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Tag: surrounded by penguins

Exciting New GP Picture Products!

We finally get to put up actual pictures that Scarlett took in the Galapagos on products!

There are so many reasons why putting up products with our actual pictures takes so long. I’m still new to editing and to be honest, I’m not sure which is more difficult for me, editing pictures or creating graphics from pictures.

So much needs to be done in efforts to protect work. There are many reasons for why you see graphics come out faster on our products compared to pictures. One of our main concerns is that animals, including penguins, get misnamed. Of course pictures are often stolen, meta data is changed, no credit is given, etc. But the worse is when someone puts a up picture of an African penguin that belongs to someone else and references it as an Emperor penguin, as an example. Or uses that picture to share Emperor Penguin facts. Of course most of you reading this know there’s differences amongst species but not everyone does so the wrong information paired with the wrong picture is misleading. This irks me.

When we went to the Galapagos the penguin merch was so sparse, I was ecstatic when I found anything penguin related. I bought a magnet that had a penguin on it and branding of a Galapagos national wildlife association. It even said Galapagos penguin on it. I bought it immediately and took it home. When I placed it on the fridge, I felt like a real doofus. It was a picture of an African penguin. Super upsetting.

There’s a lot to know about protecting art of every sort and pictures especially. Did you know it’s illegal to remove or crop out a watermark? Everything a person makes is automatically their property and copyrighted but getting the images copyright registered with the copyright office is what makes it possible for people to leverage their work in court when people or companies use a photo without permission.

After a ton of research and knowing about sad stories of stolen work, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be fully comfortable putting up a design or picture without it being on a product. I worry that’ll make us unpopular. Maybe I shouldn’t be worried? But better safe than sorry?

Anyways, thanks for your patience everyone! We hope you all love the new products! If you want to see them featured on any other products, please let us know!

Magellanic Penguins with Curator Justin

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.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgnUR_AotFZ/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

We’re on the News!

https://www.cbs8.com/video/money/business/small-business/shop-local-surrounded-by-penguins/509-e2dc8a6f-a5ec-4729-b489-76633d801316

We were featured on the local news for LGBTQIA+ Pride month!

I kinda wish I said different things but I still think I did really well considering. Plus CBS8 did really good by us. Thanks CBS8! Especially Mario Escovado. Aly and Cheryl at SBDC too. I had the big sick at the time this was recorded. I’m proud that I pulled it together to do the interview. The night before I practiced a script, none of that is in the short clip but the whole process took all of me still. I tapped up exactly where the furniture, laptop, myself had to be placed for the shoot. After, I knew I over did it.

https://www.cbs8.com/video/money/business/small-business/shop-local-surrounded-by-penguins/509-e2dc8a6f-a5ec-4729-b489-76633d801316

What I really love about penguins is that they’re unique. They’ve been around for around 60 million years and are designed like no other birds. They are an anomaly that doesn’t make sense yet they’ve been around thriving for a very long time. They’re easy to connect to in an emotional way because we can relate to them.

What I love is that they also mentioned the Birch Aquarium Little Blue Penguins too!

I love a lot about penguins, sure what I mentioned in the clip is true but especially fit LGBTQIA+ month I wish I pointed out that penguins definitely are the queer birds that keep things simple without much fluff. They definitely may be odd but they got all the right stuff.

#lgbtbusiness #lgbtqi #lgbt #lgbtq #penguins #penguin #pride #lgbtproducts #smallbusinessowner #pridepenguins #happypride #ecoconscious #ecoconsciousproducts #penguinfan #cutepenguin #cutepenguins #penguinproducts #penguinstickers #pridestickers  #gratitude #thankyoueveryone
#surroundedbypenguins
#shoptherapy #newproducts #penguingifts #penguinproducts #penguinfans #cutepenguins #giftsforpenguinlovers #giftideas #giftideasforpenguinlovers
#surroundedbypenguins

https://www.cbs8.com/video/money/business/small-business/shop-local-surrounded-by-penguins/509-e2dc8a6f-a5ec-4729-b489-76633d801316

Litter loving penguins?…

We don’t think so…

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.
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#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

Glow in the Park Penguins?…

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 Desert
Lit 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?

Happy World Penguin Day 2022!

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 family
Anyone 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!