Interesting Images and a Video

Percy the Penguin with Alexander and Sarah McCalden at Mote Aquarium. CREDIT: Mote Marine Laboratory

A close vote has revealed that “Percy” has all the pluck and personality to describe Mote’s new penguin mascot. Percy got his new name Monday, April 25, in honor of World Penguin Day.

Percy is the mascot for Mote’s Penguin Island, a limited-time exhibit that will bring real black-footed penguins to Mote Aquarium Nov. 1, 2011 through Feb. 29, 2012. “Percy” was the favorite name chosen by those who voted online. Mote’s Penguin Island is designed to help raise awareness and support for penguin conservation. Black-footed penguins face many of the same conservation challenges as marine life in the Gulf — lack of food due to over fishing and environmental changes, oil pollution, habitat destruction and sea-level rise.

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Magellanic Penguin Colony at Punto Tombo, Argentina

May 02, 2011

 Photographer: Ray Boren 
Summary Author: Ray Boren; Jim Foster

At first glance, it looks like these penguins have taken over a prairie dog colony. Actually, this cratered hillside in Punto Tombo, Argentina has been gouged by Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). The burrow-digging Magellanic penguins thrive in the cool, temperate waters along the southern coasts of South America, the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands and the Juan Fernandez Islands. The huge colony here at Punto Tombo is the largest in South America, hosting up to a half million penguins between September and April.
Nesting burrows are dug in gravel, clay and sand by adult pairs of Magellanics. After the eggs are hatched, the burrows are then used as shady shelter for the fast-growing, fluffy, gray chicks. In a few months, they're about the same size as their more conspicuously colored parents, ultimately weighing about nine pounds (4.1 kg) and standing 27 in (68 cm) tall. Note the gull at left center. The penguins seem unconcerned by its proximity, perhaps since all of the eggs have hatched by now and gulls are no longer a threat to the chicks. Photo taken on January 9, 2011.

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