Welcome Two African Penguin Chicks
The National Aviary is overjoyed to share some WADDLE-FUL NEWS: the arrival of not one but TWO additional African Penguin chicks, marking another incredible step towards saving the newly up-listed Critically Endangered species from the brink of extinction.
The first chick hatched on February 7 and weighed about 60.5 grams – nearly equal to the weight of a standard pack of gum. The younger sibling hatched just a few days later, on February 10, and weighed about 55 grams, or the weight of about 14 sugar packets.
Both chicks continue to grow and thrive in a behind-the-scenes habitat under the watchful eyes of Mom and Dad, Bette and Sidney (named after Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain, Sidney Crosby)!
Stay tuned for more details and new updates on these adorable additions to the Aviary’s flock.
The Chicks Are Growing!
First Weigh-in (as a duo!):
- Hatchling One: 147.95g (5.22 oz) – a bit bigger than a large lemon.
- Hatching Two: 55.10g (1.94 oz) – the same weight as two slices of cheese.
Second Weigh-in: Both more than DOUBLED in size!
- Hatchling One: 371g (13 oz) – the weight of a standard can of pop (or soda!).
- Hatchling Two: 211g (7.44 oz) – roughly the size of an avocado.
Meet the Parents
The two new bundles of joy are the 11th and 12th chicks fledged by Bette and Sidney at the National Aviary (13 if you count being “adoptive” parents to Pierogi in 2022). These two have been a penguin couple since 2010 and have delighted visitors with many preening sessions while relaxing in Penguin Point (in addition to being dedicated parents behind-the-scenes!).
Sidney was also a devoted partner during Bette’s recovery from a rare, complex surgery in 2018. When Bette’s care team noticed she wasn’t feeling well, our veterinary staff, led by Senior Director, Zoological Advancement and Avian Medicine Dr. Pilar Fish, immediately jumped into action. Through the use of innovative avian medicine methods (like a customized anesthesia method for penguins and repurposing human mustache clippers to safely, closely-crip the dense feathers of African Penguins), our veterinary team successfully removed a golf ball-sized mass from Bette’s abdomen during a four-hour procedure.
With physical therapy and close monitoring from our experts, Bette made a full recovery and continues to thrive as a wonderful mom…a sign of this being that these two chicks are the first she has hatched since that surgery!
Importance of African Penguin Conservation
African Penguins are Critically Endangered in the wild. Sidney, Bette, and all members of our Penguin Point colony are part of a critically important initiative called a Species Survival Plan®(SSP), which is helping to build a strong penguin population under expert care and save their species.
The National Aviary also leads the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program for African Penguins. coordinated by Dr. McGill. In collaboration with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB), the Aviary works to sustain and hopefully grow wild penguin populations through identifying and addressing the challenges plaguing this species, including overfishing, climate change, oil spills, and guano mining.
This includes testing and refining artificial nest burrows, which have proven successful in keeping penguins cool and safe from predators. In 2022, one such nest was used to welcome a chick, affectionately dubbed Pierogi. “Adoptive” parents Sidney and Bette raised him inside Penguin Point’s nest burrow (pictured above).
In 2024, Dr. McGill and Senior Director of Animal Care and Conservation Programs Kurt Hundgen were on the ground in Namibia, deploying artificial nest burrows for declining penguin colonies living on the island of Possession.
Stay tuned for our next steps on this important journey and ways you can help.
How We Help
Today, fewer than 3% of the historic African Penguin population remains, with only about 9,000 pairs remaining in the wild. The ever-growing African Penguin colony that resides at the Aviary has allowed us to implement new and innovative ways to promote our conversation efforts, such as making use of artificial nesting burrows onsite, offering additional nesting opportunities to our colony, and sending our experts to South Africa to support conversation efforts.
The National Aviary’s efforts to conserve the African Penguin and other species are made possible with the support of people like you. All donations received bring us one step closer to completing our conservation goals.