Right now, anyone in the world might be watching a colony of African black-footed penguins at the Maryland Zoo on camera. They are the stars, after all, of the “Live Happy Feet Penguin Cam.”
You might start to wonder what the penguins are up to off camera. Here?s the inside scoop.
For the penguins, day starts at daybreak (which makes sense). They wander outside and bathe or swim. On shore, they preen, socialize, explore Rock Island, gather stuff for their nests and play.
These penguins love chasing each other underwater at top speed. They also chasegulls, mallards, dragonflies and, yes, even the cormorants that share their exhibit. Zoo penguins learn quickly, though, that the cormorants don?t like to mess around and will fight back.
When keepers arrive for the morning check, some penguins follow them around, tugging on pants or shoelaces. Most keep their distance. When buckets bang, everyone takes notice. Time to eat!
First capelin, then squid, then there?s a feeding frenzy set off by herring. Penguins swarm the buckets trying to get this oily, smelly delicacy while keepers struggle to feed one bird at a time. When night falls, most of the colony heads inside Rock Island to sleep.
Provided by the Maryland Zoo. For more information, visit www.marylandzoo.org.
