The Macaroni Penguin

Is a large crested penguin that lives in the southern polar regions just north of Antarctica e.g. Georgia. They, like most penguins, have a mostly black body with a white belly but have two plumes of orange feathers that extend from the top of the head. They have red eyes and pink feet. They live in rocky areas with sparse vegetation close to oceanic water.

They feed on krill and other small fish carried into cooler waters by ocean currents. They have annual breeding colonies to which they return in October to November. Each pair lays two eggs, only one of which usually hatches, if both are lost the pair will not relay that year. The young leave the safety of their parent’s protection after a moulting period of twenty five days which starts three weeks after birth. The Macaroni penguin is prey for the Leopard seal and Arctic Fur seals. The young are rarely vulnerable but can be taken by large arctic birds e.g. skuas.

Image by Liam Q via Flickr

Image via Wikipedia

Macaroni penguins are affected by many human factors, such as introduction of domestic predators (cats), over fishing (which reduces food supply), destruction of habitat, oil spills (especially dangerous for aqueous birds and climate change which affects sea temperatures. They are classed as globally vulnerable and conservation efforts such as the protection of two colonies and education of populations living with the penguins are helping to stabilise their numbers, however everyone has an obligation to help stop the destruction of their habitat and food source by cutting our carbon foot print and being more ecologically aware.

See More at:

http://www.penguins.cl/macaroni-penguins.htm

Image by Liam Q via Flickr