it can't fit under either ‘Paulie' or ‘Chaos' anymore."

The chick is getting stronger and Graves has observed it sitting upright next to the parents for short periods of time. Soon keepers will have to keep an eye on a waddling chick, but the new playpen should help keep the baby from venturing too far from the nest once it develops the leg power to move around. "Soon the parents will begin feeding the chick more solid food and within a few weeks it might be eating small, whole fish," Graves said.

Yet another surprise over the holiday weekend at "Penguins' Rock." Gentoo penguins "Zeus" and "Pebbles" now have two eggs in their nest. "If these new eggs are viable, they would hatch in mid-August," Graves said. "So we may be really busy between now and then."

Here's where the penguin tally stands as of Thursday:

Chaos and Paulie - macaroni penguins - one chick

Bug and Big T - gentoo penguins - one egg

Biscuit and Blue - gentoo penguins - one egg

Peep and Poncho - gentoo penguins - two eggs

Pebbles and Zeus - gentoo penguins - two eggs

Source:
http://www.newschannel9.com/news/penguin-982689-chicks-parents.html

Padding up to pecking penguins

Vital protection: A member of staff at the Sea Life Centre, complete with cricket pads, feeds the penguins.

Padding up to pecking penguins
09 July 2009

SEA Life centre marine expert Lauren Marshall is getting padded up ready to take strike…and not because she's got caught up in all the excitement over the Ashes series!

The 23-year-old aquarist is donning cricket pads as protection against painful pecks from the resident penguins.

“There have been occasions in the last few weeks when I would almost sooner have been going in to face an over from Brett Lee,” said Lauren.

She and other displays staff have suffered a series of painful pecks to the shins as newly ensconced penguins Arnold, Lola, Ringo and Boomer, fail to contain their eagerness at feeding times.

“We have to deliver the food by hand to make sure each penguin gets its fair share, but when you hand food to one of them the other three tend to attack your shins wanting more,” said Lauren.

“We've had a torrid time of it, but then a TV preview of the cricket prompted the idea of using cricket pads for protection, and they work a treat,” she added.

The pads have even been painted to resemble other penguins, but that doesn't seem to have fooled the real birds.

Now the four of them, captive bred Humboldt penguin, are able to peck away as much as they like without inflicting injury.

“We still have to take care not to let any of them sneak round behind us and attack our calves, but they seem to prefer the challenge of the pads anyway,” said Lauren.

The four Humboldts arrived in May and have become instant favourites in their luxurious purpose-built enclosure with deep dive pool, large outdoor paddock and nest boxes.

They will be joined by four more later in the summer, once the moulting season has finished and their new companions are able to travel from another breeding colony at Scarborough.

Source:
http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/content/yarmouthmercury/news/story.aspx?brand=GYMOnline&category=news&tBrand=GYMonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED09%20Jul%202009%2015%3A44%3A48%3A050

Penguins, Patagonia and pisco

Penguins, Patagonia and pisco
July 9, 2:43 PM

One of the many highlights on a journey to Chile is a visit to Pinguinera de Seno Otway, in southern Patagonia. Located about an hour northwest of Punta Arenas, these are the breeding grounds of a colony of Magellanic penguins, also called jackass penguins because of their braying calls associated with excitement. They are shy and much smaller than their more-famous brethren, the Emperor penguins.

Here, after an 18 mile drive down a gravel road, the photographer takes a short quarter mile hike to the penguin colony. The winds here can be fierce, coming off the sound at a biting 40 mph. Dress accordingly. Having your camera mounted on a tripod is highly recommended, as is a good lens in the 400-600mm range.

These birds mate with the same partner each year and return to the previous year's burrow for their nesting season. Only penguin couples return to this colony site. This species is on the "Near threatened" list, which is directly related to global warming. This global event has displaced and reduced the fish populations that the penguins are dependent upon for their survival.

Plan on arriving early in the morning, as the penguins head out to water for their daily feedings by 10 a.m. You may want to arrive before late March - contrary to several travel guide books - as the penguins leave the area for their winter feeding grounds along the coast of Brazil. If you plan your trip accordingly, getting there at the end of the tourist season leaves you with the possibility of a 10-14 day window of opportunity to find yourself alone with the little birds before their migration. On a recent trip to the colony, I had the distinct advantage of being the sole person among the penguins for more than two hours, allowing for an amazing experience without distractions.

Once you arrive at the nesting site, ropes along boardwalks help protect the birds from human intrusion by keeping visitors within designated areas. The photographer can use their braying calls to his/her advantage in helping locate their positions in the grassy vegetation.

A visit is not complete without a return to Punta Arenas for yet another highlight, Chile's national drink, the pisco.

Slideshow at source:
http://www.examiner.com/x-16256-Austin-Travel-Photography-Examiner~y2009m7d9-Penguins-Patagonia-and-pisco

This Week's Pencognito!

Please visit Jen and all the pengies HERE

Image of the Day

Penguins just love the camera
Originally uploaded by urbanmenagerie

Friday Videos!

Image of the Day

Penguin...
Originally uploaded by maurosk1

Image of the Day

Curious Penguin
Originally uploaded by indecisiveImp

Very wet rockhopper... :)

TN Aquarium's New Macaroni Chick!!! Cuteness Alert!

Image of the Day

20090130-DSC_0089
Originally uploaded by sarason58

Adelie penguin - off Syowa Station, Antarctica

News from Dr. Dee -- Good Stuff!

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 or I have attached the newsletter with pictures as a pdf. 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.

Blackpool Zoo's Penguins' New Enclosure

Blackpool Zoo's Penguins Have Now Moved Into Their New Enclosure and Pool
Tue, 7/7/2009 - 8:07 AM

By Julie Hackett

Blackpool, UK - Blackpool Zoo’s penguins have now moved into their new digs – a fabulous £400,000 outdoor pool enclosure which will be officially opened on Tuesday, July 21st by the Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Norman Hardy.

The enclosure includes an elevated viewing platform and underwater windows so visitors can see at close quarters how these intriguing animals swim, play, feed and interact with one another.

A new auditorium style visitor seating area has also been created at the back of the Penguin Pool which will form part of a major renovation of the neighbouring sealion pool, scheduled to start this Autumn.

Penguins have returned to Blackpool Zoo for the first time in more than 12 years and now it is one of only five zoos in Europe to keep the species of ‘warm weather’ penguins, known as Magellanic Penguins.

The penguins, a mixture of breeding age males and females and some juveniles,arrived in April from Madrid Zoo and Selwo Wildlife Park in Spain, which are both part of the Parques Reunidos group.

Darren Webster, Blackpool Zoo’s Director, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of the new Penguin Pool. It is wonderful to see the penguins enjoying their new surroundings!

“Penguins have been one of the most requested animals by visitors and friends of the zoo and we are delighted to bring them back after such popular demand.

“Alongside the new Penguin Pool, we are planning a major renovation of the sealion enclosure which should be completed by early next year.”

Magellanic Penguins Facts

Magellanic Penguins are named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who first saw them in 1519.
Magellanic penguins are a larger species of penguin standing at about 27inches tall, and weighing about 9lbs. They eat squid and small fish, nesting in burrows and usually laying two eggs.
As ‘warm weather’ penguins, they lose the feathers under their chins when the temperature rises. They grow back when it gets cooler.
In the wild, Megellanic penguins are usually found in coastal areas of South America.

Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world wide player.

Blackpool Zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes. The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orangutans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos.

Blackpool Zoo is open every day from 10am. Blackpool Zoo, East Park Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8PP. Tel: 01253 830830.

Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1760-Blackpool_Zoo%251As_Penguins_Have_Now_Moved_Into_Their_New_Enclosure_and_Pool

Go Penguins of Liverpool

First photos of the colony of Go Penguins which will visit Liverpool this winter

Jul 7 2009 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post

THESE are the first photographs of the colony of penguins which will making its home on Liverpool streets in the run-up to Christmas.

More than 100 six-foot birds will decorate the city centre in a public art event set to rival last year’s popular Go Superlambananas trail.

From mid-November, small groups of penguins will be on display for seven weeks in an effort to attract visitors and spread an eco-friendly message.

Artists are being invited to enter designs for the fibreglass penguins, with the winners chosen by businesses sponsoring the event for £3,000 a piece.

More than 50 schools have already signed up to adopt and decorate a 3ft penguin for £450 each.

They will be displayed in a city centre indoor venue and will be returned to the schools once the trail has finished.

Commissioned by Culture Liverpool, the event is being organised by Wild In Art, the team behind last year’s successful Go Superlambananas.

It is based around a story, written by former Culture Company vice-chairman Phil Redmond, in which a penguin called Patrick is rescued from the ocean by HMS Liverpool.

He said: “Penguins are cute and funny, and everywhere in popular culture.”

Designer Chris Wilkinson, who came up with the basic penguin shape in clay, said: “In the story, the penguins are from the Falklands, where there is a large range of different species, but we wanted these to be generic penguins.

“They are brought to Liverpool to see Patrick with the help of the Liver Birds. We wanted them to look young because Patrick is a teenager.”

Patrick, a rockhopper penguin with distinctive yellow eyebrows, will make his debut as a cartoon character before he is revealed to the public.

The initiative is a highlight of A Winter’s Trail, which runs from November to January.

It will see a series of special penguin-themed events take place across the city, with the support of many of Liverpool’s cultural organisations.

Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley said: “The Superlambananas were the icons of Capital of Culture and we hope Go Penguins will similarly capture the hearts and imaginations of everyone across the region this Christmas.

“Last year showed how cultural events can make a huge impact on the tourism economy.

“I am excited about the plans for the penguins. Everyone is pulling together to create a magical Christmas which will further cement Liverpool’s creative reputation and appeal to visitors.’’

The recyclable Go Penguins, produced by a firm in Kent, were inspired by Liverpool’s Year of the Environment.

The festive trail aims to raise awareness of climate change by reflecting on the melting of the ice caps in Antarctica.

Merchandising opportunities are also being looked at, with miniature versions of the penguins to go on sale later this year.

The deadline for artists’ designs is the end of August.

FURTHER details can be found at www.gopenguins.co.uk

Source:
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/golf/golf-news/2009/07/07/first-photos-of-the-colony-of-go-penguins-which-will-visit-liverpool-this-winter-92534-24090174/

Image of the Day

Day at the Beach
Originally uploaded by filterfed

King Penguins at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo by Cheryl Garin.

Penguin Update from the Tennessee Aquarium

Our macaroni chick received his second mini-physical on July 3rd just in time for the holiday weekend. One week prior, the chick weighed in at 484 grams, and has more than doubled this weight in a week's time. The penguin baby tipped the scale at 990 grams (which is a little over 2 pounds). According to penguin keepers, the baby is very strong and healthy. The chick can no longer fit under the parents, but will rest his/her head underneath them to snuggle up close.

We have two new possible parents in the exhibit that have surprised everyone. Zeus and Pebbles have two eggs that were laid over the last several days. The other birds are still doing a great job of sitting on the eggs, though it remains unknown whether or not the eggs are fertile.

So here is where we stand today:
Macaroni Penguins - "Paulie" & "Chaos" - one baby

Gentoo Penguins - "Big T" & "Bug" - one egg
"Blue" & "Biscuit" - one egg
"Poncho" & "Peep" - two eggs
"Zeus" & "Pebbles"- two eggs

Source: TN Aquarium Facebook page @
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/note.php?note_id=100963473255&ref=nf

Image of the Day

Attitude
Originally uploaded by cjuel

Chinstrap penguin, Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands

Image of the Day

Penguin Feet
Originally uploaded by JSalantes

More on the SB Zoo Hatchling

First penguin chick hatches at SB Zoo

By ERIC LINDBERG — July 4, 2009

The first Humboldt penguin to be successfully hatched at the Santa Barbara Zoo is resting in a quiet area until it learns how to swim, zoo officials announced yesterday.

The chick, its gender yet to be determined, had been foster-reared on exhibit until it emerged from its shell last month. Zookeepers are caring for the chick for the next few weeks until it is old enough to take its first dip.

“This is the age when the chick would naturally begin to gain independence in the wild,” Sheri Horiszny, the zoo’s director of animal programs, said in a news release. “We want to make sure the chick grows its waterproof feathers and can swim well before it has access to the big pool in the exhibit.”

The baby chick is growing quickly, zoo officials said, noting its weight increased from 90 grams the day after it hatched to 501 grams 10 days later and 1300 grams by the end of June.

Its parents, the only pair of the zoo’s 15 adult penguins that have a recommendation to breed under a species survival plan, arrived at the zoo last year from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

“This pair had laid fertile eggs in the past, but had never been successful in rearing their young,” Horiszny said in the release. “As a result, we researched the histories of all our penguins to find one with past parenting success.

“We have a male that had successfully fostered eggs before, and we placed the egg with him and his partner, also a male,” she continued. “The foster pair were dedicated incubators, and fed the chick well.”

The zoo’s penguin exhibit, known as the Crawford Family Penguin House, includes a 5,670 cubic-foot pool and opened just three years ago. Its inhabitants are listed as vulnerable by the World Conservation Union.

Non-captive Humboldt penguins live in their native habitat along the coastal desert regions of South America, from Peru to Chile. The total world population of the species is estimated at 12,000 breeding pairs, although that figure is quickly declining.

Zoo officials said overfishing of its food supply, commercial removal of guano used by the penguins for burrows, entanglement in fishing nets and predators are all having a serious impact on the species. Experts are concerned that Humboldt penguins could be extinct within decades.

Source:
http://www.thedailysound.com/070409penguinchick

Image of the Day

Flying bird
Originally uploaded by Mohaaaa

Place:Kasai(Japan)
Camera: Canon EOS 5
Film: Kodak 400TX

This Week's Pencognito!

Please visit Jen and all the pengiesHERE

Dog mauls endangered penguins

Penguins killed: National Parks to step up patrols

Posted Sat Jul 4, 2009 7:41am AEST

National Parks and Wildlife officers will step up patrols on Sydney's northern beaches after four penguins were killed in a suspected dog attack.

The little penguins were found dead in a breeding ground area at Manly beach yesterday.

The area manager of Sydney Harbour National Park, Peter Hay, says the penguins are an endangered species and the colony at Manly is particularly fragile.

Mr Hay is calling on anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

"The Manly little penguin population is an endangered population, there are only 60 breeding pairs and this is a very large blow to the penguin population of Manly - we are very disappointed," he said.

Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/04/2616699.htm?section=australia

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dog suspect in penguin deaths
July 4, 2009

A DOG is suspected to have killed protected fairy penguins on the northern beaches.

A Manly Environment Centre volunteer, Angelika Treichler, said the endangered penguins were found with smashed skulls on a private beach in Manly yesterday.

"We haven't got the autopsy results yet, but it looks like they were mauled … by one dog," Ms Treichler said.

"We've had one dog mauling eight all at once a few years back on the same little private beach."

She said dogs were banned from the area, home to the only mainland colony of the penguins in NSW. Volunteers worked vigilantly to protect the 65 breeding pairs, she said.

"We're all working every night … at Manly Wharf protecting the penguins … I've been looking after them for five years now and every little penguin counts, and four in one go - I still can't believe it."

Source:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/dog-suspect-in-penguin-deaths-20090703-d7st.html

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Dog mauls endangered penguins

July 03, 2009 05:32pm

FOUR fairy penguins have been fatally mauled by a dog on Sydney's northern beaches, devastating local volunteers who work to protect them.

Manly Environment Centre volunteer Angelika Treichler said the endangered penguins were found with smashed skulls on a private beach in Manly today.

"We haven't got the autopsy results yet, but it looks like they were mauled ... by one dog,'' Ms Treichler said.

"We've had one dog mauling eight all at once a few years back on the same little private beach.''
She said dogs were banned from the area, which is home to the only mainland colony of the penguins in New South Wales.

Volunteers work vigilantly to protect the 65 breeding pairs in the area, she said.

"We're all working every night ... at Manly Wharf protecting the penguins.

"It's heartbreaking when you look after the penguins.

"I've been looking after them for five years now and every little penguin counts and four in one go, I still can't believe it.''

Source:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25728290-29277,00.html

Pennies for Penguins--Hooray for Shannon!

Brookfield teen collects pennies for penguins
By John Pirro
Staff Writer
Updated: 07/03/2009 12:22:51 AM EDT

BROOKFIELD -- It's called Pennies for Penguins, and Shannon Pugliese won't be satisfied until she's collected at least one cent for each of the estimated 150,000 African penguins still in existence.

But the soon-to-be 15-year-old is more than likely to surpass that mark. In just over two months, she's raised more than $1,000, or 100,000 pennies, for an African penguin research program being conducted by the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration.

The aquarium has been Shannon's favorite place since she started attending week-long summer camps there as a 9-year-old.

"She's kind of grown up with it. The aquarium has opened up a whole new world for her," said her mother, Linda Pugliese.

During her visits to the aquarium, Shannon developed a special interest in the African penguin and the Beluga whale.

Attending camp allowed her access to the behind-the-scenes operation at the aquarium, as well as a chance to learn about marine biology and the environment.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 1.5 million of the 2-foot-tall, 11-pound creatures in existence.

A hundred years later, the number had been reduced by 90 percent, and the dwindling population took a further hit in 2003, when a shipwreck near one of their primary breeding grounds coated thousands of penguins with oil.

Last year a special task force at the aquarium came up with the idea of asking visitors to add $1, or 100 pennies, to their
Advertisement
admission fees to fund a program on penguin research.

On her own, Shannon decided to expand the effort, soliciting donations from friends and family members. Then, with networking assistance from her mother, she began collecting donations from area businesses.

"Mostly, I would collect them after school, and then my mother started taking me to different offices," said Shannon, who just completed her freshman year at Brookfield High School.

Soon the pennies were pouring in, filling every available container until they were almost too heavy to carry to the bank.

Then people started contributing cash and checks, she said.

Two weeks ago, Shannon and her mother made the drive to Mystic to present aquarium officials with a check for $1,000, along with several more buckets of pennies.

Shannon got a chance to meet close-up with one of the penguins and was made a member of the Kelvin Smith Ocean Society, which recognizes people who make significant contributions in support of the aquarium's mission.

But Shannon isn't finished. She's continuing to collect pennies and will be participating in the aquarium's Penguin Run/Walk in the fall. She's even recruited some of her friends to participate in the fundraiser.

Shannon is also an accomplished golfer, her ability surfacing after her father, Ed Silk of Danbury, took her to a driving range four years ago. She's taken lessons for several years, and this summer she'll be playing in 11 youth tournaments sponsored by the Connecticut section of the Junior PGA.

So does she want to continue her interest in marine life and study marine biology in college or does she envision a future on the links?

"Hopefully both," Shannon said.

Source:
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_12745952

Baby penguin born at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Baby penguin born at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Friday, July 3, 2009

Reported by: Kelly Bush

A South Coast zoo welcomes a new member to its family.

The Santa Barbara Zoo welcomed its first Humboldt penguin, hatched three weeks ago.

Only two of the zoo's fifteen adult Humboldt penguins can breed under the Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The baby penguin will not be housed in an exhibit until it learns to swim.

Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable in their native habitat along the pacific coast of South America.

Source:
http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=10642145

Friday Videos

Many thanks to Nothing But Penguins for the videos... it's a great place to shop for pengie things, too (see link section). :)

Image of the Day

101_0170
Originally uploaded by leenvandam

Living Coasts Aquarium Opens Largest Penguin Exhibit In The World - 700 Penguins

Living Coasts Aquarium Opens Largest Penguin Exhibit In The World - 700 Penguins
Thu, 7/2/2009 - 9:16 AM

By Philip Knowling

Torquay, UK - A local conservation charity is paying tribute to artist Antony Gormley with a wildlife response to one of his most famous works.

Gormley’s Field for the British Isles is on display at Torre Abbey from 27th June until 23rd August.

Now Living Coasts Aquarium, Torquay’s coastal zoo, has produced Colony of Tor Bay – nearly 700 hand-painted plaster penguins, each 15 centimeters high. The installation is at the attraction’s front entrance on the quayside at Haldon Pier. Staff and volunteers have produced the miniature penguins over the last six months.

Living Coasts Director Elaine Hayes said: “Having such a famous work of art in Torquay has inspired local people to think about art from their own perspective. We are a conservation charity and we wanted to reflect that, so we decided to make a penguin response to Field for the British Isles. During August the penguin figures will gradually be taken away to represent the loss of wildlife around the world.”

Meanwhile, a display of photographs showing people’s own interpretations of Antony Gormley figures - dubbed “terras” - in unusual locations will be on show in the Living Coasts café during August. Living Coasts is a registered charity. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring (01803) 202470.

To view Living Coasts Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-786-Living_Coasts

Photo: Jennifer Richards from Living Coasts with the mini-penguins.
Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1743-Living_Coasts_Aquarium_Opens_Largest_Penguin_Exhibit_In_The_World_-_700_Penguins

Image of the Day

Flying Penguin
Originally uploaded by Pewari Naan

Who needs to fly when you can glide through the water with ease?

Penguins on the Loose

Penguins on the Loose

At times in The Maritime Aquarium’s new “African Penguins” special exhibit, the penguins swim right against the viewing windows.
But how fun would it be if you could remove the glass from between the birds and visitors’ delighted eyes?
Pretty cool, we think. So this July and August, once each day, the barrier will be removed and visitors can enjoy seeing a penguin wander right in front of them unfettered.
“Penguins on the Loose” will be offered at 11:15 a.m. daily near the Marine Care & Culture Lab (just past the elevator). Visitors can sit and stand around a special penguin mat, while one or two penguins will be invited out to wander, explore and generally do what penguins do. Don’t be surprised if one walks right up to you and checks you out. (You’ll find out what it’s like to get the penguin “eyeball.”) Because penguins don’t follow scripts, each presentation is sure to be a bit different.
An Aquarium biologist will talk about our African penguins and how we care for them, about penguins in general (including conservation issues that penguins share with Long Island Sound animals) and answer any other questions you may have.
“There’s something about being among these birds without the glass between you that everyone finds thrilling and special,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “Many people feel a meaningful and exciting connection to the penguins by sharing their space.”
Even better, “Penguins on the Loose” will be free with Aquarium admission.

Source:
http://www.connecticutplus.com/cplus/information/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=9551&year=2009&month=06

‘Penguins’ Giftset Marching Just in Time for the Holidays

‘Penguins’ Giftset Marching Just in Time for the Holidays

By Eui-jo Marquez | Posted: 01 Jul 2009

Coming Oct. 27 (prebook Sept. 22) from Warner Home Video is a new March of the Penguins Limited Edition Giftset (DVD $39.92), which will include the all-new feature-length documentary On the Wings of Penguins, a plush African penguin toy and collectible postcards.

March of the Penguins has been inspiring audiences since its release in 2005, and it won the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, it is the second most successful documentary ever. The film stars the Emperor penguins of Antarctica and chronicles their journey to find a mate and start a family.

The new documentary On the Wings of Penguins is a comical and fascinating look at the lives of the warm-weather African penguin, which is also known as the “jackass penguin.”

The On the Wings of Penguins DVD also features “National Geographic’s Crittercam: Emperor Penguins” and “Of Penguins and Men,” about the filming of the penguins.

Source:
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/product-news/penguins-giftset-marching-just-time-holidays-16244

Image of the Day

Emperor Penguin Chicks Postcard
Originally uploaded by crayolamom

First African Penguin spotted back in Namibia!

First African Penguin spotted back in Namibia!

This exciting development comes just a few weeks after the successful rehabilitation of one of the most endangered species of Penguin in the world. In April, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) - supported group SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) received a call from the Namibian government to assist in the rescue of 130 oiled African Penguins off the coast of Luderitz, Namibia. After a long road trip to Cape Town, South Africa, the birds received quality care and rehabilitation that saved their lives. On May 21st, the first group of 84 penguins were returned to their ocean home and started their journey back to Namibia. Just 18 days after the release, we heard back from our colleagues in SANCCOB:

Namibian penguin first arrival - map It was a pink spot day on Mercury Island when a Namibian conservationist spotted the first African penguin back home after a recent 4-week stint of rehabilitation.

On June 8, just 18 days after their release from Derdesteen Beach in Cape Town the first of a group of 129 penguins, which have been successfully rehabilitated at SANCCOB, was seen back at its original breeding colony of Mercury Island.

After his release from Derdesteen Beach, he was spotted on Robben Island on 25 May (4 days after being released from Derdesteen Beach). With this confirmed sighting on 25 May, this would mean that his actual swimming time was a fantastic 14 days!

At a total distance of 1019km, he averaged 72.7km per day!

So, if you play the lotto, you may want to remember the lucky numbers A10885 because that’s the tenacious little tike that won the race to get back home.

As with all collectives of animals one immediately stood out as the feistiest and was immediately dubbed ‘Black Angus’ as it fought its way through rehab, pecking the handlers randomly and generally taking charge.

Weighing in at 2,8kg on admittance, which is a respectable weight for a penguin and put him ahead in the weight-class of his fellow refugees, he pretty much doubled his weight as he ate his way through prime Sardine a la SANCCOB, to finally weigh in at 4.1kg on his release.

Of course it was he who strode out ahead of the group at the beach release, and first to take to the waters. And follows that he had to be the one to win the long swim home, to strike familiar soil shore and to announce triumphantly to his fellow Mercurians “Black Angus is back!’

Source:
http://www.animalrescueblog.org/2009/06/first-african-penguin-spotted-back-in-namibia.html