Meet Pilchard

Penguin Chick Named

Saturday August 28, 2010

Boston's New England Aquarium held a penguin chick naming contest recently to christen their youngest African penguin, and a name has been chosen: Pilchard. More than 1,600 names were entered into the contest, and the winner who submitted Pilchard first will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the penguin chick raising area and the opportunity to see Pilchard up close.

The terms of the contest stated that every acceptable name should be educational, and a pilchard is a small schooling fish that is the primary food source for wild African penguins, similar to sardines and herring. At the aquarium, the penguins are fed a healthy diet of capelin, smelt, trout and sardines, with feedings twice daily.

For more information on the New England Aquarium's penguins, visit their official Penguin Blog.

Pilchard the African Penguin
Photo © New England Aquarium

 

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