This live video is pinned to our Instagram for now, but I wanted to put it in here too as it was a rare experience at Sea World San Diego. We also haven’t figured out a way to put it on our YouTube. Hopefully we’ll figure it out soon.
This was Bluie’s first time to Sea World and although they came from an Aquarium, Sea World was different. These were different penguins from the little blues Bluie was used to seeing too. Justin rarely gets to spend time with the penguins as a Curator. It’s awesome that despite that he was open to answering questions. We rarely can think of any when someone is actually around to answer questions. I sometimes think of questions when an expert isn’t around, but not often. Just like Bluie, we’re usually just star struck when we see penguins. But don’t worry, a few people asked many questions. Hopefully some of your questions about Magellanic Penguins are answer in this video. Feel free to ask here too!
Friday July 29, 2022 @ SeaWorld San Diego. Magellanic Penguins with Curator Justin.
We’ve been to Omaru and have seen these penguins in real life….
This is why Surrounded By Penguins does Trashy Tuesday Beach Clean Ups.
In case you didn’t know Surrounded By Penguins does a Trashy Tuesdays Beach Clean Up that’s open to the public every Tuesday starting at 7am. We pick up litter on various beaches and put it in its place. We call this event Surrounded By Penguins Trashy Tuesday Beach Clean Up. Folx interested are invited to check our website calendar for where we’ll be next and join. For those unable to join in person, we challenge people worldwide to pick up 2 pieces of litter every Tuesday wherever they are and dispose of the litter appropriately. This we call the “2 for Trashy Tuesday Challenge”. Its been proven that many doing a little has more of an impact than one person doing a lot so we encourage everyone to participate. . . . . . #penguins #penguin #penguinlove #penguinlover #cutepenguin #cutepenguins #pengie #pengies #beachpenguins #penguinsofinstagram #penguinshirt #dreamaccomplished #gratitude #thankyoueveryone #trashytuesdaybeachcleanup #trashytuesday #beachcleanup #ocean #beach #litter #putitinitsplace #recycle #gooddeeds #surroundedbypenguinstrashytuesdaybeachcleanup #whoswithme #stuffies #alittlehelpdoesapenguingood #challenge #surroundedbypenguins
Recently we traveled to the Palm Springs area in California on a mission to assist Executive Photographer (and Co Owner of Surrounded By Penguins), Scarlett, with her Birb Biologist job. I love when this opportunity comes up because I feel like I’m a helpful assistant to wildlife caring people. We also are directly helping with research as we are collecting generic samples of the birds we catch. A few choice penguins and I are always happy to tag along and help with these endeavors.
As usual, I tagged on other ventures for Surrounded By Penguins while up there. In the interest of wanting to provide excursions and tours to surrounding wildlife conservation areas to include zoo’s, aquariums, and the like we decided to include attending a special event at the Palm Desert Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden. We obtained 3 genetic samples of wild birds that have established territories at the zoo. It’s pretty amazing that this zoo provides sanctuary knowingly and passively to endangered wildlife. The habitat maintained at many zoo’s actually provide the surrounding wildlife with a sanctuary. You’ll see deer at the Safari Park in San Diego for example along with both local and migratory birds and other wildlife. What animals have you seen in zoo’s that cohabitate with the zoo animals?
The Executive Penguin literally surrounded by Penguin Ambassadors before going to the Glow in the Park event at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm DesertLit up kangaroo mice greet us at the parking lot gate.This place has been in existence for 50 years and we just found out about it!?
Since we were collecting genetic samples we got to visit the Living Desert Zoo before opening. During the day we got to see these amazing lanterns already set up for the Glow in the Park event. We could only imagine what they looked like at night.
We wouldn’t get our chance to see the lanterns lit until the the events closing night. The unobstructed colorful views during the day became much more appreciated as we found ourselves shoulder to shoulder much of the time at night. But wow wow wow were the lanterns amazing. Day or night the creative detailed figures were impressive. We were blown away by the correctly coordinated colors, fabric designs, accurate proportions to scale, and many of the lantern animals moved! Not one person in the collective mob was unimpressed and many people were still interested in seeing the actual animals that were not lanterns too. To give respect to the animals, the lights were strategically placed and some areas were off limits.
Maybe some animals that are nocturnal were visible? These naked mole rats are blind so do they know when it’s day or night? Without the ability to see, how else can we gauge if it’s day time or night time?
I found it amazing that they had different ‘rooms’ for different age ranges, toilet use, etc. Even without the ability to see, the moles seems to instinctually know where they belong.
Although it was difficult, I took many many many pictures and will share some below.
Not a naked mole rat. What a trickster!
During the event, Afie, Syd and I decided that from now on only one of them would be on my shoulder while in public. Both of them at the same time proved to be way too much to worry about. The ippies (Mippy, Sippy and Zippy) are definitely the most readily and photogenic of the ambassadors. Syd and Afie seem to enjoy seeing the ongoings from our shoulders and agree to being in selfies occasionally. Most times they are like the family pictures with the one kid that looks hilariously awkward on purpose.
As usual, we all still had a great time. Enjoy!
Of course butterflies are pollinators too.Birds that consume nectar are pollinators too! Some birds are seed disperses. Others take on other roles. What other animals help pollinate plants?Many birds fulfill many roles that help us and our environment keep safe and healthy. What vital role do Condors fulfill? Most people travel to this area for the rare opportunity to see Bighorn Sheep in the wild. Many participate in the annual count. If you see a rock move in the distance here, it might be a Bighorn!Oooo pegasus drawn carriage? Why not? Panda walk way! Let’s go! Whoa…. This was a very large, impressive, elaborate structure. They had many you could walk through, but this dragon might had been the center piece. The detail in the reptiles was incredible.Alligator or crocodile? Can you tell the difference?
We celebrated at the San Diego Zoo with the African Penguins last month on April 25th! What did you do to celebrate the penguins all around the world?
From left to right: TooToo, Executive Penguin, Afie, Zippy
Ahhhhhh TooToo looks like hys getting attacked by an octopus arm!
Afie with familyAnyone thirsty? I was born here! Remember me?
We even went live on Facebook and Instagram! Find the videos on our Instagram! On Instagram Connorbalts4 and pico_space_adventures joined us! We all had a great visit! Thank you both for joining!
PBS Nature brings to light how smart are the cutie little baby pengies!
I take for granted everything that penguin chicks have contend with and how intelligent the have to be to live. Sure they are altricial birds. But maybe one of the most capable and smartest altricial birds of all the species.
So I say, you go penguin chicks!
After all they need to have the inherent brain skills to not only navigate but also to apply spacial awareness, voice recognition, vocal projection, and much much more. Not to mention the other physical skills they need to acquire just as quickly.
So I say, you go penguin chicks!
Altricial- source for definition below from Oxford languages
al·tri·cial
/alˈtriSHəl/
ZOOLOGY
adjective
ZOOLOGY
(of a young bird or other animal) hatched or born in an undeveloped state and requiring care and feeding by the parents.
This is so cool! Co Executive Penguin of Surrounded By Penguins shared this awesome article with me about the long term efforts of a few organizations working together to attempt to establish a new colony of African Penguins that will be protected and closer to their preferred food.
BirdLife South Africa, Cape Nature, along with SANCCOB and other organizations are attempting to establish a African Penguin colony in De Hoop Natural Reserve. This reserve is actually closer to the penguins preferred food. Drive thru anyone? Actually that’s part of what the problem is. They treat the area like a driver thru and don’t colonize. Although they have attempted to in the past…
In 2003 African Penguins did attempt to establish a colony in the area, but predation forced the penguins to abandon the attempt. This time around, they will be protected from predators! With a fence and other tools to help keep predation down. The organization’s are implementing very smart tactics to promote the likelihood that penguins will once again attempt to roost in the area too. In this video they are releasing juvenile penguins in hopes that they will return to roost in the area when they are of breeding age.
The organization’s even made decoy penguins and set up speakers to play penguins calls. All to entice penguins to attempt colonizing in the Reserve. The decoys look so real!
This is an ongoing long project but we at Surrounded By Penguins are excited and hopeful. I have a feeling that it’ll work. These carefully coordinated efforts will be worth it, I’m sure. Thank you to everyone involved with this project. I admire your hard work and patience. Keep up the good work. Hurry back penguins! Squawk!
A few of the Surrounded By Penguins rode the sea jelly swing ride at SeaWorld San Diego yesterday. Some pengie fwens just watched because they didn’t want to ride or were too nervous to ride. Some were even too anxious to watch. All okay feelings.
TooToo and Syd giving each other quick hugs before the ride starts. TooToo giving some attention and reassurance to the fwens in the clear backpack. Can you see Afie our African Penguin Ambassador in the clear backpack?Sippy and Mr Bigalow before the ride.TooToo sees Pickalowlow’s yellow foot and beak hanging out of the wheelchair basket. Pickalowlow must be covering and comforting some stuffy plushy fwens in the basket.
In the video, TooToo really takes to flight 1 minute into it. I didn’t know what to do but hang on and keep filming!
You can’t see the other stuffy plushy fwens in the video but off screen Syd was squawking in fear and excitement the whole time, excited to be flying but scared because we were so high up. During the ride, Mr Bigalow was bouncing around on hys chain. And Sippy was holding on for dear life in their holster. It was so cute to see all of them so excited and happy. TooToo, Syd, Sippy, Mr Bigalow and I were so proud to had braved the ride. At the end we could say we all enjoyed the experience. All the anxious feelings leading up to the moment the ride started were worth experiencing. The ride ended with us wanting to ride again. Good thing we recorded TooToo flying so we can relive the experience when we watch it because I just realized…. Our Penguin Ambassador Fwens were definitely not tall enough to ride the ride! Whooooa! Maybe it was a good thing that we didn’t try to ride it again. 😅🐧🎢
