Penguins are flightless seabirds that live almost exclusively below the equator.
Facts you might not know about penguins
All penguin species are black, blue, or grey with white patches around the eyes. Penguins have hollow bones, allowing them to take large leaps. Their waddle is their walking gait, which allows them to keep their bearings in low-light conditions. The penguin's strong legs and sharp beaks are strong enough to pull their prey into the water. Penguins also wield a fearsome dagger-like beak. Penguins feed mostly on fish, which they catch with a special keel or swimming mechanism in their necks. African penguins are social creatures that build nests in colonies and raise their young communally. About one in 10 penguin chicks die, and two out of three penguin parents die while raising chicks. When they are hatched, penguin chicks are nearly blind and cannot swim.
How to care for penguins
Caring for penguins is similar to caring for any other seabird. Like seabirds, penguins may experience some fluctuations in health and temperament throughout the year, but their general needs are similar to those of many small birds, like finches or emus. Although they’re not as cold-hardy as some other species, penguins are used to living in very hot environments. For example, they need a temperature between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent shivering during the winter months. They have adapted to this climate, though, by needing high levels of fat to stay warm. Unlike many bird species, penguins aren’t especially messy and don’t tend to poop on the ground. They instead defecate on the rocks and the grass where they forage.
Conclusion
Nesting colonies can be quite tricky to navigate. When in doubt, call the expert, the penguin keeper. It's a long, tiring job, but those of us who have been there known just how rewarding it can be.
You can buy a book about Penguins
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