Penguin Awareness Day

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest

With my husband being bedridden for several years, there wasn’t much he was able to do except watch TV.  He wasn't much of a reader, and didn't care for the computer, but he loved movies, and would watch them over and over.  One of the movies he enjoyed watching was called Happy Feet.  It was about a bunch of penguins and their offspring finding their "life song."  Apparently each penguin has their own mating call so they can be recognized by their true love.  Well there was one little penguin who couldn't carry a tune.  Every time he opened his mouth, it sounded like nails on a chalkboard.  Even though he couldn't sing, he sure could dance.  Well the others in his group didn't understand dancing.  No one ever danced before.  But this little penguin's dance ended up saving the whole community, who was in danger of becoming extinct due to lack of food.  The fishing companies were draining the waters from the fish needed for their survival.

(Google Image)

The movie ended with the town being saved, and everyone learning to dance.  I don’t know how accurate the movie was, I am pretty sure that penguins don’t tap-dance, however I do know they are on the endangered list.  There are several things that endanger penguins.  Some of them include:

Oil in the water

Hit by boats

Over fishing

Breaking up of icebergs

Today is Penguin Awareness Day.  Some of the things you can do to help include:

Educate yourself.

Spread the word!

Don't fish in penguin territory.

Don't have any joy rides through penguin territory. This means don't go too fast.

Celebrate penguin awareness day.

Donate to Non-Profit penguin organizations.

Support companies that are ecologically responsible. This means don't purchase goods from companies who aren't. Don't forget to fill your car up with gasoline or petrol from companies who have not had any major oil spills. You may feel like this won't help save the penguins, but it really will. Imagine if everyone who loves penguins refused to place their money into the hands of irresponsible companies. In addition, you can feel better about yourself for the fact that you are not indirectly supporting the problem.

(Google Image)

In honor of penguins today, why not watch the movie Happy Feet, or some other penguin movie.  There is a great scene in Mary Poppins, and the Madagascar movies are great too.  Don’t forget to wear black and white, even a tuxedo if you are feeling a little more sophisticated than usual.

Penguin Awareness Day

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest,

When my husband was bedridden he had little else to do but watch television.  He loved movies and would watch them over and over again.  One of his favorite movies was called “Happy Feet”.  It was a cartoon, a story about this penguin who could not sing.  Penguins find their mate with a special love song, but without a song, he didn’t think he would find a mate.  He did however another special talent had.  He could dance, kinda like a penguin tap dance.  Well it turned out that this dance not only won him the penguin girl of his dreams, it also saved his whole penguin village.  I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't seen it.

(Google Image)

Penguins are flightless birds who live in the southern hemisphere around Antarctica.  Instead of wings, they have flippers necessary for swimming.  They spend half their time on land, the other half in water.  They appear to be very sophisticated, always dressed up in a tuxedo.  They live on fish, squid or krill (a shrimp like creature).

During the mating season penguins head for special nesting areas on the shore. The area where penguins mate, nest and raise their chicks is called a "rookery".

When penguins are ready to mate, the male stands with his back arched and wings stretched. He makes a loud call and struts about to attract a female.

(Google Image) 

When the penguins find a mate, they bond with each other by touching necks and slapping each other on the back with their flippers. They also "sing" to each other so they learn to recognize each other's voices. Once a penguin finds a mate, they usually stay together for years -- for as long as they have chicks.

(Google Image)

January 20 is Penguin Awareness day, so if you don’t have a chance to go by and watch some in action, take a look at this clip, and act like a penguin, put on your formal clothes, sing your song or do a dance, and eat some fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=fwlzPknqUFI&NR=1