Wednesday, August 10, 2016

fairy penguins in melbourne


Melbourne is secretly home to a colony of fairy penguins! Fairy penguins, or little penguins, are the smallest penguin in the world, measuring only twelve inches tall.  These little guys are quite happy to not be living on icebergs and spend their time hunting in the harbor then nesting on a breakwater at the end of a pier.  To find them, we had to go to St. Kilda just as the sun was beginning to set.










The sun went down and the penguins ventured out of the rocks to sing to each other.  Volunteers with flashlights spotlighted the little penguins in magenta and red so we could see them easier. The penguins didn't seem to mind the light at all. Many of my pictures from this night make the penguins look like they are cabaret singers.   





These little guys aren't quiet! Here's a little clip of the racket they were making.  I think they sound like low pitch cockatoos or high pitch ducks. What do you think?


In case you are wondering, it's illegal to buy or steal a penguin.  I had big dreams involving kiddie pools and sushi dates. 

Footnotes
Become a penguin guide in St. Kilda

did you love these pictures from st. kilda?  check out more on my flickr page!

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