Penguins!

A penguin parade?

2009-07-09T10:30:00.001-06:00

Source: Life
Photo: Fred Morley/Getty Images
Dec 29, 1936

What happens when penguins die?

2009-06-22T08:10:00.001-06:00

Did you ever wonder why there are no dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica - where do they go?

Wonder no more!!!

It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird which lives an extremely ordered and complex life.

The penguin is very committed to its family and will mate for life, as well as maintaining a form of compassionate contact with its offspring throughout its life.

If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle have been known to dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried.

The male penguins then gather in a circle around the fresh grave and sing: Freeze A Jolly Good Fellow.

(via Bits & Pieces)

Penguin chick has two dads

2009-06-12T08:04:00.000-06:00

Two male Humboldt penguins cautiously guard the entrance to their cave in the "Zoo am Meer" zoological park in Bremerhaven, northern Germany, where they are fostering a six weeks old penguin chick.

After a penguin egg had been abandoned by its biological parents, it was placed in the male penguins' nest, who then adopted and hatched it.

Bremerhaven zoo veterinarian Schoene said the male birds, named Z and Vielpunkt, are one of three same-sex pairs among the zoo's 20 Humboldt penguins that have attempted to mate.

AP Photo/Focke Strangmann

Source

(via the Pet Blog)

I'm getting closer to my home

2009-06-11T10:22:00.001-06:00

Penguins walk toward the ocean after being released near Cape Town, South Africa. The 38 birds had been treated for oil pollution they'd suffered in Namibia.

Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images
May 26, 2009

Penguin News

2009-06-04T10:19:00.000-06:00

Source: Life
Photo: Imagno/Getty Images
Jan 01, 1935

Look what I found at Trader Joe's!

2009-06-01T12:08:00.001-06:00

Photo by Julie Corsi

20 Reasons to Love Penguins

2009-04-27T08:44:00.002-06:00

Nebby has created a list of 20 reasons why she loves penguins.

Of course I agree!

Penguin Places for Penguin People

2009-03-18T08:27:00.001-06:00

At Intelligent Travel, contributor Andrew Evans offers an all-inclusive guide to all things penguin.

Penguin Places to Visit:

Isla Magdalena, Chile
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Boulders Beach, Simon's Town, South Africa
Oamaru, New Zealand
Phillip Island, Australia
Falkland Islands

• Central Park Zoo (New York, NY)

• Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle, WA)

• Maryland Zoo (Baltimore, MD)

• Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Syracuse, NY)

• Oregon Zoo (Portland, OR)

• St. Louis Zoo (St. Louis, MO)

• Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, FL)

• Philadelphia Zoo (Philadelphia, PA)

UPDATE - MORE GREAT PENGUIN PLACES TO VISIT

• The New England Aquarium (Boston, MA)

• The Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha, NE)

• Penguin Adoption in NJ

Thanks to our great visitors, Rob, and Nothing But Penguins for these.

UPDATE #2 - HERE ARE NEW PENGUIN PLACES TO VISIT

• South Carolina Aquarium (Charleston SC) (opening March 21, 2009)

• National Aviary (Pittsburgh, PA) (opening May 23, 2009)

Video: Safety in numbers

2009-03-03T08:42:00.002-06:00

Advertising agency Duval Guillaume produced a cute ad for Belgian bus company De Lijn, emphasizing that it’s safer to travel in groups.

Watch video

(via Presurfer)

Looks like the inauguration, doesn't it?

2009-03-02T10:38:00.001-06:00

This amazing photo was taken on South Georgia Island. The photographer says, "This is not the largest colony of king penguins on South Georgia but there were over a hundred thousand breeding pairs in this location. The brown spots are not open spaces but chicks that have not fledged."

from Flickr, by chuck12600

Take a look at it in the largest size: 3200 x 2135. Better yet, set it as your desktop wallpaper.

(via The Pet Blog)

Make a sock penguin

2009-02-25T09:52:00.003-06:00

As cute as a sock monkey?

This instructable will walk you through the step by step creation of a Sock Penguin. This project was completed for a Grade 1 (6 year old kids) class that has been studying penguins.

Please note that no penguins were harmed in the creation of this project, however, some socks were severely damaged in the prototyping stage. Please do not use socks that still contain feet.

Note that hot glue guns can burn you. They're called "hot" for a reason. Do not let 6 year olds operate hot glue guns. Adult supervision is required. Also, do not let 6 year olds operate heavy machinery. It's just a bad plan.

Illogical

2009-02-20T09:22:00.001-06:00

Solitary

2009-02-16T09:11:00.001-06:00

Stare down

2009-02-13T08:11:00.002-06:00

from Flickr, by eclectic echoes

Hi there!

2009-02-12T09:04:00.000-06:00

This little guy was hatched in November, 2008, and lives at Bird World at the Denver Zoo.

Source

Penguin origami

2009-02-11T12:37:00.001-06:00

This photo is from the Peabody Essex Museum Polar Attractions exhibit.

Explore the Arctic and Antarctic through compelling works of art by 30 contemporary artists. This interactive exhibition in the museum’s Art & Nature Center highlights polar regions as distinct, biologically important systems shaped over time by cyclical changes and increasingly, by human influences. Hands-on stations offer a range of exploratory opportunities for visitors of all ages to connect with ideas presented in the exhibition.

Penguin killer fined

2009-02-10T07:32:00.000-06:00

A southern Tasmanian man has been fined for killing a penguin that bit him.

Russell Stanley Baines pleaded guilty in the Hobart Magistrates Court to doing an act that resulted in the death of an animal.

The 29 year old was at Bicheno on Tasmania's east coast in October last year and picked up a wild penguin but became enraged when it bit him. Baines killed the bird by throwing a rock at it.

Magistrate Glenn Hay recorded a conviction and fined Baines $630.

Source

Antarctic penguins

2009-02-09T08:23:00.002-06:00

Visit a great photo gallery from Telegraph "Emperor penguins in western Antarctica", with 22 excellent pictures of penguins in the Antarctic.

Video: Penguin Roudup

2009-02-06T08:29:00.001-06:00

Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo express their displeasure at getting their annual vaccination for the West Nile Virus. They seem less troubled over getting their beaks trimmed.

Watch video

Source

A penguin convention

2009-02-04T08:13:00.003-06:00

Video: A penguin colony on the edge

2009-01-26T09:15:00.002-06:00

In this video, Tanya Datta from BBC interviews penguin researcher, Mike Bingham, who has studied penguins for 20 years.

Watch video

A penguin afraid of water?

2009-01-23T08:15:00.000-06:00

WHILE his feathered friends dive happily through the icy depths, poor Kentucky the penguin perches hopelessly on his favorite rock.

Why? Because he’s afraid of WATER.

He refuses to take the plunge with his other 23 penguin pals at Blackbrook Zoological Park, in Leek, Staffs.

Staff at the zoo have seen 11-year-old Kentucky become a surprise hit with visitors at the park due to his unusual phobia.

Photo: News Team International

Source: Sun

Underwater

2009-01-22T08:43:00.000-06:00

A Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) dives in his pool at the zoo in Nuremberg, southern Germany, on December 10, 2008.

AFP/Getty Images

Video: Not all penguins are the same

2009-01-21T08:42:00.000-06:00

There's an interesting video posted at PenguinScience -

Blondie shows that not all penguins are the same:

Here's a very unusual black penguin:

A rare albino chick:

And here's poor Blondie.
He's had a nest every year but can't seem to find a mate.

Penguin Awareness Day

2009-01-20T09:02:00.000-06:00

January 20 is Penguin Awareness Day.

Why is today Penguin Awareness day? No one knows.

What's so special about this day? No one knows.

So - celebrate in your own way ...

from Flickr, by ekpatterson

from Flickr, by moria

from Flickr, by rarewren

Penguins get cataracts?

2009-01-19T09:46:00.002-06:00

Ajani doesn't just have happy feet, he has happy eyes now, too.

That's because the 14-week-old African black-footed penguin, blind since birth due to cataracts, was able to see for the first time Thursday.

Nicole MacLaren, a veterinary ophthalmologist at Eye Care for Animals in Salt Lake City, performed successful bilateral cataract surgery on the penguin, a resident of the Tautphaus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls.

Source: Deseret News

Disappearing Rockhoppers

2009-01-16T09:38:00.003-06:00

The number of northern rockhopper penguins on the South Atlantic islands of Tristan da Cunha and Gough Islands is believed to have fallen by 90 per cent in the last 130 years.

An estimated two million of the endangered species have vanished in the last half century, according to reports, but the cause for their rapid decline remains a mystery.

More than 80 per cent of the world's northern rockhopper penguin population live on the two islands and the dramatic fall in numbers has caused concern.

The declines on Gough since the 1950s are equivalent to losing 100 birds a day for the last 50 years.

Photo: ABBIE TRAYLER-SMITH

Meet Pickles

2009-01-15T09:58:00.002-06:00

A penguin chick hand-reared by zoo keepers after a family squabble has been named Pickles.

Keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay took in the African penguin chick when it became clear it wasn’t getting as much food as its older sibling. The chick lived the highlife for nearly 4 months, nestling indoors in a cosy den with a cuddly penguin toy for company. It returned to Penguin Beach once it was big enough to take care of itself.

Living Coasts senior head keeper Tony Durkin said: “Pickles has settled back into the colony with no problem at all."

Source

Weighing in

2009-01-14T08:39:00.002-06:00

Penguin Sigrid stands on the scales during the annual inventory at the zoo in Hanover, western Germany, on January 12, 2009. During the last weeks, all 1,705 animals living at the zoo were weighed and measured.

AFP/Getty Images

Meeting with a Prince

2009-01-13T08:41:00.000-06:00

Prince Albert of Monaco watches a penguin in the Antarctic continent in this photo taken January 7, 2009. Prince Albert is in the Antarctic as part of a scientific expedition. Picture taken January 7, 2009.

Photo: REUTERS/Jean-Christophe Dimino/

Is there anything cuter?

2009-01-09T09:05:00.002-06:00

This little cutie was born on Dec. 12 at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.

Penguins coming to TV

2009-01-08T08:08:00.000-06:00

The penguins from the movie Madagascar will have their own TV show on Nickelodeon.

While you're waiting for the show to air in March of 2009, you can check out the penguin feature fun pages on the Nick website right now.

Play penguin games, watch penguin video clips and talk to other penguin fans on the message boards.

(via Nothing but Penguins)

Penguin Buddy Bag

2009-01-07T09:51:00.000-06:00

This fully lined Penguin Buddy Bag by Stephen Joseph is made of machine washable soft terry material (100% polyester) and features a zippered opening on the top and an inner zipper pocket. Unzip the top to store all of your tots travel essentials. Also great for storing video games or pens, crayons and paper for those long car rides.

$18.99 at Peanut Gallery Gifts

New Park In Argentina Protects Penguins

2009-01-06T08:41:00.002-06:00

The Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society's efforts to protect a wildlife-rich coastal region in South America have paid off in the form of a new coastal marine park recently signed into law by the Government of Argentina.

The park, which became official in early December protects half a million penguins along with several species of rare seabirds and the region’s only population of South American fur seals. It is the first protected area in Argentina specifically designed to safeguard not only onshore breeding colonies but also areas of ocean where wildlife feed at sea.

Source: Science Daily News

Successful Penguin-Breeding Season at Sea World

2009-01-05T09:36:00.001-06:00

Thirty penguin chicks have been born at SeaWorld in San Diego since mid-November, marking this one of the most successful breeding seasons in the park's history, it was announced.

Among the penguin babies are seven macaroni penguins, six gentoo and 17 Adelies, according to SeaWorld.

Since 1980, more than 500 penguin chicks have been born at SeaWorld.

Source: 10news.com

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T08:57:00.003-06:00

Appropriate for the New Year ...

Hatching, originally uploaded by karohemd.

(via Gentoo Penguins at O'Higgins Station, Antarctica)

Penguin Pincushion

2008-12-31T09:43:00.000-06:00

"Penguin Pincushion-"Let It Snow"" uploaded by squirrel momma

Penguin Frolic Baby Quilt Pattern

2008-12-29T12:19:00.000-06:00

It's believed that very small babies respond principally to black and white. If that's true, your favorite newborn will respond with pleasure to the Penguin Frolic Baby Quilt. The finished piece measures approximately 50 X 64 inches.

Download a photo and the patterns for the Penguin Frolic Baby Quilt in this four-page PDF.

Sassy Penguins in theTub

2008-12-26T11:01:00.000-06:00

Penguins help make bath time safe and organized. This 2-piece gift set includes soft penquin spout guard and mesh penguin tub toy organizer.

At Baby Universe for $9.99

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T10:58:00.001-06:00

graphic from JGoode, A whole store full of gifts for penguin collectors and penguin lovers. Hundreds of penguins for every occasion.

Penguins ready for Christmas

2008-12-24T09:01:00.000-06:00

Photo: REUTERS/Shin Young-geun/Yonhap

Penguin Skate Cookie Jar

2008-12-23T08:37:00.000-06:00

Penguin Skate

This penguin is smiling because he knows his belly is full of delectable, delicious treats. Just reach in! 14" high.

At Pfaltzgraff for $34.99

Frosted Penguin Suckers

2008-12-22T15:22:00.000-06:00

These polar penguin lollipops will add some frosty fun to winter goody bags and Christmas stockings! Also perfect for adding holiday cheer to candy dishes and treat jars! Each 2" sucker is on a 3" stick. Mixed fruit flavor. Individually wrapped. Fat-free.

At Oriental Trading Company for $5.99 Per Dozen

Send a dancing penguin to a friend

2008-12-20T08:28:00.003-06:00

Go here to create a dancing penguin Holiday greeting card.

Free Penguin Pal Hat Knitting Pattern

2008-12-19T08:38:00.002-06:00

This cheerful cap is as cool as can be, but it's sure to keep any child warm. Once you get the hang of knitting from a chart, you may play around with more designs to see which other animals would make a cute hat!

Get knitting instructions here

Dancing Penguin Socks

2008-12-18T16:34:00.002-06:00

Fluffy dancing penguins decorate these white socks to make a whimsical addition to any outfit. Constructed of 75% sensura polyester/25% nylon. Dancing Penguin Socks are adult sizes, woman's 6-11 and men's 5-10.

$8.95 at Whales & Friends

Penguin Rubber Duckies

2008-12-17T09:30:00.003-06:00

These vinyl duckies love the snowy weather! Dressed in colorful hats and scarves, these adorable penguin duckies are sure to add some winter fun to Christmas stockings, yuletide goody bags and more! You can also set them on a holiday dinner table for a cute centerpiece decoration. 2 1/4" - 2 1/2"

$5.99 for a dozen at Oriental Trading Co.

A very penguin Christmas at Korea park

2008-12-17T09:20:00.000-06:00

This Christmas, a family of penguins is helping boost the holiday spirit in South Korea.

At an amusement park outside Seoul, five penguins on loan from the zoo welcome visitors with a mini-parade that they will perform daily until Christmas Day.

The "mom", "dad" and three "baby" penguins also put on a show, where handlers dress them up in Santa costumes and let the birds waddle around on man-made snow and ice.

Children will also be able to hold some of the penguins, and even take them on sleigh rides.

Watch a video of the penguins in their Santa suits.

Penguin cuff-links

2008-12-16T08:55:00.002-06:00

Rhodium over brass with Swarovski crystals. Swivel back (easier to put on) unisex, unique styling, suitable for work or play. By Simon Carter.

$105.00 at the W store

Fused Glass Christmas Penguin

2008-12-16T08:48:00.002-06:00

An easy fused glass project: a Christmas Penguin.

Full instructions from Glass Fusing Made Easy

Penguin Bouncing Balls

2008-12-15T11:44:00.000-06:00

These vinyl penguins may not dance, but they sure do know how to bounce! Each one is inside a bouncy clear rubber ball! They make cute stocking stuffers or great favors at winter parties. Use them to fill goody bags or as table tossers at a dinner.

$10.99 for 12 at Oriental Trading Co.

Penguin Cupcakes

2008-12-14T08:53:00.003-06:00

From the Blue Cupcake company in Los Angeles, cupcakes perfect for the holidays:

(via cupcakes take the cake)

Photo from Flickr, by jdesmeules (Blue Cupcake)

Skating Penguins

2008-12-12T09:14:00.002-06:00

Skating Penguins with Removable Wreaths - 9" L
$15.99 at Target

Penguin Stainless Steel Travel Mug

2008-12-11T08:51:00.002-06:00

Take your coffee on the go in this penguin stainless steel travel mug that has a sip-through lid.

$13.95 at Whales & Friends

Phillip Island's fairy penguins

2008-12-10T08:41:00.002-06:00

They are as regular as clockwork.

Every night just after sunset, the fairy penguins appear from the cold waters of Bass Strait and waddle up the beach like drunken sailors from a nightspot.

And every morning, at least an hour before the sun considers rising, they are back in the ocean.

It has been like that for many years on Phillip Island, a beautiful part of the world 135km southeast of Melbourne.

they are the lifeblood of the island's economy. Other tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and everything else, exist because of the public pulling power of the penguins.

The penguins are the No.1 wildlife attraction in Australia. Japanese visitors find them magnetic, and it's easy to see why.

They emerge on Summerland Beach on the Summerland Peninsula like soldiers in little platoons.

They yap, preen and peer, and when all are assembled, they again look like soldiers as, with eyes to the front and wings slightly raised, they advance up the sand and somehow find their home – a burrow full of hungry chicks.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Penguin Ornaments

2008-12-10T08:39:00.001-06:00

Designed to hang or sit, these resin penguins are ready to frolic on your tree or tabletop. While each one is different, all wear glittery stocking caps to top off your holiday décor! Tie this merry flock to gift bags and wrapped presents.

At Oriental Trading Co, 6 pieces for $7.99

New stamp issue dedicated to penguins

2008-12-09T07:15:00.002-06:00

The five species of breeding penguins in the Falkland Islands will soon be winging their way through letter boxes, appearing on a new issue of postage stamps – Breeding Penguins – which were released this week by the Falkland Islands Post Office.

The colorful set of six stamps comprises head profiles of each type of the five breeding penguins found in the Falklands – Magellanic, rockhopper, macaroni, king and gentoo. An unusual picture of the rare albino rockhopper penguin is also featured.

Source: Merco Press

Club Penguin Penguins

2008-12-08T08:08:00.000-06:00

In late October, Disney released a series of stuffed animals based on digital characters from the company's popular online virtual world Club Penguin.

The plush penguins hit the market at $9.99. "We wanted to keep the price down," says Lane Merrifield, executive vice-president of Disney's Interactive Media Group and the co-founder and general manager of Club Penguin. "We decided this before the downturn, actually. The low prices will help [consumers]. But we also thought that making the toys affordable will allow the brand to be more accessible to more people."

Well, guess what? The Club Penguin Penguins seem to be the "must have" toy for this Holiday. The plush penguins dressed as a cheerleader, fireman, space alien, rock star, etc. have flown off the shelves at Toys R Us and the Disney Stores. A few have made their way to eBay at $20.00 or higher.

They are adorable!

I can understand every kid wanting one - or a whole collection of all THIRTEEN of these little cuties. I'm just happy I'm not searching all the toy stores looking for them!

Take a look at the whole collection at the Club Penguin Penguin Shop.

Gay penguin couple trying to start a family

2008-12-05T08:57:00.003-06:00

A couple of gay penguins at Polar Land in Harbin, northeast China, are attempting to steal eggs from straight birds in an effort to become "fathers", it has been reported.

The two penguins have started placing stones at the feet of parents before waddling away with their eggs, in a bid to hide their theft.

But the deception has been noticed by other penguins at the zoo, who have ostracised the gay couple from their group. Now keepers have decided to segregate the pair of three-year-old male birds to avoid disrupting the rest of the community during the hatching season.

"It's not discrimination. We have to fence them separately, otherwise the whole group will be disturbed during hatching time," a zoo a keeper said.

Source: China Daily

Fox kills 13 penguins at German zoo

2008-12-05T07:21:00.002-06:00

A spokesman for the Euregiozoo in Aachen, Germany, says a wild fox broke into a zoo enclosure and killed 13 penguins living there.

The unidentified spokesman said the wild animal forced its way through the enclosure's nylon netting and slaughtered the exhibit birds this week, The (British) Daily Mail said Thursday.

Wolfram Graf Rudolf, the head of the zoo, said all 13 of the penguins were of the Black Footed variety and had originated from Africa's western coast.

Rudolf said the loss of the penguins, whose bodies were found Wednesday, was a major blow to the tourist site and its remaining penguin occupants.

<-----Disturbing photo. (Click to enlarge if you're not squeamish.) Source: UPI

3/4 of Big Antarctic Penguin Colonies to Disappear?

2008-12-04T08:42:00.000-06:00

Up to 75 percent of major Antarctic penguin colonies may disappear if climate change continues to heat up the continent, according to a recent report.

A global temperature increase of 3.6 Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels will result in widespread changes to sea ice that the birds depend on for survival.

The temperature increase will, in any scenario, lead to a major reshuffling of colonies of emperor and Adélie penguins—the two penguin species that rely on ice for hunting and breeding.

In addition, there could be marked habitat loss of these iconic birds, said the report commissioned by the conservation group WWF.

The penguins' range is already shrinking, said David Ainley, a penguin expert with H.T. Harvey & Associates of San Jose, California, who co-authored the report.

Up to 50 percent of emperor colonies and 75 percent of Adélie colonies could be affected, the researchers said.

Source: National Geographic

Big Penguin is exonerated

2008-12-03T07:46:00.002-06:00

We introduced you recently to Tasmania's Big Penguin who was being tested for possibly containing asbestos.

Good news, Big Penguin aficionados! The Big Penguin has been given the all clear, even though it contains asbestos. The report recommends regular inspections, to make sure there is no cracking in the outer shell.

Waiting penguins

2008-12-02T15:14:00.002-06:00

Penguins at Disneyworld, waiting to go home.

Photo by Julie Corsi

A snow penguin?

2008-12-01T08:42:00.002-06:00

This kitty, obviously admiring the snow penguin creation, is one of the finalists in The 4th Annual World's Coolest Dog & Cat Show.

Photographing penguins

2008-11-28T09:47:00.003-06:00

Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today. Only a very small percentage of these images have ever been published. The rest have been sitting in dusty archives in the form of negatives, slides, glass plates, etchings, and prints. Google will be adding the entire LIFE photo archive — about 10 million photos.

This photo:

Ornithologist photographing native penguin.

Location:	Antarctica
Date taken:	February 1956
Photographer:	Fritz Goro
Size:	1280 x 1257 pixels (17.8 x 17.5 inches)

Paint a penguin on your face

2008-11-27T08:43:00.002-06:00

Step by step instructions for a Christmas Penguin using Snazaroo face paints by Helen @ Cats Whiskers

Look, a traveling penguin!

2008-11-26T08:51:00.000-06:00

A little plushie penguin pal designed and handmade by JGoode has his bags packed and is already off and running - venturing out into the wild to meet people all over the world.

MyPenguinTravels.com is the journal of The Penguin, the places he visits, the things he likes to do and the people he meets.

Waddle along - it should be a fun ride!

Is this penguin dangerous?

2008-11-25T10:02:00.002-06:00

Tests are underway on the Big Penguin tourist attraction in Tasmania's north-west to determine whether it is a public health danger.

It is believed the statue is made of the deadly fibre asbestos.

The Big Penguin was erected in 1975 to mark the centenary of the town of Penguin.

The former Goliath Cement employee that sculpted the 3 metre sea bird, Andrew Bennie, says it contains asbestos.

The Central Coast Council is taking the issue seriously, ordering a forensic examination.

Source: ABC

Puppy power saves penguins

2008-11-24T08:56:00.003-06:00

A world-first dog trial has proved central to turning around the fate of Warrnambool's Middle Island penguin colony - and now the next generation of pups is set to continue the good work.

After dwindling to a dire population of just four in 2005, penguin numbers at Middle Island have rebounded this year.

An early start to the breeding season has already seen eight penguin chicks leave the nest and another 16 are still on the island in various stages of development.

Deakin University PhD student Amanda Peucker, who is monitoring the penguins' progress, said the population growth could largely be attributed to the success of the guard dogs in keeping predators, like foxes, off the island.

"A couple of years ago we had something like 180 penguins killed by foxes, now there aren't even any fox prints in the area," she said.

Source: The Age

Researchers stumble upon new penguin species

2008-11-21T08:16:00.001-06:00

Researchers have stumbled upon the remains of a previously unknown species of penguin that pre-dates the Polynesian settlement of New Zealand nearly half a century ago.

Australian and New Zealand researchers, from the University of Adelaide and the University of Otago, were studying fossils they believed to be of the more commonly known, and now endangered, yellow-eyed penguin when DNA tests revealed they actually belonged to a new species, the Waitaha penguin.

"In the process of studying yellow-eyed penguins we accidentally discovered this extinct species, which looks like it was unique to the south island of New Zealand," Dr. Jeremy Austin a senior researcher at the Australian Center for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide told Reuters.

Source: Reuters

We all need friends

2008-11-20T08:37:00.003-06:00

A baby penguin at the Living Coasts attraction in Torquay, Devon, which had to be separated from its family after a greedy sibling continually ate all its food has found companionship with a stuffed toy.

Source: Telegraph

A little break

2008-11-18T13:33:00.001-06:00

Jennifer Meyer recently visited my other blog & left a comment on a post which I followed back to her blog, J.L.Meyer Illustrations, where I found this very charming illustration.

Although I went SOUTH, and it isn't officially winter yet here in Chicago, that palm tree sure makes me wish I never came back! (34 degrees in Chicago today)

We've been tooling around in Florida and the Bahamas since November 7th - not much to report, except massive quantities of sunshine, margaritas, more sunshine, sandy beaches, more margaritas, too much food, some Coronas, more sunshine, some more margaritas, a little sunburn, and a little shopping.

Oh well, back to the grind ...

One way to get a penguin to fly

2008-10-08T07:49:00.000-06:00

A C-130 rolled down the strip with 399 penguins on a one-way trip in Brazil last Friday.

The mission: To save the Magellanic penguins that had been stranded 1,550 miles north of their typical feeding grounds and were starving on the beaches of near Salvador.

IFAW, in cooperation with the Brazilian government, loaded the birds into crates and flew them on a Brazilian air force C-130 to Pelotas, which is on the coast just shy of the border with Argentina.

Once led to the frigid water at Pelotas, the birds waddled away.

Source: AirForce Times

Penguin Scrabble Tile Pendant

2008-10-01T07:42:00.000-06:00

What a cute little gift!

▪ Handmade w/ reused wood Scrabble tiles, decoupaged images
▪ Sterling silver plated bail
▪ Game tiles are rectangular approx. 3/4" square (1.9 cm)
▪ Finished with a glass-like shine
▪ Items come in a small white organza gift bag (approx. 3 per bag)
▪ Pendants available in MULTIPLE QUANTITIES and WHOLESALE

from Etsy, by HomeStudio

Buy a penguin?

2008-09-30T08:32:00.000-06:00

Claim: You can buy a [living] penguin on-line from penguinwarehouse.com.

Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Photo from Flickr, by Mollivan Jon

(via The Pet Blog)

Sleeping penguin

2008-09-29T09:32:00.002-06:00

Birds do not put their heads under their wings when they sleep, but instead bury the bill into the scapular feathers.

Penguins are the only birds that properly hide the bill under the wing: they can't submerge any part of their head within their scapular feathers, because their feathers are so short.

If you're interested in the sleeping behavior of other creatures, read "Sleep behaviour and sleep postures" at Tetrapod Zoology.

Photo from Flickr, by jpmatth

Waiting for a breeze

2008-09-25T08:22:00.000-06:00

Watch the penguins in San Francisco

2008-09-24T05:47:00.002-06:00

The California Academy of Sciences building in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California is planning a grand opening.

What's being heralded as the greenest museum building in the world opens its doors to the public on September 27, 2008. The new academy in Golden Gate Park is insulated with nontoxic, second hand blue jeans and capped with a 2.5 acre living roof planted in native wildflowers.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at how the African Penguins are acclimating to the new Academy. Choose from any one of the three live webcams to watch the penguins.

Penguins begin their arrival to Argentine coasts

2008-09-23T06:02:00.001-06:00

Thousands of Magellanic penguins have begun their yearly arrival to the coasts of the southeastern Argentine province of Chubut, where they will mate and breed for the next few months.

Local media on Friday broadcasted live images of the penguins walking ashore to meet their mates in what they call "The Penguin's Vigil".

And for the first time, this year the local Chubut government have also set up a website which is streaming the penguins' arrival to the Patagonia for 72 consecutive hours.

The migratory sea birds travel thousands of miles every year around this time from the coasts of Brazil to meet their partners and reproduce in the Patagonia's penguin colonies.

As temperatures begin to drop the penguins will then make their way back up the continent in search of warmer waters.

Chubut penguin website (in English)

Chubut daily penguin videos

I need a bank loan!

2008-09-19T07:59:00.006-06:00

Quark Expeditions is offering the ultimate expedition for Penguin lovers in November 2009 to journey to Snow Hill Island and South Georgia seeking the world's two largest penguins.

The 22-day "Emperors & Kings: Snow Hill and South Georgia" expedition is priced at $21, 890 to $35,890.

This is more money than I earn in a year & I'd have to take time off from work. But, you only live once, right?

Video: Brazil's dead penguin mystery

2008-09-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

From Reuters - Watch video

Penguin Picasso

2008-09-17T05:52:00.002-06:00

This photo provided by the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, S.C. shows Ricky, a 7 year-old Rockhopper penguin making a painting to raise money for the wildlife conservation efforts.

Ricky's painting was the first sold in the auction of art by animals nationwide for $ 180 Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, in Columbia, S.C.

"What we did basically was put some paint on the floor and aim him toward it with a fish on the other side," Martin Vince, curator of birds at the South Carolina zoo, said.

Video: Penguin show

2008-09-16T08:01:00.000-06:00

Watch video

(via Steer South!)

Rod Stewart at SeaWorld

2008-09-15T09:30:00.002-06:00

Source: Sign on SanDiego

Sandy penguins

2008-09-12T10:37:00.000-06:00

Crochet a penguin

2008-09-11T07:37:00.004-06:00

The pattern is currently sold out. Maybe they'll have more in the future?

from Etsy, by crochetroo

Court urges decision on penguin protection

2008-09-10T06:14:00.001-06:00

Penguins may be waddling closer to protected status under the Endangered Species Act, now that a judge has told federal regulators to determine whether the aquatic birds are in danger of extinction.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service must say by Dec. 19 whether 10 species of penguin should be listed under the act, U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Urbina ruled yesterday in federal court in Washington, D.C. The settlement could affect the emperor, southern rockhopper, northern rockhopper, Fiordland crested, erect-crested, macaroni, white-flippered, yellow-eyed, African, and Humboldt penguins.

“Right now penguins are marching towards extinction due to the impacts of global warming,” Shaye Wolf, a seabird biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a press release. “Protecting penguins under the Endangered Species Act is an essential step toward saving them.”

The Endangered Species Act limits economic and other activities that threaten species protected under the law and the ecosystems they need to live.

Source: Scientific American

happy to see you

2008-09-09T07:46:00.002-06:00

Photo from Flickr, by GliderKing

A penguin artist

2008-09-05T06:21:00.004-06:00

Peep gobbles down her share of smelt and capelin just like the other penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium. However, this gentoo penguin still finds room for more fishy treats while she is creating artwork behind-the-scenes at Penguins' Rock.

The painting sessions are offered as an enrichment activity for the birds in the gallery back-up area. "Anything that is new and different is exciting for the animals. And painting is one activity that helps keep their minds active and healthy," said Amy Graves, senior aviculturist at the Aquarium. "The door is always open during the painting sessions so the penguins don't get stressed. They simply come and go as they please."

Although not well known in fine art circles, Peep's artwork will go in front of a global audience of potential bidders. On Tuesday, September 16, the Auction Network will conduct a live auction featuring artwork created by animals from zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). An original painting called, "Happy Feet" by Peep will be one of the numerous pieces up for sale during The Arts by Animal auction, which will be broadcast online in high-definition beginning with a special pre-show at 4 p.m. EDT, followed at 5 p.m. with the live auction.

This three-hour live auction is expected to draw a worldwide audience, and will feature appearances by wildlife celebrities Jack Hanna and Nigel Marven. People are encouraged to visit http://www.auctionnetwork.com/aza now to view the entire catalog, see video bios on the animal artist and even place proxy bids before the auction begins.

Source: Newschannel9

Video: sqwaking rockhoppers

2008-09-04T06:15:00.002-06:00

Here's a great video taken by JGoode Designs who is also the creator of Nothing but Penguins:

Watch video.

Play Penguin Push

2008-09-03T07:01:00.001-06:00

Penguin Push is a great little game. Use your arrow keys to push the silver blocks into the yellow holes to progress to the next level. Sure it sounds easy, but you had better plan ahead.

Penguin Push - Flash Game

Add Games to your own site	More Flash Games!

Or play it at Owen's World.

A romantic walk

2008-09-02T08:26:00.000-06:00

A crowded beach

2008-08-29T07:45:00.000-06:00

from Flickr, by CharlesFred

Penguin Kinda Love

2008-08-28T09:52:00.003-06:00

Photo from Flickr, by LifeHouseDesign

Penguin Alarm Clock with Feet

2008-08-27T07:42:00.001-06:00

Are you tired of boring alarm clocks? Look no further than a Present Time Alarm Clock. These analog clocks will ensure that your child can read the time when it's not just displayed as numbers. Help them understand the relationship of one time of day to another. This Present Time Penguin Alarm Clock with Feet features an adorable animal and a unique tilt and sound. Great gift for the time constrained or time conscious person in your life.

On sale $17.99 at Peanut Gallery Gifts

Hold on!

2008-08-26T07:40:00.002-06:00

from Flickr, by Swamibu

Are you my mommy?

2008-08-25T08:50:00.000-06:00

Kyoto, a three-week old baby king penguin, nestles up to a toy plush penguin placed to simulate a parent in the nursery at the Cincinnati Zoo. The baby penguin, taken from its parents and placed in the zoo's nursery as standard procedure, will be reintroduced to his family when his down feathers come in.

Photo credit: Al Behrman / AP

Penguin Mug

2008-08-20T10:23:00.000-06:00

Wheel thrown mug..
After throwing the mug this happy penguin is hand sculpted on.
The Handle is Hand Pulled and attached keeping a comfortable generous fit in mind. Hand Painted with Lead Free Glazes.

So cool!

This mug measures aprox. 6 inches tall and holds aprox. 26 oz. of your favorite HOT or Cold beverage.

$25.00 at MudFairy's store on etsy.

Parasite found in Galápagos penguins

2008-08-19T08:24:00.003-06:00

A parasite has been found in Galápagos penguins, raising fears among researchers that it could lead to avian malaria, a disease that contributed significantly to the 50 percent extinction rate of endemic birds in Hawaii.

The discovery resulted from a long-term study to monitor diseases in Galápagos birds, conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo, Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation.

Dr. Parker, a professor of zoological studies at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, said the parasite was in the genus Plasmodium, which includes several malaria-causing species. The recently discovered parasite appears to be a new species and is so far unnamed.

The parasite was probably introduced by human activity, she said. Tourism has increased to 140,000 visitors in 2006 from 40,000 in 1990.

Source: New York Times

Video: Penguin Receives Norwegian Knighthood

2008-08-18T07:32:00.000-06:00

Watch video