Penguins molting at the NEW Zoo in Suamico

Birds losing feathers for summer

Wednesday, 11 Jul 2012

SUAMICO - The African penguins at the NEW Zoo in Suamico are molting. That's when they replace all their feathers.

NEW Zoo director Neil Anderson says that happens once a year, usually at the end of July or beginning of August. The new features grow in and push the old ones out.

Before they molt, penguins will eat a lot. The birds almost double their weight, and their wings swell up.

Molting is a stressful time for penguins. They will stop eating and don't swim. Molting usually takes about two weeks.

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