Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Two baby penguins to make debut at Greensboro Science Center



Posted: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 5:00 am
GREENSBORO — The two newest residents of Penguin Point will make their debut today at the Greensboro Science Center’s Carolina SciQuarium. African penguins Deacon and Nelson, who became the facility’s first successful hatchlings Aug. 27 and 30, are ready to take a dive in the big pool with the rest of the flock.
Though they’ll be roughly the same size as the adults, you’ll be able to tell them by their duller coats. They won’t get their shiny bright adult feathers until after their first moulting at age 1 1/2.
The chicks were born to breeding pair Brenton and Pikkewynne. Another breeding pair, Tux and Apollo, weren’t far behind.
That pair’s first chick hatched Oct. 29, and there are more on the way. Several more penguin eggs are currently in various stages of development behind the scenes at Penguin Point.
That’s good news not just for the SciQuarium, but the worldwide marine-conservation community.
“Today, African penguins are an international focal-point species for marine habitat conservation,” said Glenn Dobrogosz, executive director of the Greensboro Science Center. “The Greensboro Science Center is proud and excited to be one of just a few dozen successful breeding facilities in the United States.”
Dobrogosz is hoping this is the beginning of a baby bird boom at the SciQuarium.
Deacon and Nelson will be on exhibit at Penguin Point during regular hours starting today.

Want to go?

What: Penguin Point at the Greensboro Science Center’s Carolina SciQuarium.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Where: 4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro
Admission: $12.50 for adults ages 14-64; $11.50 for children ages 3-13, and seniors ages 65 and older. Children 2 and under and Greensboro Science Center members are free.
Information: Call (336) 288-3769 or go to www.greensboroscience.org

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