Comments on: Penguin Team Member: I am Back!

By: no

no — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:39:28 +0000

hi me and my class are comeing on januray 21

By: Jason Gather

Jason Gather — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:52:34 +0000

Pam, saw you yesterday. You are entertaining and informative.

By: Miley Hanson

Miley Hanson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:51:29 +0000

Do the penguins learn? How do you know when they are trained? Thanks for your expertise.

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:14:28 +0000

Hi Bill, While the movie is humurous and they “Adam Sandler” did dress up an African penguin in a Hawaiian shirt, this is an unusual situation outside of Hollyweird. Adam was trying to get the attention of a potential (human) girlfriend. While Drew Barrymore may have been impressed, I am sure the penguin was not wearing the shirt because he was cold or had massive feather loss. The only time I “dressed” a penguin was in a neoprene vest due to a medical condition that did not respond to any other known treatment. Luckily, the vest allowed for normal, natural movement and eventually the penguin grew new feathers. Nice penguin wearing clothes reference!

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:03:35 +0000

Hi Fred, I have not heard back from our manufacturer yet, re: recycled plastic. However, the huge advantage to these new wingbands is that they are re-usuable.

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:02:04 +0000

Hi Theresa (and friends), I was overwhelmed my first few days back. With a few of the penguins in different feathers and a few in different bands there was alot to keep track of. And intially, they seemed to rush over and surround me. This sometimes even created penguin squabbles to get to the “inner circle”. I have to re-learn their dominancy structure as it has changed and watch the new adult feathered birds establish hierarchy and pairs. I was careful to limit my time in the exhibit and to move around quite a bit. But as days turn into weeks, we are all settling down.

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:55:48 +0000

Hi Hilary, The most obvious thing that has happened since I have been away is that many of the juvenile penguins have molted into their adult feathers. In addition, a few have started to flirt with other penguins and attempted nest building.

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:53:59 +0000

Hi Katherine, After working with these penguins for the past nine years, I look at each penguin as though they are an individual. Their faces and body shapes look unique. Their behaviors also vary and can be used to identify each bird. If there is ever a question, the birds have wing bands that identify each bird. They are all also micro-chipped in case wing bands come off. So, there are lots of ways to keep track of every penguin.

By: Bill Hughes

Bill Hughes — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:34:42 +0000

Pam. Good to see you back. I remember reading about a wetsuit for a Penguin, but have you ever allowed one of the Penguin’s to wear a hawaiian shirt like the one in “50 First Dates”?

By: Fredster D

Fredster D — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:31:13 +0000

Pam.Caught your penguin show this afternoon, lots of information. I see your dedication and enthusiasm. Fun. I am wondering about the bands that you put on the penguins. Are they plastic? Are they recycled? Fred Drapman