Monday, April 30, 2012

Image of the Day

Elephant Beach Gentoos by Simon Proffitt
Elephant Beach Gentoos, a photo by Simon Proffitt on Flickr.

Something fishy is going on: Thefts sweep aquarium as 'criminal' penguins steal love rivals' pebbles

Gentoo penguins steal stones from rival nests as mating season begins

By Daily Mail Reporter


As crimewaves go, there's something very fishy about a series of thefts taking place at the London Aquarium.
As the mating season begins, 'criminal' gentoo penguins have been pinching pebbles from rival nests.
With a stealthy glance over their shoulders, the fiendish birds quickly waddle to their neighbours' nests, steal a stone and run back to their own breeding ground.

Stealing stones: Gentoo penguin Vladamir (left) and the object of his affection Ronnie (right) begin their annual courtship ritual... not before some serious pebble theft
Stealing stones: Gentoo penguin Vladamir (left) and the object of his affection Ronnie (right) begin their annual courtship ritual... not before some serious pebble theft

Defending their nests: As the number of break-ins increase, the gentoos have become suspicious of their fellow colony members
Defending their nests: As the number of break-ins increase, the gentoos have become suspicious of their fellow colony members

But as the number of break-ins increase, the gentoos have become suspicious of their fellow colony members.
If they notice a rival moving in to plunder their pebbles they quickly run back to defend their nests.

The colony of 10, which arrived at the attraction last year, are in the middle of their first mating season at the aquarium.

 
Males declare their interest in a female by selecting and presenting a 'love token' in the form of a pebble to their chosen female. If it is accepted, the couple then begin collecting more pebbles to line their doughnut-shaped nest.

The birds build their stone nests to elevate and protect their eggs.
Smooth pebbles are 'like gold dust' because they are easy to pick up and comfortable to lie on, according to those who tend to the birds.


High hopes: Staff at the London Aquarium are optimistic that the penguins will successfully breed
High hopes: Staff at the London Aquarium are optimistic that the penguins will successfully breed 
High hopes: Staff at the London Aquarium are optimistic that the penguins will successfully breed

No eggs have been seen yet but breeders are hoping that a few will turn up in the next few weeks at the aquarium (pictured)
No eggs have been seen yet but breeders are hoping that a few will turn up in the next few weeks at the aquarium (pictured)

Hayley Clark, aquarist at the Sea Life London Aquarium, said extra pebbles had to be put into the enclosure after burglar Vladimir has conducted daily robberies on surrounding nests.
She said: 'Some of them are a little bit more tricky than the others, they keep an eye out for the owner of the nest before stealing. A couple of them will just run straight to a nest and will be chased off straight away.

'They just prefer a certain type of pebble. Pebbles are like gold dust to these guys.
'The male works out where he wants his nest and that is when he starts collecting pebbles. The female will join in as well after he has given her a few pebbles to place in the nest how she wants it.
'It is like giving your girlfriend chocolate.'

Ms Clark added that there has been 'a few tiffs' over pebble thefts. 'They will run over pretty sharpish and tell them where to go,' she said. 'It can get a little bit aggressive but they generally back away very quickly.'
No eggs have been seen yet but breeders are hoping that a few will turn up in the next few weeks.

The pilfering activities of pesky penguins were also featured in the BBC's Frozen Planet when crews captured Adelie penguins performing a similar thefts while filming in Antarctica.

source

Friday, April 27, 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Image of the Day

Gentoo Penguins by Anne Froehlich
Gentoo Penguins, a photo by Anne Froehlich on Flickr.

Now what?

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Image of the Day

Gentoo Penguin by Duane Miller
Gentoo Penguin, a photo by Duane Miller on Flickr.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Slushy

Slushy by Linc060
Slushy, a photo by Linc060 on Flickr.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

This Week's Pencognito!

To their credit, the penguins hardly ever rub it in.
[click for cartoon]
[click for cartoon]
[click for cartoon]

[click for cartoon]Please visit Jen and all the Pengies HERE

Image of the Day

Gentoo by Sean Bonnette
Gentoo, a photo by Sean Bonnette on Flickr.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Image of the Day

IMG_0609 by advermeulen2010
IMG_0609, a photo by advermeulen2010 on Flickr.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Image of the Day

Gentoo penguin by Susan Dulaney Wright
Gentoo penguin, a photo by Susan Dulaney Wright on Flickr.

I haz toes!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Image of the Day

Gentoo by Sean Bonnette
Gentoo, a photo by Sean Bonnette on Flickr.

I haz a perch!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Image of the Day

Sunset with penguins by Alex Cowan
Sunset with penguins, a photo by Alex Cowan on Flickr.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Image of the Day

Gentoo Penguin Chick by MyLovenArt
Gentoo Penguin Chick, a photo by MyLovenArt on Flickr.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Image of the Day

Gentoo Beach 1 by kevmitch04
Gentoo Beach 1, a photo by kevmitch04 on Flickr.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Image of the Day

Berthas Beach by Benjy91
Berthas Beach, a photo by Benjy91 on Flickr.

Listening to the beat of a different drummer

Friday, April 6, 2012

Image of the Day

Penguin Nest by Benjy91
Penguin Nest, a photo by Benjy91 on Flickr.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Image of the Day

All in a day's work by Sabby3000
All in a day's work, a photo by Sabby3000 on Flickr.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Monday, April 2, 2012

Image of the Day

IMG_0660 by advermeulen2010
IMG_0660, a photo by advermeulen2010 on Flickr.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Image of the Day

Berthas Beach by Benjy91
Berthas Beach, a photo by Benjy91 on Flickr.