April 06, 2004
Cute Chicks
Three Humboldt penguin chicks were recently hatched at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The chicks are now about 5 weeks old. They are currently residing in their nest boxes in the penguin indoor habitat. Visitors can just see them through the glass.
"They should be out within the next couple of weeks," said Yvonne Clippinger, Region Manager of Shores. They will leave the safety of their nests and learn to swim. The chicks are completely gray right now. Once they start swimming they will turn a darker gray and get the white bellies that are common to the Humboldt penguin. They won't get the white ring around their necks, Clippinger explained, until they molt for the first time. That usually happens when they are one year old.
A common misconception is that all penguins hail from cooler climates. While many do, the Humboldt penguins are native to the warm climate of the coastal islands of Peru and northern Chile in South America. The penguins in Columbus enjoy the warmer summer days but prefer cooler water. They keep the water at 70 degrees during the summer and 50 degrees throughout the winter.
