Comments on: New Penguin Sinclair

By: Saphira B. Nrew

Saphira B. Nrew — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:10:34 +0000

Can you tell me please how big the area is for the African Penguins and whether the area we see on the live cams is their whole area or is there an area behind the scenes? Thank you Saphira.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:54:34 +0000

HAPPY HATCHDAY PIERRE!!!
Loved the hatchday singing.
Making a donation in Pierre’s honor.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:49:33 +0000

Hi yet again Brooke!!
I saw photographers with you while you were handing out valentines to the penguins today. Can you please identify where we might go to see the pictures they were taking? Also, is there an index on the Calacademy website anywhere that lists where any articles written about (or pictures/videos taken of) the penguins can be found. Being from Michigan, I would have totally missed the awesome article in the SF Chronicle if I hadn’t read about it on this blog.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:52:02 +0000

Hi Again Brooke!
I know you are giving out Valentines to the penguins this week. I was wondering if there is any chance that you could turn on the internet sound when you are handing them out so that those of us at home can hear what people have written to the penguins!!!

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:55:27 +0000

Hi Brooke!
A couple of questions today:
1. You mentioned that Homey and Pierre are not recommended to breed because of Pierre being so well represented in the North American Penguin population. What about Homey? Does she have any offspring and, if so, where are they? If not, will she be allowed to breed at some future time?
2. You also mentioned that your beige banded couple, Dyer and Adasha, are both Pierre’s offspring. Since they are related, I am confused as to why they are both beige banded because I thought the same colored arm bands were reserved for pair bonds. Is it because they are close as siblings raised together but will eventually be paired and “colored” with other birds?
As always, thanks for everything you and all the “calacademy” staffers do!

By: Scot

Scot — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:22:39 +0000

Thanks, as always, for the information. I must say, however, that my wife and I were devastated to learn that Pete is not currently approved to breed. I hope it’s just the case that his pairing is less valuable than the other three pairs (which is your allotment for this year), not that his mean kinship value is so high that he may never be allowed to breed. Please tell me that it’s just a matter of time and Pete may be allowed to breed in future years. As you may be able to guess, Pete is our favorite penguin.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:32:11 +0000

Hi Pam (et al)!

I just read the comments above and googled the article in the SF Chronicle (which was AWESOME btw). I was thrilled to see all the beautiful pictures of you and the penguins and to read more about the exhibit.

I was also interested to learn that you are travelling to South Africa this fall. How long will you be there? Are you going to be at SANCCOB or at Boulders Beach or Dassen Island or at various other islands or where? Are you going with other biologists/staff members from the Academy or from other institutions? Who will be taking over for you while you are gone?

I have been following blogs from NEAQ personal who have ventured to SANCCOB and Dassen Island and it’s all quite fascinating. You must be beside yourself with excitement but I imagine our little tuxedo’d friends will miss you (I know I am anthropomorphizing a bit)!!

By: Penguins

Penguins — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:11:21 +0000

Hi Scot! Pete and his future mate (who we’ll be receiving within the next couple of months from Tautphaus Zoo in Idaho) will not be recommended to breed at this time. We will therefore have 3 pairs that we’ll be trying to breed: Agulhas/Sinclair, Ocio/Safara, and Robben/his new mate (who we’ll be receiving from Rochester NY). The SSP also does specify how many chicks each pair should produce. For all 3 of our pairs we’ll be trying to produce 2 chicks within the next 2 years. Hope this answered your questions

By: Penguins

Penguins — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:23 +0000

Hi Kandace, the birds only have 2 biologists that regularly care for them and these tend to be the only people they really acclimate to. There is a primary biologist who cares for them 5 days a week and then a secondary biologist who cares for them the remaining 2 days per week. Generally it takes at least a few weeks for the birds to relax around a new staff member and several months for them to fully develop a relationship. There is also a team of 4 other biologists who are trained to work with the birds for coverage needs and to provide additional support/brain-power for the exhibit. Cheers!

By: Scot

Scot — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:54:32 +0000

Hi Brooke, We saw the nice article about you in the San Francisco Chronicle. In it was a comment that ‘the academy has been recommended to breed three pairs of African penguins in 2012′. My understanding was that currently the pairs of Ocio/Safara and Agulhas/Sinclair are approved to breed. Additionally, both Pete and Robben are getting new mates, and I had presumed that both of those new pairs would be allowed to breed too. Is it the case that you’ll have four pairs which are allowed to breed, but that you are only recommended to actually let three of those four pairs breed in 2012? I was just curious if the SSP specifies not just who can breed, but also how many chicks each facility can have in any given year?

As always, thank you very much for all the fun and information which you provide to all the penguin fans out here.