Societies

Safety in numbers. Adelie penguins at Cape Geddes, Laurie Island.  International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) /J. Hrusa

   Although penguins are often known as looney bird-butlers in tuxedos, they actually have formal and elaborate social rituals. During mating season penguins will look for another bird to mate with. Like humans, they actually fight over mates. Pairs protect their territories from their intruders, while breeding colonies will kill birds from different colonies who trespass. Chicks will form little groups or creches. They protect each other from the cold or skuas. Penguins social skills are kind of like ours.

   Adult penguins swim in groups. Adelie penguins even act as synchronized swimmers, by diving under water at the same time. Feeding in groups allows each penguin to get more food. In big groups it may appear to predators that a larger animal is there, not a group of penguins.

   When not in breeding season, most penguins will stay months at sea, far from nesting areas. Some species, such as the African (Jackass) and Humboldt, stay close to shore during non-breeding seasons; Galapagos penguins stay close to land all year round. Adelies travel for hundreds of miles on ice north of their nesting spots. Penguins must be able to adapt to different places well, because they're always traveling.

    Although these birds are smart and well-adapted to their environments, they need our help. Poachers kill them and use their blubber. Oil spills kill them too. They are endangered, and we must come together to save them.

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