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Birdland’s penguins are unruffled by lockdown
Families can enjoy the king penguins’ antics on the Birdland 24-hour webcam
England’s only breeding colony of king penguins appears unruffled as they get on with life during lockdown at Birdland Park & Gardens in the Cotswolds. The famously flightless birds appear to be taking self-isolating in their stride - or should that be waddle?
Following their winter moult, the penguins are starting to pair up for the imminent mating season.
“The penguins definitely all have their own individual personalities and they’re very good at letting you know exactly how they’re feeling,” says head keeper Alistair Keen.
“They get to see us keepers on a daily basis, even though we’re closed to the public, and we’re already starting to see the familiar couples beginning to pair up and prepare for the breeding season.
“You occasionally catch them looking out into the rest of the park, and it’s difficult not to imagine they’re wondering where everyone’s gone. Hopefully it won’t be too long before they return to the centre of attention once again, as befits such regal birds,” added Alistair.
Fully grown king penguins may reach close to a metre in height and weigh around 14 to 17 kilograms.
In the wild they can live for up to 25 years, however some birds have lived for more than 40 years in captivity. The king penguin incubates a single egg on their feet. As with most penguin species they are brooded by both male and female, with incubation lasting from 33 to 64 days.
Newly hatched chicks are covered with fine down and continue to be cared for by both parents until they are big enough and able to keep themselves warm.
During the 19th and 20th centuries the birds were hunted for their oil, eggs and feathers.
However, a commercial ban on hunting in 1969 has led to a major recovery in their numbers. Experts believe there are up to two million breeding pairs worldwide and the population is gradually increasing.
Families missing out on their visits to Birdland can enjoy the weekly live streamed feeding times, as well as a 24-hour bird’s eye view of the penguins via a live-cam on Birdland’s website.
Image by Cotswold House Photography.