NJtree
Little Blue Penguin
Little blue penguins are the smallest species of penguin in the world, growing an average of 13 inches in height and weighing in at just 3 pounds. They’re known for their striking slate-blue plumage, and their small stature has earned them the name “fairy penguins” in parts of Australia.
Little blues can be found along the coastlines and inshore waters of southern Australia and New Zealand. A diurnal species, they spend the largest part of their day swimming and foraging at sea. They preen their feathers to keep them waterproof by rubbing a tiny drop of oil onto every feather via a special gland above their tails.
Cool Facts:
Their scientific genus name, Eudyptula, means "good little diver."
When little blues leave the land to forage in shallow inshore waters, they do so in flocks to avoid predation; leaving at dawn while it’s still dark, they spend the day at sea, then return to land at dusk.
There are 18 penguin species throughout the world, but little blues are considered by many scientists to be the first penguins to have evolved from flying birds.
Little blue penguin colonies are a hub of social activity for these tiny birds. Little blues live in their colonies throughout the year and each mating pair has a burrow that they maintain. They even return to the same nesting area year after year!
Little blues are the only penguin species to breed in Australia. Unlike some penguin species, they do not always mate for life.
Penguin parents equally share egg incubation and food foraging duties. Chicks are covered in dark, super-soft down feathers and fed a fishy soup regurgitated by the parents.
Conservation Facts:
The global population of little blue penguins averages around 1,000,000 individuals but is in decline. Human settlement, coastal erosion, introduced predators and pollution have affected breeding areas.
Throughout Australia and New Zealand, restoring vegetation and providing artificial nest boxes for penguin breeding have already resulted in stabilizing populations.
Adventure Aquarium participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP) for little blue penguins. Breeding is managed to maintain a healthy, genetically-diverse population.
Little Blue Penguin
Little blue penguins are the smallest species of penguin in the world, growing an average of 13 inches in height and weighing in at just 3 pounds. They’re known for their striking slate-blue plumage, and their small stature has earned them the name “fairy penguins” in parts of Australia.
Little blues can be found along the coastlines and inshore waters of southern Australia and New Zealand. A diurnal species, they spend the largest part of their day swimming and foraging at sea. They preen their feathers to keep them waterproof by rubbing a tiny drop of oil onto every feather via a special gland above their tails.
Cool Facts:
Their scientific genus name, Eudyptula, means "good little diver."
When little blues leave the land to forage in shallow inshore waters, they do so in flocks to avoid predation; leaving at dawn while it’s still dark, they spend the day at sea, then return to land at dusk.
There are 18 penguin species throughout the world, but little blues are considered by many scientists to be the first penguins to have evolved from flying birds.
Little blue penguin colonies are a hub of social activity for these tiny birds. Little blues live in their colonies throughout the year and each mating pair has a burrow that they maintain. They even return to the same nesting area year after year!
Little blues are the only penguin species to breed in Australia. Unlike some penguin species, they do not always mate for life.
Penguin parents equally share egg incubation and food foraging duties. Chicks are covered in dark, super-soft down feathers and fed a fishy soup regurgitated by the parents.
Conservation Facts:
The global population of little blue penguins averages around 1,000,000 individuals but is in decline. Human settlement, coastal erosion, introduced predators and pollution have affected breeding areas.
Throughout Australia and New Zealand, restoring vegetation and providing artificial nest boxes for penguin breeding have already resulted in stabilizing populations.
Adventure Aquarium participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP) for little blue penguins. Breeding is managed to maintain a healthy, genetically-diverse population.