Oregon Zoo’s Newly Hatched Penguin Chicks Will Be Kept Apart Until They’re 3 Months Old
“Both sets of parents nested wonderfully, and the chicks hatched right on schedule.”
The Oregon Zoo just gave us the cutest reason to smile. Two tiny Humboldt penguin chicks have hatched, and they are small enough to fit in a person’s hand. If you needed a little dose of joy today, these fluffy newcomers are here to deliver.
The first chick started “pipping”—that’s when a baby penguin’s beak breaks through the membrane of its shell—on March 9 and hatched early the next morning. The second chick followed about a week later, starting to pip on March 17 and hatching on March 19.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on these eggs since they were laid earlier this winter,” said Nicole LaGreco, who oversees the penguin area at the Oregon Zoo. “Both sets of parents nested wonderfully, and the chicks hatched right on schedule.”
These tiny penguin chicks will not be interacting just yet
Don’t expect a playdate just yet. Penguin chicks stay in their nests with their parents for about three months, according to LaGreco. But once they’re ready to venture out, it’s going to be heartwarming to watch.
“Once the chicks are big enough to venture out of their nests, we expect them to spend a lot of time together,” LaGreco said. “We’re excited for zoo guests to watch them interact — and each chick has a built-in swimming buddy.”
Right now the chicks are dining on regurgitated “fish smoothie” provided by their parents. Not exactly gourmet, but it does the job. They’ll stay tucked in their nest boxes until they’re old enough to walk and swim on their own, then start exploring the zoo’s Penguinarium, designed to resemble the rocky coasts of Chile and Peru where Humboldt penguins naturally live.
By summer the chicks will be nearly as tall as the adults but will still look different. Young Humboldt penguins sport grayish-brown feathers and won’t develop that signature black-and-white tuxedo look for a few years.
Oregon Zoo Humboldt penguin fun facts worth sharing
These fluffy newcomers are the 194th and 195th Humboldt penguins born at the Oregon Zoo since its breeding program began in the 1980s. The zoo houses one of the largest Humboldt penguin populations in the United States.
Humboldt penguins are full of surprises. They can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour in the water, using their wings like flippers and their webbed feet to steer and they usually dive about 100 feet deep but sometimes plunge beyond 200 feet when hunting.
They sneeze salt. Special glands above their eyes filter out salt from swallowed seawater, and they expel it through their bills by sneezing. They have special clear eyelids that protect their eyes underwater—built-in goggles. They typically mate for life and recognize each other through unique calls.
Adults stand about 15 to 18 inches tall and weigh around 9 pounds. Their feathers have two layers: an outer layer that repels water and wind and an inner layer that keeps them warm. They also spread oil from a gland over their feathers to improve insulation and reduce drag while swimming.
Why these tiny Oregon Zoo penguin chicks really matter
Here’s where the story gets a little more serious. Humboldt penguins are considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Their global population is estimated at about 12,000 breeding pairs.
They face threats such as overfishing, getting caught in fishing nets and the removal of guano used for nesting. That’s what makes chicks like these two so important. Zoos like the Oregon Zoo contribute to conservation by participating in coordinated programs such as those run by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which aim to maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations. Each new chick helps support these efforts while also raising public awareness about the challenges the species faces.
Want to help from your couch? One way to support Humboldt penguins is by choosing sustainably sourced seafood. Using tools like the Seafood Watch app can help protect the fish populations these penguins rely on.
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