Taking the Plunge

There continues to be a lot of activity at the Penguin Coast exhibit at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, with some chicks hatching and others taking their first plunge into the pool.   While Nicolas, Raul and Andrés, the first three penguins hatched in 2007, were learning to swim, the zoo welcomed two new additions the colony.  Wylie and Mara produced two chicks, which hatched on August 7 and August 10.

Nicolas, Raul and Andrés are now on exhibit and can be seen swimming in the "big boy" pool.  They have lost the velvety gray down they were born with and have developed their juvenile plumage.  The three males look different than the adults in the colony as they lack the characteristics of the adults, which include a black arch of feathers across the chest and a distinct white line of feathers that runs up each side of the face.

Nest News

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce that its three penguin chicks, which debuted on June 14, 2007, are all males.  The staff at the zoo has named the chicks Nicolas, Raul and Andrés.

“We named the first penguin chick that hatched after the County Executive,” says Chuck Doyle, director of the zoo.  “He helped us with the first public weigh-in of that particular chick and there seemed to be a real connection between the two.  We felt this was a nice way to recognize the County Executive’s support of the zoo over the past 20 years.” 

The spelling of the chick’s name is slightly different than that of the County Executive’s.  “Nicolas” without an “h” is the Spanish form of the name, which keeps with the zoo’s tradition of giving the penguins names of a Spanish origin.  Humboldt penguins are native to Chile and Peru – both of which are Spanish-speaking countries.

County Executive, Nicholas Pirro, was born May 29.  Nicolas, the penguin, was born on May 28.  Raul was born on May 31 and Andrés on June 2. 

“The birth of three male penguins is good for the captive population,” says Ted Fox, curator.  “More males will allow for greater genetic diversity and will aid us in the conservation of these endangered birds.”

Penguin Parenting

Humboldt penguins usually produce two eggs per nesting. Penguin parents take extraordinary care in raising the little ones. Either one or the other parent is with their offspring constantly. Gestation lasts for 40-42 days. Mom or Dad feeds the youngsters by regurgitating fish. It takes about 90 days for a baby chick to be capable of being on its own.

A Big Family

Humboldt penguins mate year round in the wild, but because of our cold winters and hot summers in Syracuse, Humboldt penguins usually mate in the spring. When you visit the exhibit you can note the many nest boxes available. The colony of 28 penguins is composed of 12 males, 11 females, 3 male chicks and 2 chicks whose gender has not yet been determined.

Photo courtesy of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is very happy with the success of its breeding program and hopes to see more chicks in years to come.

Native Homeland

Humboldt penguins are named after the Humboldt Current that flows along the west coast of the  Americas. The Penguin Coast Exhibit mimics the rocky shores of the mainland coast and islands of Chile and Peru. Humboldt penguins are endangered with only 12,000 to 30,000 Humboldt penguins remaining in the wild.

Links for Penguin Web sites and Penguin Video Feed

http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/
wildlife/penguins/humboldt.shtml

http://penguins.cl/humboldt-penguins.htm

Live Video Feed of Penguins at Monterey Bay Aquarium - these are not Humboldt penguins but they are Blackfooted penguins:

www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_fo/fo_peng_cam.asp

Want to know more about Humboldt Penguins?

Habitat:

• Naturally found on the mainland coast and islands of Chile and Peru, on rocky mainland shores, especially near cliffs or on coastal islands
• Unlike their Antarctic cousins, Humboldt penguins inhabit hot, dry coastlines
• Because of their normal arid, not arctic climate, these penguins huddle together for safety and not warmth
• Ideal temperatures include: Water 30 degrees to 70 degrees, ir 20 degrees to 90 degrees

Characteristics:

• Good vision in the water and on land
• Normal habitat is salt water, however, research shows they can live in fresh or salt water without any health repercussions
• Can drink both fresh and salt water, with a supraorbital gland enabling them to drink salt water

• Dense feathers protect these penguins in winds of up to 60 miles per hour
• Life span is approx. 20 years in the wild, up to 30 years at zoos
• Weigh approx. 9 lbs. and are 15-18 inches tall
• Each penguin has a unique voice that makes it easily identifiable to its mate and offspring
• Sexes are similar in appearance, although males are larger
• Named after the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current that flows north along the west coast of the Americas

Behaviors:

• One of the most timid species of penguins

• They have a body made to swim, which can “fly” through the water, near the surface, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour
• When swimming, they steer with their feet and tail
• Very social animals that live in relatively large colonies, where communication is important
• Living in large colonies provides greater safety from predators
• Lose almost all their feathers each year and replace them with new ones in a process called  “moulting”
• Prior to moulting, birds go through a “fattening” period, increasing their body weight by 50-70%
• During moulting, penguins eat little or no food, cannot swim and do not go into deep water for two to four weeks
• Nests are lined with feathers, with the majority of nest-building being done by the male
• Burrow-like nests are built among piles of guano, accumulated droppings of sea birds
• Penguins cannot fly

Reproduction:

• Humboldt penguins are monogamous
• Both parents incubate one or two eggs in the nest tunnel and also take turns babysitting the chicks after hatched
• Egg incubation is 40days, chicks fledge (leave the nest) in 45-90 days
• Penguins lay smaller eggs relative to their body weight than almost any other bird

Diet:

• Feeds mostly on small, schooling fish, such as anchovies and sardines

Status:

• CITES Appendix I- endangered status, with fewer then 12,000 estimated to survive in the wild
• Threats to their existence: El Nino, guano harvesting, fishing industry (caught in nets and competition for food supply), oil spills, humans collecting eggs, introduced predators such as rats, cats and dogs, and disturbances caused by researchers and tourists
• About 230 Humboldt penguins are in the North American breeding program
• We can help by educating the public and adding to AZA’s Species Survival Program for Humboldt Penguins

Click here to see updated personality profiles on all of our twenty four Humboldt penguins! You can also see how the penguin soap opera is progressing and which penguins are now the hot couples in the colony!

Click here to see what's new with our very own Humboldt Penguin Chicks! 

Humboldt Penguins Background/Facts

Humboldt penguins normally live in saltwater, but research has shown that they can also live in freshwater. Penguins mostly feed on small, schooling fish, such as anchovies and sardines. A special gland allows them to drink saltwater. However, they prefer to drink freshwater.

Like all penguins, Humboldt penguins cannot fly. They have dense feathers that protect their bodies from the elements. Their bodies are designed for swimming and they use their tails and feet to steer. They have good vision both above and below the water.

Penguins have unique voices that make it easy for mates and offspring to identify each other. Humboldt penguins are monogamous and both parents incubate two eggs for 35 to 38 days. After the eggs hatch, both parents care for the chicks.

Humboldt penguins are endangered. It is estimated that there are only 12,000 to 30,000 Humboldt penguins in the wild. Threats to their existence in the wild include: El Nino, guano harvesting, the fishing industry, oil spills, disturbances caused by researchers and tourists and the introduction of predators such as rats, cats and dogs.

Did You Know?  

• Humboldt eggs are only incubated for 35-38 days before the chicks hatch!

• Humboldts are one of the most timid species of penguins.
  
• Humboldt penguins have a unique voice that makes it easy for each to be identified by his or her mate and offspring.
  
• Humboldt penguins have bodies made for swimming, that allow them to "fly" through the water at speeds up to 20 miles per hour

Trivia

How many Humboldt penguins are currently in the North American breeding program?

A) 150

B) 172

C) 230

D) 257

Fun Fact

Humboldt penguins lose ALL of their feathers each year and replace them with new ones when they moult. During moulting, penguins eat little or no food and do not go in the water for two to four weeks! You will be able to watch the Rosamond Gifford Zoo's moulting penguins each season!

The answer to the trivia question is 230 Humboldt penguins.