Penguin Awareness Day

Today is Penguin Awareness Day!

Penguins are semi-aquatic flightless birds that generally live exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Of the around 17-19 species (different sources count differently, with the International Ornithologists' Union recognizing 18) of penguins, only the Galapagos penguin resides north of the equator. They reside in the Ecuadorian islands they're named after.

Penguins can come in a variety of sizes. For example, the emperor penguin can reach nearly 4 feet in height and weigh nearly 80 pounds. The smallest known penguin species is the little blue penguin, aka the fairy penguin. These little guys reach about one foot in height and weigh around 2 and a half to around three pounds.

Penguins spend half their lives on land, and half in the sea. Their wings also function as powerful flippers, and they are very agile in the water. Their bodies have thick insulating feathers to help keep them warm in the water. They can also drink salt water, thanks to having a special organ that filters out the salt.

Most species of penguins breed in large colonies, the size depending on the species. Some penguins species' chicks are gathered in large creches. Penguins in pop culture are associated with Antarctica. In reality, not all penguins live there. Penguins reside in southern Africa and South America as well. 

Penguin Awareness Day came about because it had been discovered that penguins can be indicators of the health of the polar environment. Climate change is endangering these animals because global warming is making it harder for them to breed. And that's sad. Penguins are amazing creatures and deserve to be enjoyed by future generations. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!