More random thoughts about bartending
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Saturday, September 5, 2009
Link Love: African Penguin
Link Love: African Penguin
September 4th, 2009 by Sophy
Peter, Pamela and Percy in the big spillAfrican PenguinLinda Fellowes, owner of the website African Penguin, was moved by the June 2000 oil spill which left South Africa with the heartwarming story of three penguins - known as Peter, Pamela and Percy - whose survival instinct did their species proud.
Fellowes has recreated this story in a beautifully crafted children’s storybook, Peter, Pamela and Percy in the Big Spill, much deserving of BOOK SA’s link love:
This book is based on the true story of the ship the ‘Treasure’, which sank in June 2000 just north of Cape Town, and caused a huge oil slick (1300 tonnes of oil) that harmed thousands of sea birds. People came from far and near to help rescue the penguins in an enormous clean-up operation driven by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Avian Demography Unit at UCT, SANCCOB and WWF amongst others. About 43 000 penguins were rescued in total, of those about 20 000 were oiled.
The clean penguins were shipped from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth by truck to swim back to Cape Town (with some luck, because no one knew for sure what they would do, but they were counting on their strong homing instinct) in order to buy time to clean the beaches and the sea. The whole of South Africa plotted the progress of the 3 rescued penguins, Peter, Pamela and Percy, who were equipped with tracking devices (provided by SAP Southern Africa), as they swam home to Cape Town.
Source:
http://news.book.co.za/blog/2009/09/04/link-love-african-penguin/
Friday, September 4, 2009
Study links Phillip Island penguin breeding patterns to climate change
(Phillip Island Nature Parks)Study links Phillip Island penguin breeding patterns to climate change
By Gus Goswell
Posted Fri Sep 4, 2009 1:00pm AEST
Scientists say Phillip Island's penguins are hatching smaller chicks, as changing weather conditions caused by climate change disrupt their normal feeding patterns.
Researchers from Australia, France and Japan have published a study showing penguins do not find fish and other small prey as easily when heavy storms disrupt oceans and this affects breeding success.
Dr Akiko Kato from the National Institute of Polar Research in Japan says the penguins helped gather information for the study.
"The research was conducted using miniature computers that were mounted on the backs of penguins to record information about when they were searching for food or chasing prey at particular depths and water temperatures," he said.
Dr Yan Ropert-Coudert from France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique says researchers used that data to chart changes in penguin feeding patterns in the Bass Strait.
"We have found that penguins prefer to search for food in a specific layer in the ocean between two sections with different temperatures," he said.
"When weather conditions are extreme, such as during heavy storms, the water mixes and then this layer is not present, causing penguins to work harder to find food.
Dr Andre Chiaradia from Phillip Island Nature Parks says there is a direct link between these changes, and the health of the penguin population.
"In the years when the water column is really mixed, the penguins they don't breed very well, so they produce lighter chicks."
Dr Chiaradia says penguins are a good indicator of the health of other ocean predators, because they dive deep to find food.
"In the future, with those changes in the ecosystem, food is going to be harder to find for the predators. It has to be seen, it has to be investigated, but penguins is giving the first, you know, warnings," he said.
Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/04/2676708.htm
African Penguin Day Will be Celebrated
African Penguin Day Will be Celebrated by Mystic Aquarium's Penguins
Thu, 9/3/2009 - 2:01 PM
By Becky Giantonio
Mystic, CT - Help Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration celebrate African Penguin Day on Friday, September 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with special presentations, penguin painting demonstrations and a penguin race! The celebration is in recognition of African Penguin Day on September 26 in South Africa, where aquarium staff members frequently travel to help field researchers in penguin conservation efforts.
The day begins at 11 a.m. on the main exhibit floor, where a penguin trainer will bring a feathered friend and talk about conservation of the species.
At noon, let the races begin! Six penguins will waddle to the finish line (or wherever they want!) to encourage guests to participate in the 3rd Annual Penguin Run/Walk on October 17. Guests will be able to enter to win a Penguin Encounter by donating one dollar to vote for the penguin they think will win. The race will be hosted by Glenn and Rebecca of WBMW’s (106.5 FM) Wakeup Club.
Proceeds from the donations will go toward the aquarium’s many penguin conservation efforts here and around the world. Over the last eight years, the world’s African penguin population has decreased by 42 percent. The penguins at the aquarium play an integral role in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan, and the aquarium staff’s work with them is helping researchers better understand penguins in the wild.
At 1:15 p.m., watch a special penguin feeding and presentation at the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit, followed by a penguin painting demonstration at 2:30 p.m., where guests can watch the birds create one-of-a-kind pieces of work with their feet in the Penguin Discovery Zone. The artwork will be awarded to top fundraisers and finishers in the Penguin Run/Walk.
To register for the Penguin Run/Walk or learn more about African penguins, visit mysticaquarium.org.
WHAT: African Penguin Day, featuring special presentations, a penguin painting demonstration and the aquarium’s first-ever penguin race
WHEN: Friday, September 25 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355
COST: Aquarium admission: Adults $26, seniors $23, children (3 to 17) $19, under 2 free
About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.
To view Mystic Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-38-Mystic_Aquarium_&_Institute_for_Exploration
Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-2094-African_Penguin_Day_Will_be_Celebrated_by_Mystic_Aquariums_Penguins
Penguins Back Where They Belong
Penguins Back Where They Belong At Milwaukee County Zoo
11 Penguins Moved For Renovations
MILWAUKEE -- Some of the most popular animals at Milwaukee County's Zoo are back on display after a four-month absence.
Dozens of people gathered at the zoo on Thursday to watch the Humboldt penguins march into their newly renovated home.
Zookeepers moved the 11 penguins to a different exhibit that was closed to the public while they made upgrades.
They said the new space will provide a better experience for the animals and zoo visitors.
"We took out all the glass. We did some repairs to the pool, and we did a lot of repairs to the rock work so the penguins can get around a lot better," penguin keeper Heather Neldner said.
Zookeepers said the new space also allows the penguins to climb higher for a new view of their new home.
The new Humboldt penguin exhibit will be open all year long.
Source:
http://www.wisn.com/entertainment/20711492/detail.html#
Thursday, September 3, 2009
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