Free Shipping to U.S. Destinations. No Minimums!   Details

Penguin Awareness Day

Jan 13, 2016
How can you not be captivated by the social tuxedo-like creatures that form large groups during breeding season? They amaze us! From having a distinct call to find their mate and chicks, to being the only bird that can swim, but not fly, these creatures are simply amazing!
 
Penguin Awareness Day is celebrated on January 20th to help raise awareness about the flightless birds whose numbers are dwindling by the day. Check out the fun facts below to learn about these majestic birds.
 
FUN FACTS
  1. All 17 penguin species are naturally found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere.
  2. Penguins evolved to stay in the Southern Hemisphere because there are no land predators, like wolves or polar bears, to make quick work of the plump flightless prey.
  3. The largest species of penguin is the Emperor, with an average length of 36 to 44 inches, while the smallest penguin species is the Little Blue, which averages 10 to 12 inches in height.
  4. The fastest species is the Gentoo Penguin, which can reach swimming speeds up to 22 mph.
  5. Penguins’ “tuxedo” coloring is a matter of camouflage; from above, their black backs blend into the murky depths of the ocean. From below, their white bellies are hidden against the bright surface.
  6. Penguins ingest a lot of seawater while hunting for fish, but a special gland behind their eyes, the supraorbital gland, filters out the saltwater from their bloodstream.
  7. Unlike most birds, which lose and replace a few feathers at a time, penguins molt all at once, spending two or three weeks land-bound as they undergo what is called the catastrophic molt.
  8. All but two species of penguins breed in large colonies of up to a thousand birds.
  9. It varies by species, but many penguins will mate with the same member of the opposite sex season after season.
  10. Most species are loyal to their exact nesting site, often returning to the same rookery in which they were born.
  11. Despite their lack of visible ears, penguins have excellent hearing and rely on distinct calls to identify their mates when returning to the crowded breeding grounds.
  12. Unlike most sea mammals, which rely on blubber to stay warm, penguins survive because their feathers trap a layer of warm air next to the skin that serves as insulation, especially when they start generating muscular heat by swimming around.
Show off your love for penguins with our cute designs here.
 
Penguin Black and White Coaster Set
Coasters
Penguin - Funny Bird Golf Divot Repair Tool
Golf Divot Tools
Keep Calm And Hug A Penguin MAG-NEATO'S(TM) Car/Refrigerator Magnet Set
MAG-NEATO’S™ Magnets
 
 

Posted by: Kimi Sakamoto