Image of the Day

Chase Me, a photo by coastwalker hamburg on Flickr.

Humboldt penguins at play

San Francisco Zoo's new waddle of penguin chicks (Video)

Baby penguins hatch at Aquarium of the Pacific; watch live webcam

KTLA News

July 30, 2013 

—Photo courtesy Robin Riggs and the Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific is offering a first look at its two newest additions — a pair of penguin chicks — via a livestreaming Penguin Cam.

The two Magellanic Penguins hatched to first-time parents Floyd and Roxy, residents of the Aquarium’s June Keyes Penguin Habitat.

The one-month-old chicks are being cared for behind the scenes, according to the Aquarium, but are expected to be on public view later this summer when they join the habitat.

The chicks can be seen via webcam starting Tuesday. The Penguin Cam is available courtesy of explore.org, the philanthropic multimedia arm of the Annenberg Foundation.

Magellanic Penguins hatch after 38 to 43 days of incubation. They hatch with their eyes close and open them about a week later. The chicks replace their newborn feathers with water-tight adult feathers after about 90 days.
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Image of the Day

SthIslandNZ-130, a photo by Cris Johansen on Flickr.

Snares Island Penguins

Kangaroo Island little penguins at giant risk as colony drops to 20

• NIGEL AUSTIN RURAL EDITOR
• The Advertiser
• July 29, 2013

Kangaroo Island's little penguin colony is down from hundreds of birds to about 20, and faces extinction.
 

THE little penguin faces extinction in South Australian waters within five years unless urgent action is taken to save the species, Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre owner John Ayliffe says.

He said the loss of penguins in Kingscote would force him to close the Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre and its tours on or before November 30.

Mr Ayliffe said the colony had dropped alarmingly from hundreds of birds a decade ago to only about 20 birds.

Little penguin colonies were being decimated around the state, including on Kangaroo Island, at Granite Island off Victor Harbor and at Pearson Island.

Mr Ayliffe laid a large part of the blame for the demise of the little penguin on the New Zealand fur seal colonies.


"The damage being caused by the New Zealand fur seal in marine colonies across the state is as serious as the River Murray issue because of the devastating impact on the marine environment,'' he said.

"If you've got a predator doubling in number every five years, there comes a time when they will eat themselves out of house and home."

He added people should be allowed to harass the seals away from Kingscote for five years to see what happens to the little penguin colony.

"We protect ourselves from bushfires and we should do the same here,'' he said.

Victor Harbor mayor Graham Philp said the Granite Island little penguin colony had slumped to less than 10 birds, down from thousands of birds 10 years ago. "Something needs to happen to preserve what we have got and build up the colony," Mr Philp said.

But despite the devastation, little penguin eggs at the Granite Island Penguin Centre are being routinely destroyed because the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources doesn't want them bred in captivity.

A colony of fur seals on Seal Rock, just off Granite Island, has been identified as the highest risk factor for the penguins, Mr Philp said.

He calculated Victor Harbor was losing $5 million a year due to the problem. Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister Ian Hunter said some of the little penguin colonies in South Australia were in decline.

"The cause of this is not yet fully understood, though a research study commissioned by the Adelaide Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board is under way," he said.

Mr Hunter said the South Australian Government did not support culling fur seals and that attempts made overseas and interstate to relocate seals or scare them away have had little success.

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Shedd Aquarium's Penguin Encounter great for a Chicago date

Spend quality time with your spouse and a penguin

By Alaina Buzas
Monday, July 29, 2013

 

It is nearly impossible to read Mr. Popper's Penguins as a child and not spend the rest of your life dreaming of keeping a penguin as a pet.

I'm pretty sure the geniuses behind the Penguin Encounter at Shedd Aquarium had this in mind when they added it to the list of Extraordinary Experiences available.

Think you can't leave the kids at home for this one? Our group was all couples, and each agreed the experience made for a great date.

After a mini-lesson about the penguins at Shedd, a trainer and penguin joined the group. The trainer brought the penguin around to each couple so they could pet the penguin and see him up-close. I was skeptical we would spend the full 30 minutes with a penguin, but we actually ended up having more time than that with our new friend. The full experience lasted about an hour.

The encounter is limited to 10 and offered year round on weekends. During the summer, encounters are offered daily but it is recommended to make a reservation ahead of time.

While the ticket price, $68.95 each for adults, may seem steep, it's worth it for a special date night. The ticket includes the penguin encounter, a 4x6 photo of you with the penguin, all-access admission with express entry to the aquarium, tickets to the aquatic show, admission to Jellies and admission to Stingray Touch.

Video and photos by Alaina Buzas

This article appeared in the edition of Chicago Parent.

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Vote's in: Penguin chick 'Hubig' after pie company

Monday, 07.29.13

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- Fans of the Audubon Aquarium have passed up penguin-related monikers to name the aquarium's youngest African blackfooted penguin chick "Hubig," after a New Orleans snack pie company that burned down a year ago.

Aquarium spokeswoman Katie Smith said Monday that "Hubig" got 42 percent of 3,068 votes cast last week. "Pippa" — for English Princess Kate Middleton's sister and the baby penguin's efforts to "pip" out of her shell — got 28 percent.

Twenty percent chose "Gwynne" and 11 percent "Namibia."

Gwynne is the name of a penguin in the animated movie "The Pebble and the Penguin."

Namibia is the West African nation where the African penguin nests.

The Simon Hubig Pie Co. plans to rebuild in the same general area where its original factory stood.

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Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/29/3529826/votes-in-penguin-chick-hubig-after.html#storylink=cpy

Image of the Day

Macaroni Penguin_DSC4768, a photo by jc_on_vacation on Flickr.

SF Zoo's baby penguins strut their stuff

Neal J. Riley

Saturday, July 27, 2013

• 
  Spectators watch as four penguin chicks march towards their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 
  
  

  Four of the five penguin chicks stop at the gate to their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 

   
  

  Four of the five penguin chicks march towards their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 

  
  

  Four penguin chicks check their surroundings while marching towards their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 

  
  

  Older penguins check out one of the penguin chicks that just entered their habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 

   
  

  Spectators watch as four penguin chicks are lead by Animal Keeper Anthony Brown, right, towards their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle

   
  

  Spectators watch as four penguin chicks march towards their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 

  
  

  Spectators watch as four penguin chicks are lead by Animal Keeper Anthony Brown, right, towards their new habitat during the March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif. on July 27, 2013. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle 

   
  

  Keeper Anthony Brown coaxes penguin chicks past captivated crowds on their march to their lifetime home at Penguin Island. Photo: Ian C. Bates, The Chronicle

(07-27)  San Francisco -- Graduating from school and entering the real world can be scary, even for penguins.

With about 700 pairs of eyes locked on the newest alumni of fish school at the San Francisco Zoo on Saturday, the annual March of the Penguins got off to a hesitant start. The five Magellanic penguins, each barely 2 months old, seemed paralyzed with stage fright before they were picked up and carried a few yards by animal keepers.

And then they were off. Breaking into fast waddle, the two-foot tall birds made their way to Penguin Island, where they will spend the rest of their lives with 48 of their friends in the world's largest captive Magellanic penguin colony.

"It's so exciting," said Judie Gee, a zoo volunteer for 20 years who helped the infant penguins learn to socialize with humans and each other at fish school. "One of the girls is a little crazy, but this group is sweet."

This year's march, traditionally a zoo society members-only event, was open to the public for the first time. Penguin Keeper Anthony Brown told the crowd full of families with excited young children sitting by the chalk-outlined route to keep their voices down, but there was no reason to be scared if one of the penguins decided to get friendly.

"Not many people get to have a 2-month-old penguin chick stop and stare them in the eyes," Brown said.

The baby penguins, some still showing traces of light brown downy feathers, had only been introduced to water at fish school a week earlier. When they finally dove into the moat surrounding the island, however, they swam like naturals.

"They passed all their tests with flying colors," Brown said. "We don't want them to fall into the water before they're ready."

This year's march had royal connotations to it, capitalizing off the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby news. A naming contest was held at the march for the lone male in this year's batch of newborns, referred to temporarily as "the penguin prince."

Just like the new prince, the penguin will now be known as George Alexander Louis, thanks to a random drawing of entries submitted by zoo donors, officials said.

Claire Cover, 7, had voted to name the penguin Zap after a water dragon character in the children's video game "Skylanders," and made a face when asked if she liked the winning choice.
"Kind of ... not really," she said, but noted that the penguins were "sooo cute."
Her mother, Simmy Cover of San Francisco, agreed.

"That's quite a name for such a small creature," she said.

The name was submitted by Heidi and David Vass of Pacifica, zoo members who have been coming to the march for five years. Their prize for having the winning name picked was an up-close visit with the colony on the island.

"Could you have a cuter animal named after you?" Heidi Vass said, adding that perhaps having his namesake at the zoo would inspire a visit from the newest member of the royal family someday. "They may come here, you never know."

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This Week's Pencognito!

Please visit Jen and all the pengies by clicking this link!

Image of the Day

Falklands, a photo by richard.mcmanus. on Flickr.

King penguins courting at Volunteer Point, Falklands

Meet the Penguins at SeaWorld’s Antarctica

Written by Eric Davis

Published on July 27, 2013

We recently brought you news about some changes at SeaWorld’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, which are improving guest experiences. This week, SeaWorld gave MiceChat a behind the scenes tour of the Antarctica facility and a preview of the new “Penguin Up Close Tour.”  So put your parka on, because we are going to Antarctica!








When guests take the Penguin Up Close Tour, they won’t go to the entrance of Antarctica. Instead, they will need to trek back further in the park, past Antarctica, toward the Pacific Point Preserve. There, they will be escorted backstage. Sadly, no pictures are allowed in the backstage areas, so we do not have anything to show you back there. Guests should note that you must dress appropriately for going backstage at Antarctica. While it might be a hot and sunny Florida day, inside Antarctica it will be 30 degrees. After a few minutes, you will feel it down to your bones!  So layer and bundle up!
Once backstage at Antarctica, you instantly feel the cold.  While not 30 degrees as it is in the enclosure, it is a cool 60 degrees, and you will notice it looks like any normal hospital or school.  One of SeaWorld’s Aviculturists greeted us and gave us the run down on the penguin species, along with protocol for being inside Antarctica.








SeaWorld’s animal care facilities are incredible with how detail oriented they are with their animals.  Their record room, along with their food prep kitchen, are things to marvel at.  Every day, hundreds of pounds of fish are prepared in their food prep area, yet looking at it you would think it was a pristine restaurant kitchen for people. Nothing but the best for SeaWorld’s penguins!

Just past the food prep station, there is a corridor with two large doors like you would see on a commercial freezer. These are the doors to get into the Antarctica exhibit.  Once our group was in the “freezer room,” which was much colder than the other corridor, they shut the door we came through like an air lock and then opened the door to let us into Antarctica!







Once the door opens, you feel the blast of the 30 degree temperatures, and with the loud honking, you know you are about to walk into the penguin habitat!






Once inside, you notice that the front and back of the habitat was themed and that there is never a break in theme. I was half expecting the back of Antarctica to look like the Endor trees at Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  I was pleased to see that the entire habitat was completely themed and full of details. I tip my hat to SeaWorld’s designers, led by Brian Morrow.  As you peek around the corners of the rocks that obscure the people, you can see the large glass wall where the ride vehicles get their first look at the penguins.

Since my first visit to SeaWorld when I was 8 years old, I have wanted to touch a penguin.  And this was the reality of that dream!  The bright eyed kid came out in me as I was able to get close and pet a Rock Hopper and King Penguin.  During the whole experience, the SeaWorld Animal care team was available to answer questions and provide insight about the animals. For example, if a penguin has a black arm band, then it is a boy and if it has a white arm band if it is a girl.

The nets have been raised as the penguins have become more comfortable with their space.

Since SeaWorld started caring for Penguins over 40 years ago in San Diego, they have pioneered penguin care.  In the wild, Penguins only live to around 20 years of age. However, at SeaWorld they are living longer and some are now in their 30s.  With older penguins, SeaWorld has had to overcome some unique obstacles like joint pain and cataracts.  For joint pain, SeaWorld gives the elderly penguins medication in the gills of the fish they eat, and SeaWorld pioneered cataract surgery on penguins to help the birds see better and have a better quality of life.  When you are behind the scenes, you get to observe those tender moments between the Animal Care team, and the animals they work with, where you truly see and feel that this isn’t just another theme park.  This is a place where people truly get to connect with animals.

















After the up close tour, we got a special extra that isn’t included on the normal Up Close tour, where SeaWorld introduced us to one of their Magellanic Penguins which don’t reside in the Antarctica exhibit because they prefer warm weather (50 degrees).

Guests who want to take this amazing and frigid behind the scenes tour are advised  to book in advance because space will be very limited. You can register online (click here) or call the reservations number at 888-800-5447. Compared to other backstage tours here in Orlando, this tour is pretty inexpensive, with kids starting at $39.00 and adults at $59.00

After your penguin tour, make sure you stick around for summer nights. Not only will you get to experience Antarctica at night with a much shorter wait time, but if you decide to skip Shamu Rocks, you will get a unique view of the fireworks!


















We want to thank everyone at SeaWorld and their Animal Care team for an incredible experience.  In next month’s episode of the Unofficial SeaWorld podcast, we will be featuring some great behind the scenes Antarctica audio from the tour.  Until then, sit back relax, and enjoy episode 7 of the Unofficial Seaworld Podcast, where we talk about Summer Nights, at all 3 SeaWorld parks, along with the full audio of Sea Lions tonight!

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