Fairy Penguin

The Fairy penguin doesn't live in snow & Ice like most other penguins. It's scientific name, Eudyptula Minor, is Greek for: Good little diver.

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This nocturnal creature is only being 41 centimetres, & only weighing 1 kilogram means they're tiny. Small, shiny, dark blue-grey feathers grow close together to form a waterproof layer. Under their beautiful coat is a layer of fat that insulates them against the cold.

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On the menu for these cuddly creatures, small fish, squid & krill(more commonly known as shrimp). The parent penguins feed their babies regurgitated fish. The parents will mate for life & like humans will only find in new partner in the case of death or "divorce".

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They make nests or burrows under a bush or rock for safety reasons. The chicks leave the nest when they are 50 to 60 days old. Unlike other penguins, the Fairy Penguins can breed throughout the year. Once a year the penguins sing a song to attract a mate. The male penguin calls sounds like a low rumbling to a sound of a trumpet-like cry.

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The adults usually breed between July & March when the female lays 2 eggs in the burrow. The mother & father penguins take it in turns to incubate (or sit on) the eggs for up to 8 days at a time, while the other parent finds food. Then after about 35 days the baby Fairy Penguins hatch from their eggs.

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The chicks have to stay in their nests for up to 5 weeks. They get fed by 1 parent every night. After about 7 weeks, the young penguins are ready to go out to sea themselves. After 2 or 3 years roaming the ocean, the young, adult penguins are ready to mate

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Fairy penguins come ashore after dark, mostly to avoid predators, such as, sharks, seals,