Phenomenal Penguins

            Each and every penguin are found in the southern hemisphere. There are 17 kinds of penguins namely emperor penguins, king penguins, Magellanic penguins, and more. Penguins eat fish, krill, and small aquatic animals. Their feathers are waterproof and they have thick layers of fat to keep them warm. Once a year, penguins come together to form groups called rookeries. This is the time they mate and lay eggs. Rookeries can have hundreds, sometimes thousands of penguins. Female penguins make nests out of rocks or find crevices in rock walls. But emperor and king penguins do not make nests. Male emperor and king penguins put their eggs on their feet and put a brood pouch on the egg. Brood pouches are big pieces of fat near the feet. In 65 days their egg hatch. In the winter, male emperor penguins huddle together to keep warm and they do not eat during that time. When the males return to their mate and their young, the chick's mom and dad take turns taking care of it. Today, penguins are in danger of oil leaks from ships, getting caught in fishing nets, and even by people disturbing them! Now there is a law to protect these cuddly creatures.

------------------------

Gibbons, Gail. Penguins! New York: Holiday House, 1998.