Comments on: Finishing up Molting

By: Penguins

Penguins — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:24:14 +0000

Hi Michele! Unfortunately I’m not able to tell you what it was you were looking at without seeing it myself. It was probably either a penguin or a human, though! I’m so glad you’re enjoying our colony and sorry I can’t shed any light on your observation…

By: Michele Clark

Michele Clark — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:22:09 +0000

We are a class of first graders and have been watching your penguin webcam. At 10:15 a.m. central time, we saw something swim in front of the camera. It was so close we could not tell what it was. Could you identify what that was for us please? We read Pierre the Penguin and got your site from the book. We really enjoy you sharing with us!

By: Penguins

Penguins — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:19:01 +0000

Hi Karen, I like your idea of a “rogue’s gallery” and will definitely keep this in mind for the future. In regards to the second part of your comment I think it’s a combination of both things that you mentioned. It takes time for the birds to become comfortable around a new person and accept them into the colony just as it takes time for a staff member to become comfortable working with the birds. Both of these aspects are inter-related (ie: as the staff member becomes more comfortable so do the birds and vice versa). Penguins are extremely social animals and have a lot of different behaviors and ways of interacting with each other and those who care for them. When I was learning to work with them it helped me to keep the mantra “I’m the biggest penguin” in my head

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:35:30 +0000

Hey Pam!!! Thanks for all the new little bits of information today during feeding time! Loved hearing Dunker’s birthday was St. Patty’s day 2007 as well as about some of the behavior info etc… YOU ROCK!!!

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:18:28 +0000

I just can’t get enough of your penguin blogs and pictures! Two new questions for you:
Is there any way that you could post closeups of the fronts and backs of all of the penguins? I can sometimes recognize Pierre by the cute little circle shape on the top left side of his belly from earlier pics of him (although it’s difficult with the reduced definition of the webcams) but it would be great to have closeups of all the birds to reference, a rogue’s gallery of sorts!
Also, today during the 3pm feeding Brooke was talking about all the little bites and scratches she got when she first started working with the penguins. Was that because the penguins didn’t know her and weren’t comfortable with her yet or was it because she didn’t know when to dodge their beaks or was it for some other reason? She has indicated that they are very gentle with her when she is feeding them and clearly loves these penguins and loves working with them. I am so interested in their personalities and how they manifest!
In the (theoretical) rogue’s gallery it would be fun to have additional bits of information on each penguin like date of birth, parentage, character traits (such as “likes to play with fish before eating” or “doesn’t like to be handled” etc). As you can tell, I’m starved for any and all Penguin particulars!!! Thanks again for everything you all do and for making yourselves available to those of us across the country who aren’t able to be there in person.

By: Judy Reynolds

Judy Reynolds — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:20:45 +0000

Thanks for the new pictures of molting penguins. It would be great if you had a page with pictures of all the different penguins in their most “interesting” molt look. I wanted to see Homey’s “vulture” look but am not able to get in this week to see her.