Penguins Rebound In S.A. Marine Zone

A ban on fishing around a colony of threatened penguins in South Africa has brought swift benefits to the beleaguered birds, marine biologists reported on Wednesday. The population of the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) fell by 60 percent between 2001 and 2009, driven by a plunge in anchovies and sardines, with climate change and purse-seine trawling fingered as the main culprits. Of the 26,000 surviving pairs, the biggest colony is on St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay, on the eastern coast of South Africa. There, experts tagged adult birds and monitored them before and after a ban on purse-seine fishing that took effect in a 20-kilometre (12-mile) radius from January 2009. Before the ban, 75 percent of the penguins had to venture beyond 20 kilometres to find food, they found. Three months after trawling was stopped, 70 percent of the birds were feeding within the 20-km zone, tucking into fish that now became available. Fifty kilometers away at Bird Island, there is also a large colony of African penguins, but fishing there is still permitted. The birds are still doing long-haul swims to find food, the investigators found. The finding is important because the St. Croix birds have decreased their daily energy expenditure by 40 percent, “enabling them to invest energy in reproduction,” said David Gremillet of France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). It is too early to say whether the penguins will have more chicks and how many of the youngsters will survive until adulthood. “It’s something that has to be studied over the long term,” Gremillet told AFP. The species is likely to be classified as “endangered” this month because of the sharp decline in the last decade. The study, published by Britain’s Royal Society in the journal Biology Letters, provides the first evidence about how quickly a threatened species can rebound when it is given a little help. “A marine protected area closed to fisheries can have immediate benefits for an endangered marine top predator,” say the authors. Purse-seine fishing entails dropping a balloon-shaped net, or purse, to a certain depth and then raising it underneath shoals of fish that swim near the surface. The technique prevents the fish from swimming down to avoid capture.

N.H. Penguin Plunge Raises Over 571K for Special Olympics

HAMPTON — Against all human instinct, more than 1,000 Granite Staters took a dip in the Hampton Beach waters for the 11th Annual Penguin Plunge this past weekend.
The two-day event was held to benefit New Hampshire Special Olympics and as it has progressively grown each year, it has become the state chapter’s largest fund-raising event.
Red as a strawberry, Kaylee Huckins of Canterbury made her way to a heated tent to change out of wet clothes after her first Penguin Plunge.
“The experience lived up my expectations, and then some,” Huckins said.
Huckins came to the event with co-workers from her physical therapy office, and said the plunge not only was a nice way to help the Special Olympics, but it also was a great experience to have shared with her colleagues.
It also was Lisa Weatherbee of Weare’s first time taking plunge to honor her daughter, who is a Special Olympic athlete.
“So far this has been really fun just to watch people and to be part of the event,” said Weatherbee, minutes before she took the dip. “It’s pretty crazy. You think you’re going to die and you’re so pumped up about it.”
Sunday’s Penguin Plunge featured three “waves” of plungers to make sure everyone had enough space as they raced in and out of the water.
Hampton Fire Deputy Chief Steve Benotti said safety was a concern, which is why emergency fire department staff waded in the water wearing wet suits to keep an eye out for injuries.
Benotti said protecting the plungers not only was a job for the 16 Hampton Fire Department staff on duty Sunday, but also for 15 fire department volunteers throughout the state who came to support Special Olympics.
“Over the years we haven’t had any major injuries,” said Benotti. “The most common thing we see is twisted ankles or people who don’t realize they’re allergic to the cold conditions.”
A costume parade before the plunge, which featured men wearing Speedos, both men and women in bikini swimsuits, clown outfits, and plenty of others in decorative garb helped put the event into gear. The parade also gave spectators a chance to see the “Chilly Willies,” “Live Freeze or Die,” and a variety of other spirited teams.
Mark Dunn, an employee at Rockingham County House of Corrections, came to the event with fellow co-workers in orange prison uniforms. Participating in the larger “Gang Green and the Funky Fuzz” group, which was made up of state troopers, local police officers, and civilians, Dunn said the event was all about having fun and giving back.
“Anytime you can get this many people together for a positive cause, it’s worth it,” Dunn said. “I’m absolutely willing to sacrifice being cold for an hour for this.”
Bill Jones of Bedford, also known as “Captain Plunger,” is a board member of the New Hampshire Special Olympics and has participated in the Penguin Plunge all 11 years, raising a total of $54,000.
Jones gets his nickname from the helmet covered in plungers he wears every year, and says his role in the event is iconic. His daughter is a member of the Bedford Bobcats Special Olympic team, the group Jones plunged for.
Enjoying a couple of beers in a rented limo after his dive with friends, Jones said he is one of 17 who has participated in the event all 11 years.
“We look forward to the event every year because it’s just such a good group of people,” Jones said.
Missy Rodriguez of Canaan coaches the Upper Valley Hawks Special Olympics team, and said she took the plunge in Vermont the day before for the Vermont chapter of the organization.
“It’s cold, but basically it’s just a big party,” Rodriguez said.

Penguins New Clothes Delays Opening

The Penguin Post has learned that the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy, Utah has deferred the opening of the highly anticipated penguin exhibit until late March, and the penguins’ switch to new “formal wear” is to blame.

Most penguin species go through one complete molt (shed their feathers) each year, usually after the breeding season. Depending on the species, the average length of the molt varies from 13 days to 34 days. The Living Planet Aquarium will be receiving 11 penguins for the new exhibit, three of which are chicks, hatched in late 2009, two are adults (a breeding pair, over 4 years of age), and the remaining 6 are a year old (hatched in 2008). All of the birds are currently preparing to molt. Molts are very stressful because the birds are using their energy stores to build new feathers, leaving little energy to fight disease. Penguins are very susceptible to fungus in the lungs and can develop pneumonia quite easily; a serious and life threatening problem in penguins. The penguins will be arriving from Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. Molting is a very stressful time for the penguins, and long distance transport can also be a stressful time as well. Both stressors happening at the same time would put the birds in a dangerous position. In order to make this transition to the facility with the least amount of stress possible, transportation has been postponed until they have completed the molting process.

“Once the molt begins it will take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to complete” said Andy Allison, Curator of Animals. The aquarium had planned for the penguins to arrive in-house by February 10 but arrival will most likely be late February, pushing back the exhibit opening closer to late March 2010.

Conn. Penguin Plunge Raises 46K

Superheroes, selectmen, students and men in drag were among dozens of area residents who braved single-digit air temperatures Saturday to participate in this year’s Penguin Plunge into Highland Lake.
The annual event, now in its seventh year, raises funds for Special Olympics. Plungers included Winsted, Ct. Selectman Glenn Albanesius, Litchfield First Selectman Leo Paul, numerous student organizations, and even Michael Marciano, this newspaper’s editor.
The nonprofit organization provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Connecticut chapter annually organizes more than 50 tournaments and competitions in 21 different sports.
This year’s 128 participants raised $46,000 on the day of the event, according to Sharon Pelkey, the development director for Special Olympics Connecticut’s Northwest Region.
Pelkey added that the nonprofit organization has continued to receive donations from the Highland plunge.

“The fundraising from the plunges raises a significant part of the monies we need to continue our training and athletic competitions,” Pelkey told The Journal Monday.

“More than half of our budget depends on successful plunges,” she said.

The Southbury-based Northwest Region of Special Olympics Connecticut holds three plunges each year, with the chapter adding a new plunge in Danbury on March 7 at Candlewood Lake Park.

The region’s next plunge is this Saturday, Feb. 6, at Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury.

For more information about the Special Olympics or upcoming plunges, visit soct.org.

4th Annual Penguin Party Fundraiser

After a slow donation year, the director of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation (of Southeastern, Missouri) hopes to bounce back. The not-for-profit organization is hosting its fourth annual Penguin Party on Saturday. The fundraiser is the foundation’s push to raise money for teacher grants, executive director Tammy Samuel said. “Based on the amount we raise, that’s how we judge how much we can award,” she said. Last year, the foundation awarded teachers more than $18,000 in grants compared to $26,500 the year before. This year, Samuel said, she hopes to raise between $20,000 and $30,000. “Donations have turned around; hopefully the auction will go well,” she said. The event, which includes about 165 attendees, will feature an auction, dinner and performances by the high school jazz band and Mike Renick Band. “Knowing that the work of all the board members and all of the volunteers achieves something that is such a productive purpose for the children” is the best part of the yearly event, said foundation president T. Robin Cole. “And the food is great.” Aside from operating costs, the organization uses the money it raises throughout the year to fund teacher grants. Last year it raised $27,000, and $18,000 went to fund teacher programs, Samuel said. Cole said the foundation serves as an “incubator for new ideas.” “Some of them work fantastically,” he said, “and some of them don’t.” He said he is challenging businesses to donate creative items to auction. Buffalo Wild Wings donated a gift certificate for all the french fries and chicken wings 20 people can eat in an hour. Kohlfeld Distributing donated beer that will be given to people who raise bids by $20, Cole said. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. For more information, call 651-0555.

The London Penguins

This is from the West London Penguins website.  They are the leading water polo club in London, with men’s and women’s teams playing in the top division of the national league, and with a strong masters swimming section. Plus, they have a great name and logo.

This past weekend saw all three Penguins Ladies National League teams head to Manchester for the final weekend show down of the League season.   Our three teams – 40 of us in total! -met on the Saturday evening for a dinner to celebrate the end of this season and the beginning of the new one. Well done to all who managed to make it through to this weekend, as the season has been a long one with a good few injuries.

On Sunday morning our 1st team took on London rivals Otter. We started strongly and secured a 4-0 lead in the first quarter from which we went on to take the victory 9 – 5.

Only six more weeks until British Champs (20th/21st Feb 2010), where our 1st team take on the top three teams in the country – Manchester A, Liverpool A and Sheffield A.

Real Pittsburgh Penguin Stars At Banquet

Erin Estell will attend a Valentine-themed dinner Feb. 12 at Latrobe Country Club with Simon, who adores her. In fact, the way Simon sees it, they’re some kind of soul mates. But, alas for Simon, he can never speak of his love for his special lady, though he shows it, and the relationship has no real future. It’s not just because he’s much younger than she is or because he’s so short. It’s because Simon is a penguin. He’s a resident of the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, and Ms. Estell is his trainer. She also is the assistant director/manager of the Helen M. Schmidt Flitezone Theater, part of the aviary. They will be the featured guests at Action For Animals Humane Society’s annual Love Is In The Air fundraising banquet, which begins at 6 p.m. “Each of our penguins has his own personality and favorite trainer, but Simon likes me best,” Ms. Estell said of the bird’s affection for her. That’s the kind of relationship that’s behind every year’s dinner theme — the bond between humans and animals. AFA Treasurer Laura Guskiewicz of Unity, who organized this fourth annual event, can relate to that bond, she said, through her own experience with Chloe, a13-year-old dog that she adopted in 2001 from the shelter in Derry Township. “That bond is so strong,” she said. “Chloe is my best buddy. When I come home, she is always there waiting for me.” Past speakers have shared their own stories of that special bond. Last year’s guest was Nadine M. Rosin of Tucson, Ariz., who wrote “The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood,” a book that chronicles the journey she took with her beloved dog, who had cancer. Ms. Estell will speak about her work with Simon, a 5-year-old African penguin who was hatched at the Baltimore Zoo and hand-raised at the aviary in Pittsburgh. She takes him whenever she needs a penguin for an educational program. He rides in a dog kennel in a van. Simon also is the penguin selected to host Penguin Connection, when people can learn everything they want to know about the flightless birds and interact with them. Sometimes, people in smaller groups are permitted to touch them. The Helen M. Schmidt Flitezone Theater is expected to be finished in early September and open in late fall. Ms. Estell will direct all activities in the theater, along with managing of its construction. She has experience training birds of prey, mammals and reptiles. Bonding is important in training animals, and Ms. Estell combines that with natural behaviors that respond to positive reinforcement, such as giving a treat. She said penguins are difficult to train, however, because they are not strongly motivated by food because they don’t have to eat on a specific schedule. “The penguins are a huge hit at the aviary,” she said. “I like doing these sorts of things, and I like getting the word out about the aviary and the penguins and how easy is it for us to do things to help wildlife. “We have a common ground with AFA because the aviary takes care of animals so that people can appreciate them, and AFA deals with other types of animals. If you love your pets, it’s not a big jump to love wild animals. People connect to wildlife by building relationships with their domestic animals. We are both animal lovers.” Wildlife experts have particular concerns about penguins, which are considered an endangered species. According to Ms. Estell, there were about a million in the early 1900s, and now there are less than 60,000. “We can do things very easily to protect them, like keep our oceans clean,” she said. “The easiest way to help out is to carefully consume fish. There is going to be a huge fish crisis within the next 50 years. It’s hard to believe, but our oceans could be empty of fish.” Ms. Estell will use fish cards to help show which fish to avoid when shopping because of the way they are fished or because of their high mercury levels. “Some of them are fished in a way that is harmful to the ocean,” she explained. Ms. Guskiewicz expects Simon to be a big hit at the dinner. “It’s not often that you get to see a penguin up close,” she said. “I hope we get a big crowd this year.” Last year, Love Is in the Air raised about $3,500. Ms Guskiewicz is hoping for at least $4,500 from this one. The Feb. 12 event will begin at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and desserts and a silent auction. Ms. Estell and Simon will take the stage at 7:30. Tickets are $50 and children also welcome. For more details, or an official invitation, call Ms. Guskiewicz, 724-850-8802.

Erin Estell, of the National Aviary, and a penguin named Simon.

Valentine Plush Penguins Waddle In

Another flock of Valentine Plush Penguins have arrived at Penguin Place and with about 10 days until our waddling cupid arrives, not a moment too soon.  They range in size from a couple of 21″ tall Jumbo romantic penguins to a trio of 8″ tall loving waddlers.

Penguin Wedding Cake Topper Back In Stock

Due to popular demand our Penguin Wedding Cake Topper is now back in stock for all you waddling bride & grooms.

For the waddling wedding of your dreams

Penguins Plump Up Coffers In S.C. Aquarium

The Penguin Post has learned that the lovable penguins at the South Carolina Aquarium are all dressed up and apparently not going anywhere.
Although, originally scheduled to waddle away in March, the four Magellanic penguins will stick around through October in the aquarium’s Penguin Planet exhibit.
The penguins have apparently been a hit for the waterfront facility since they arrived last March, helping to boost attendance to about 438,000 visitors last year, an 11.5 percent increase over 2008.
Their presence also helped fatten the aquarium’s coffers with more than $1 million in profit through October.  Final figures for 2009 will be released in about 10 days.
“We have had so much success with them,” aquarium spokeswoman Elizabeth Bender said. “They have been a great tourism and visitor driver.”
In addition, the aquarium will permanently add the up-close Waddle Wagon program to its weekly program schedule starting Thursday.
Started during the holidays, the program features an aquarium staff member rolling out one of the penguins in a wagon so visitors can check it out close up. The “Waddle Wagon” will run at 2 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.