Original subtitles

THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF AFRICA

IS HOME TO A REMARKABLE COLONY OF SEABIRDS.

THEY CANNOT TAKE TO THE AIR,

BUT THEY GLIDE EFFORTLESSLY UNDERWATER.

MASTER DIVERS AND SWIFT OCEAN HUNTERS.

ONCE THE MOST NUMEROUS SEABIRD ON THE AFRICAN COAST,

THEY ARE NOW THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION.

BUT ONE SMALL COLONY

IS POTENTIALLY REVERSING THEIR FORTUNES

THESE ARE THE AFRICAN PENGUINS OF BOULDERS BEACH.

THE FOGS OF LATE SUMMER ARE BLANKETING THE CAPE PENINSULA.

IT'S PEAK NESTING SEASON FOR AFRICAN PENGUINS.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S 18 SPECIES OF PENGUINS,

THEY ARE THE ONLY TYPE BREEDING ON THIS VAST CONTINENT.

27 COLONIES REMAIN IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

AND OF THESE

THE AFRICAN PENGUINS BREEDING AT BOULDERS BEACH

ARE THE MOST UNUSUAL.

IN THE EARLY 1980S

PENGUINS BEGAN ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES ON THIS URBAN BEACH

ON THE SOUTHWESTERN TIP OF AFRICA.

THIS IS NOW THE LARGEST OF ONLY THREE KNOWN MAINLAND COLONIES

CONTAINING MORE THAN A THOUSAND BREEDING PAIRS.

ORDINARILY, AFRICAN PENGUINS PREFER TO BREED ON ISLANDS

WHERE THEY ARE SAFE FROM MAINLAND PREDATORS.

FOR CENTURIES SEABIRDS FLOCKED TO THESE ISLANDS;

THEIR ACCUMULATED DROPPINGS KNOWN AS GUANO

WERE MORE THAN 33 FEET THICK IN PLACES.

DURING THE EARLY 1900S,

HUMANS STARTED COLLECTING GUANO USING IT FOR FERTILIZER

AND EVEN COSMETICS -

OBLITERATING THE PENGUINS' HOMES FORCING THEM TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

THESE HOUSES ARE ALL THAT REMAINS

OF THIS ONCE THRIVING BUSINESS.

THIS CREATED A GRAVE PROBLEM FOR PENGUINS

BECAUSE THEY RELY ON GUANO TO BUILD THEIR NESTS,

DIGGING COOL BURROWS IN THE HARDENED LAYERS.

WITHOUT GUANO THEY ARE FORCED TO NEST OUT IN THE OPEN

AND RISK OVERHEATING.

PEOPLE ALSO HARVESTED PENGUIN EGGS AS A DELICACY.

BETWEEN 1900 AND 1930 ALONE

OVER 13-MILLION EGGS WERE COLLECTED.

CONSEQUENTLY, POPULATIONS OF AFRICAN PENGUIN HAVE COLLAPSED.

TODAY THE LARGEST SURVIVING BREEDING COLONIES

ARE LOCATED ON TWO SMALL ISLANDS IN ALGOA BAY

NEAR PORT ELIZABETH.

CONSERVATIONISTS ARE BATTLING

TO SAVE THE ELEVEN AND A HALF THOUSAND BIRDS LIVING HERE.

AROUND 50 PERCENT OF THE GLOBAL POPULATION,

THEY'RE CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE AFRICAN SPECIES.

AS ARE THE PENGUINS THAT WERE FORCED TO MOVE TO THE MAINLAND.

THE PENGUINS AT BOULDERS

LIVE SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR HUMAN NEIGHBORS!

THE COLONY HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT TOURIST ATTRACTION

AND IS PROTECTED BY TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

THE SUMMER BREEDING SEASON

IS THE MOST STRESSFUL TIME OF THE YEAR FOR THE PENGUINS.

MATES NEED TO BE FOUND,

NESTS BUILT.

PARENTS ARE UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE

TO PROVIDE FOR GROWING CHICKS -

AND TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ELEMENTS.

PREDATORS ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE PROWL.

AT SEA

CAPE FUR SEALS CATCH ADULTS COMING AND GOING FROM THE BEACH,

WHILE ON LAND

GULLS LOOK TO GRAB EGGS AND CHICKS FROM THEIR NESTS.

LESS THAN HALF THE SIZE OF THE BETTER-KNOWN EMPEROR PENGUINS,

AFRICAN PENGUINS SELDOM STAND TALLER THAN 28 INCHES.

THEY ARE SUPERBLY ADAPTED TO THEIR AQUATIC LIVES.

FEATHERS HAVE FLATTENED SHAFTS AND OVERLAP,

CREATING A WATERPROOF, WELL-INSULATED BARRIER.

WHILE A THICK LAYER OF BLUBBER

INSULATES THEM IN WATERS COLDER THAN 59 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

THEIR BODIES ARE STREAMLINED -

SHARP BEAKS SLICE THROUGH THE WATER

AND THEIR BLACK AND WHITE, CONTRASTING COLORATION

MAKES THEM HARD TO SPOT IN WATER.

SOLID BONES LACK THE AIR POCKETS THAT MANY FLYING BIRDS HAVE,

MAKING PENGUINS LESS BUOYANT -

HELPING THEM SWIM UNDER THE SURFACE.

UNABLE TO FLY IN AIR,

THEIR HARDENED WINGS PROPEL THEM IN WATER

AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 12 MILES AN HOUR.

AFRICAN PENGUINS ALONG WITH THEIR CLOSE RELATIVES

(THE MAGELLANIC, HUMBOLDT AND GALAPAGOS PENGUINS)

BREED DURING WARM SUMMER MONTHS.

WHICH CREATES A PROBLEM -

UNLIKE MOST PENGUINS THAT ARE ADAPTED TO COLD,

SOMETIMES FREEZING CONDITIONS,

AFRICAN PENGUINS STRUGGLE AGAINST OVERHEATING.

ESPECIALLY DURING THE BREEDING SEASON

WHEN THEY SPEND WEEKS ON BEACHES

EXPOSED TO THE HARSH AFRICAN SUN.

PANTING HELPS KEEP THEIR BODY TEMPERATURES DOWN.

BEING ADAPTED TO THE WATER HAS ITS DOWNSIDE ON LAND HOWEVER.

THEIR FEET ARE BETTER ADAPTED AS RUDDERS

THAN FOR MANEUVERING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN.

AND THEY ARE SOMEWHAT LESS THAN NIMBLE ON LAND.

ON THE FRINGES OF THE COLONY

THESE YOUNG HOPEFULS ARE COURTING.

THEY ARE FIRST TIMERS

EMBARKING ON THEIR MAIDEN BREEDING SEASON.

FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNER IS IMPORTANT

BECAUSE AFRICAN PENGUINS ARE MONOGAMOUS

AND OVERCOMING THE STRESSES OF THE BREEDING SEASON

REQUIRES A PARTNER YOU CAN RELY ON.

THE PAIR ENGAGE IN MUTUAL GROOMING

TO CEMENT THE ARRANGEMENT.

OLDER BIRDS ARE ALSO ARRIVING TO BEGIN THEIR BREEDING EFFORT.

THEY'VE SPENT MONTHS FISHING AT SEA.

MALES ARRIVE FIRST,

FEMALES A FEW DAYS LATER.

AFTER A FEW DAYS RE-ESTABLISHING THEIR BONDS

WITH DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION AND MUTUAL GROOMING

THEY RECLAIM A NEST SITE IN THEIR COLONY.

NEARLY ALL BREEDING PAIRS

RETURN TO THE SAME COLONY EVERY SEASON.

THE NEW PAIR JOINS OTHER COLONY MEMBERS IN THE WATER.

VIGOROUSLY SPLASHING WATER THROUGH THEIR FEATHERS

HELPS REMOVE DUST AND MITES.

THIS DAILY RITUAL IS CRITICAL

IN KEEPING THEIR FEATHERS IN GOOD CONDITION.

AFTER BATHING THEY SPREAD OIL ON THEIR FEATHERS

FROM A SPECIAL PREEN GLAND

LOCATED ABOVE THE BASE OF THEIR TAIL.

THE OIL PROTECTS FEATHERS AND ASSISTS IN WATERPROOFING.

FEATHER CARE IS CRITICAL -

WITHOUT THE INSULATION THEY PROVIDE IN WATER

THE PENGUINS WILL NOT SURVIVE.

AFTER RINSING THEIR FEATHERS

IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW YOUNG COUPLE TO FIND A NEST.

WITH NO GUANO TO DIG INTO

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE

COOL, SHELTERED SITE.

THIS CONCRETE DRAIN PIPE IS NOT QUITE WHAT SHE WAS HOPING FOR -

BUT MAYBE IT'LL DO.

MAYBE NOT

SOMEBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY CLAIMED THIS SPOT.

WITH SHELTER IN SHORT SUPPLY,

MOST PAIRS END UP NESTING ON THE BUSY BEACH.

IT MAY BE A LITTLE CROWDED AND HOT,

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT TOO FUSSY THERE'S A SPOT FOR EVERYONE.

THE FEMALE STARTS A SHALLOW SCRAPE.

THE MALE HEADS OFF TO FIND SOME CREATURE COMFORTS

EVERY PAIR HAS THEIR OWN PREFERENCES.

AFRICAN PENGUINS ARE AGGRESSIVELY TERRITORIAL

AND NAVIGATING THE CRAMPED SURROUNDINGS

IS OFTEN A CHALLENGE.

DELIVERING MATERIALS AND MUTUAL DISPLAYS

HELPS CEMENT THE LIFE-LONG BOND BETWEEN THE BREEDING COUPLE.

IN BOULDERS

AFRICAN PENGUINS MAKE SHALLOW SCRAPES ON THE BEACH,

OR BUILD NESTS UNDER THE THICK DUNE VEGETATION.

BUT THEY PREFER TO NEST IN BURROWS.

HOWEVER, ATTEMPTS TO DIG DEEP BURROWS ARE USUALLY FUTILE HERE

AS THEY COLLAPSE IN THE SOFT SAND.

SO CONSERVATIONISTS PROVIDE PLASTIC BURROWS

TO ASSIST BREEDING PAIRS

BY SHELTERING THEM FROM THE ELEMENTS;

ROUGHLY 13 PERCENT MORE CHICKS SURVIVE

IN THESE ARTIFICIAL HOMES.

EVERY SURVIVING EGG

IS ONE STEP FURTHER FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION.

AFRICAN PENGUINS LAY TWO EGGS A FEW DAYS APART.

EGGS ARE JUMBO SIZED FOR A SMALL BIRD -

ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE OF AN AVERAGE CHICKEN'S EGG.

LAYING IS JUST THE FIRST CHALLENGE,

ABOUT 40 DAYS OF PATIENT INCUBATION FOR EACH EGG

NOW LIE AHEAD.

A DUTY SHE SHARES WITH HER PARTNER.

PARENTS ALTERNATE FAIRLY,

EACH SITTING ON THE NEST ONE DAY,

FISHING THE NEXT.

THE NEW FATHER IS RETURNING TO SEA TO HUNT.

HE'S LOOKING FOR SMALL SHOALING FISH SUCH AS MACKEREL,

ROUND HERRING, SARDINES AND ANCHOVIES.

THESE ARE FOUND IN LARGE NUMBERS

IN THE COLD PRODUCTIVE WATERS OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.

UPWELLING ALONG THIS COAST

BRINGS NUTRIENT-RICH WATER TO THE SURFACE

MEANING THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD AVAILABLE.

ADULT PENGUINS TEND TO FEED IN SMALL GROUPS

CLOSER TO THEIR COLONIES -

RARELY VENTURING MORE THAN 65 MILES FROM HOME.

THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL SWIMMERS

ABLE TO REACH SPEEDS WHEN HUNTING OF 13 MILES AN HOUR.

TRIPS MAY LAST 10 HOURS

AND SOMETIMES LONGER.

FLYING SEABIRDS LIKE CORMORANTS AND GANNETS TRAVEL FURTHER

AND TEN TIMES FASTER THAN PENGUINS ON FORAGING TRIPS.

BUT PENGUINS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE

THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO PURSUE PREY DEEPER UNDERWATER

THAN THEIR FLYING NEIGHBORS.

THEY CAN DIVE TO AN ASTONISHING 430 FEET,

WHERE THEIR SMALL BODIES ARE SUBJECT TO IMMENSE PRESSURE.

BY COMPARISON,

SCUBA DIVERS RARELY DIVE DEEPER THAN 130 FEET.

AFRICAN PENGUINS REMAIN UNDERWATER,

HOLDING THEIR BREATH, FOR ON AVERAGE TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.

MAKING THEM EFFICIENT UNDERSEA HUNTERS.

BUT HUMANS ALSO TARGET THE SAME FISH STOCKS.

FOOD SHORTAGES DUE TO OVERFISHING

ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DRAMATIC DECLINE IN PENGUIN POPULATIONS.

PENGUINS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

ARE HAVING TO SWIM FURTHER AND FURTHER TO FIND ENOUGH FOOD.

AUTHORITIES STOPPED ALL COMMERCIAL FISHING IN FALSE BAY,

EXTENDING OVER 380 SQUARE MILES BEYOND THEIR BEACH.

ESSENTIALLY PROTECTING THEIR HUNTING GROUNDS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE DANGER OF STARVATION

THAT PENGUINS FACE ON THEIR FISHING TRIPS.

AT SEA THEY ALSO RUN A GAUNTLET OF PREDATORS.

CAPE FUR SEALS IN PARTICULAR

TARGET PENGUINS COMING AND GOING FROM THEIR COLONIES.

IRONICALLY, THEY TEND NOT TO EAT PENGUIN FLESH,

BUT PREFER TO OPEN THEIR STOMACHS

AND FEED ON THE FISH INSIDE.

ONCE SEALS LEARN TO PICK OFF PENGUINS

THEY CAN BE DEVASTATING

ONE RECORDED SEAL KILLED AND DISEMBOWELED 65 PENGUINS

IN A DAY.

BIGGER PREDATORS

SUCH AS GREAT WHITE SHARKS AND SEVEN-GILL COWSHARKS

ALSO TARGET PENGUINS.

BUT BEING SMALL AND NIMBLE IN THE WATER

MEANS NARROW ESCAPES ARE COMMON

AND AS LONG AS THE WOUNDS DO NOT BECOME INFECTED

VICTIMS ARE USUALLY ABLE TO LIMP ALONG

WITHOUT TOO MANY ILL EFFECTS.

THE FATHER RETURNS SAFELY FROM FISHING.

THEY GREET EACH OTHER

AND SHE CHECKS HER EGGS ARE SECURE IN THE NEST

BEFORE MAKING WAY.

HE TAKES HIS TURN ON THE NEST.

THE FEMALE DOES NOT HEAD OFF TO SEA IMMEDIATELY.

THERE'S TIME FOR A STRETCH AND TO EXERCISE THE VOCAL CHORDS

IN A MUTUAL DISPLAY OF AFFECTION.

THIS BRAYING GIVES THESE NOISY CHARACTERS THEIR NICKNAME -

JACKASS PENGUINS.

CALLS ARE IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNICATING, MATE RECOGNITION

AND AS A DISPLAY FOR POTENTIAL MATES.

THE BOND BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES

IS NOT ONLY CRUCIAL FOR EGGS TO SURVIVE

BUT FOR NEWLY HATCHED CHICKS AS WELL.

INITIALLY YOUNG CHICKS ARE TOO SMALL TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

THIS FIRST-TIME PARENT DOESN'T SEEM TO REALIZE

HER CHICKS ARE AT RISK OF OVERHEATING.

THEIR DOWNY FEATHERS ARE NOT WELL INSULATED

AND THEY NEED A PARENT TO SHELTER THEM

DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY

AND KEEP THEM WARM AT NIGHT.

PREDATORS, SUCH AS THIS KELP GULL

ALSO LOOK FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE.

GULLS ARE THE MOST COMMON PREDATOR OF EGGS,

AND CHICKS LESS THAN 15 DAYS OLD.

BUT HE'S OUTNUMBERED HERE AND BACKS OFF FOR NOW.

AS THE CHICKS GROW THEY BECOME MORE DEMANDING

AND THE PRESSURE ON THE PARENTS GROWS TOO.

IT'S NOT ONLY SHADING THE EVER BIGGER BUNDLES OF FLUFF

THAT'S CHALLENGING.

PARENTS MUST PROVIDE EACH CHICK

WITH MORE THAN ONE POUND OF FOOD A DAY,

ON TOP OF THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS.

IF THEIR FISHING EXPEDITIONS PROVE FRUITLESS

THEIR CHICKS WILL STARVE.

BUT PARENTS WON'T COMPROMISE

THEIR OWN HEALTH FOR THEIR YOUNGSTERS -

IF THEY LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES

THEY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO RAISE MANY FUTURE BROODS.

FINDING ENOUGH FOOD

IS CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ENTIRE BREEDING SEASON.

CHICKS ARE FED ON FISH REGURGITATED BY THEIR PARENTS,

BECAUSE THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY

FOR THE BIRDS TO CARRY MEALS BACK TO THE COLONY.

PARENTS ARE EVEN ABLE TO SLOW THEIR DIGESTION

WHILE CARRYING FOOD

SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE MORE OF THE MEAL

TO THE YOUNGSTERS BACK HOME.

EVERY MORSEL IS PRECIOUS

AND CHICKS PUSH THEIR BEAKS INTO THEIR PARENTS' THROATS

TO PREVENT SPILLAGE.

INSIDE, THEIR BEAKS AND TONGUES HAVE SHARP, BACKWARD-FACING,

TEETH-LIKE STRUCTURES TO CAPTURE SLIPPERY PREY.

REARING TWO CHICKS SUCCESSFULLY IS A CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGE.

IN 9 OUT OF 10 NESTS ONLY ONE CHICK WILL SURVIVE;

THE SECOND EGG ACTS AS INSURANCE.

FIRST-TIME BREEDERS IN PARTICULAR

OFTEN FAIL TO PROVIDE ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR CHICKS.

EVEN INCUBATING EGGS PROVES CHALLENGING FOR THEM.

WITH ONE CHICK ALREADY HATCHED,

THIS INEXPERIENCED FEMALE

HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO KEEP HER OTHER EGG INCUBATED.

IF SHE DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM IT WILL NOT HATCH.

THE HUNGRY GULLS DON'T GIVE UP,

THEY ARE AN UNWANTED GUEST BUT REMAIN SINGLE MINDED.

BUT PENGUINS ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE GULL AT BAY.

IT'S A NARROW ESCAPE.

TWO SPECIES OF GULL THRIVE ALONGSIDE THE PENGUINS.

HARTLAUB'S GULLS

PREY ON SMALL INVERTEBRATES ALONG THE WATER'S EDGE.

LARGER KELP GULLS, WHICH ARE EXPERT SCAVENGERS,

ALSO DO WELL IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

AND MAKE THE MOST OF ANY DISCARDED SCRAPS.

THEY ARE ALSO HUNTERS,

BUT THEIR BEAKS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN SHELLFISH

LIKE MUSSELS AND LIMPETS LIVING ON THE ROCKY COASTLINE.

AND SO, SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION.

SECOND TIME LUCKY.

OYSTERCATCHERS DO NOT NEED TO RESORT TO THESE TACTICS.

THEIR BRIGHT ORANGE BILLS

PRY LIMPETS AND MUSSELS FROM THE ROCKS.

FINDING ENOUGH FOOD IS LESS OF A CHALLENGE FOR THEM

BECAUSE PARENTS NEST ON THE BEACHES AND DUNES

WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS OF A BOUNTIFUL LARDER.

AND YET, HUMANS ALSO AFFECT OYSTERCATCHERS.

OYSTERCATCHERS HAVE REMARKABLY CAMOUFLAGED NESTS,

BUT IF DISTURBED

PREDATORS CAN NIP IN AND STEAL THEIR EGGS.

AS WITH PENGUINS

THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED ALARMING DECLINES IN THEIR POPULATIONS

AROUND SOUTHERN AFRICA.

BACK ON BOULDERS BEACH,

THIS NEIGHBORING COUPLE HAS LOST AN EGG

AND ARE NOW ONLY REARING ONE CHICK.

THE CHICK IS BENEFITING FROM THE TRAGEDY.

WITHOUT THE NEED TO SHARE FOOD

IT'S GROWING BIGGER AND FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE COHORT.

SINGLE CHICKS BENEFIT FROM THE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

OF BOTH PARENTS.

AND ATTENTION IS CRITICAL TO SUCCESS.

A MOMENT'S LAPSED CONCENTRATION HAS COST THIS COUPLE DEARLY.

IT'S A WELCOME MEAL FOR THE GULL.

WHICH MEANS THE END OF THE BREEDING SEASON

FOR THIS UNLUCKY PAIR.

FINALLY, THE GULL'S SUCCEEDED

WHICH BODES WELL FOR HIS SURVIVAL

AND FUTURE BREEDING SUCCESS.

THE PENGUINS' LOSS IS THE GULL'S GAIN.

FOR THE FIRST FIFTEEN DAYS

CHICKS HAVE TO BE FED,

GUARDED AND KEPT WARM OR COOL BY THEIR PARENTS.

AFTER ABOUT 15 DAYS HOWEVER,

THE CHICKS ARE LARGE ENOUGH

AND THEIR FEATHERS ARE SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED

FOR THEM TO CONTROL THEIR OWN BODY TEMPERATURE.

BY 30 DAYS OLD

CHICKS ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO BE LEFT ALONE,

ENABLING BOTH PARENTS TO HUNT AT THE SAME TIME.

CHICKS ARE FED AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN IN THE COLONY,

WHICH DEPENDING ON THE FOOD AVAILABLE

MAY BE TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

BY THIS STAGE

THE CHICKS HAVE MOLTED INTO THEIR JUVENILE FEATHERS.

THEY LOOK DIFFERENT FROM THEIR PARENTS

AND ARE KNOWN AS BLUES

BECAUSE OF THE BLUISH-GREY COLOR.

BLUES LACK THE PROMINENT

BLACK AND WHITE COLORATION OF THE ADULTS.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT THIS MAKES THEM

PARTICULARLY CAMOUFLAGED IN THE WATER.

BLUES ARE MORE INDEPENDENT

AND ADULTS PAY THEM INCREASINGLY LESS ATTENTION

AND MAY EVEN ENCOURAGE THEM TO LEAVE THE NEST

AND HEAD OFF ON THEIR OWN.

BUT WITH INDEPENDENCE COMES LIFE'S FIRST REAL CHALLENGES.

AND FINDING YOURSELF IN THE WRONG PART OF TOWN

IN THIS COLONY

RESULTS IN A VICIOUS ATTACK.

PENGUINS ARE HIGHLY TERRITORIAL AND AGGRESSIVE

AND DO NOT TOLERATE INTRUDERS.

THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO GANG UP ON OTHER BIRD INTRUDERS

AND PECK THEM TO DEATH.

NO HARM DONE THIS TIME.

AFTER 4 MONTHS

THE YOUNG PENGUINS ARE READY TO HEAD TO SEA

FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THEIR OWN.

IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME IN THEIR LIVES

AND ONLY HALF THE YOUNGSTERS ENTERING THE WATER

WILL MAKE IT TO BREEDING AGE.

IT'S A TIME OF WANDERING OFTEN 620 MILES OR MORE FROM HOME.

IN CONTRAST,

ADULTS RARELY VENTURE MORE THAN 250 MILES FROM THEIR COLONY.

AT SEA THE YOUNG BIRDS GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

PREPARING THEM FOR THEIR OWN BREEDING EFFORTS IN LATER LIFE.

THE DISTANCE ALSO POSSIBLY HELPS THEM AVOID COMPETITION

WITH ADULTS CLOSER TO THE COLONIES.

JUVENILES RETAIN THEIR PLUMAGE FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS

BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR COLONIES

FOR THEIR FIRST MOLT INTO ADULT COLORS.

PENGUINS CAN MOLT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

BUT THE PEAK MOLTING SEASON IN SPRING,

ALLOWS THEM ENOUGH TIME

TO PREPARE FOR THE LATE SUMMER BREEDING SEASON.

FEATHERS ARE CRITICAL FOR WATERPROOFING,

SO THEY MOLT ALL THEIR FEATHERS IN ONE GO,

UNLIKE LAND BIRDS WHICH ARE ABLE TO MOLT CONTINUOUSLY.

DURING MOLTING

PENGUINS MUST REMAIN ON LAND AND ARE NOT ABLE TO HUNT AT SEA.

SO THEY SPEND AN EXTENDED PERIOD FISHING

TO PREPARE FOR THEIR MOLT.

DURING THIS PERIOD THEY EAT MORE THAN

TWO AND A HALF POUNDS OF FISH A DAY,

LAYING DOWN EXTRA FAT,

OFTEN INCREASING THEIR BODY WEIGHT BY 30 PERCENT OR MORE.

THE MOLT LASTS ABOUT 20 DAYS -

IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE FOR THE PENGUINS

WHO NEED TO CONSERVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

THEY CAN LOSE 3 OUNCES A DAY DURING THE MOLT.

ONCE ALL THE FEATHERS ARE REPLACED,

THE FAMISHED PENGUINS RETURN TO SEA,

DESPERATELY IN NEED OF FOOD.

WITH THE MOLT BEHIND THEM

IT'S TIME TO REPLENISH THEIR RESERVES

IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT BREEDING SEASON.

THE YOUNG ADULTS THAT LEFT THEIR COLONIES A YEAR OR TWO AGO,

AND HAVE SURVIVED THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS AT SEA,

ARE RETURNING TO LAND IN SEARCH OF MATES AND A PLACE TO BREED.

THEY DON'T ALWAYS RETURN TO THE COLONIES OF THEIR BIRTH

AND WILL CHOSE NEW COLONIES TO CALL THEIR OWN

IF THEY DISCOVER BETTER FEEDING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA.

ONCE A NEW SITE IS ADOPTED HOWEVER,

IT TENDS TO BECOME THEIR COLONY FOR LIFE.

ONCE MORE,

THE ROCKS ARE FILLED WITH HOPEFUL YOUNGSTERS

GINGERLY NAVIGATING THE TASK

OF FINDING A LIFE-LONG MATE AND PARTNER.

WITH THE SPECIES UNDER THREAT,

THE BREEDING SUCCESS OF THESE YOUNG HOPEFULS

IS NOT ONLY CRITICAL

TO THE FUTURE OF THE BOULDERS BEACH COLONY...

BUT OF ALL AFRICAN PENGUINS.

BOULDERS BEACH IS GIVING AFRICAN PENGUINS

A SECOND CHANCE FOR LONG TERM SURVIVAL.

AND BEING AN AFRICAN PENGUIN

IS ALL ABOUT ADAPTATION AND SECOND CHANCES.

FOR THE PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST EGGS OR CHICKS

THE NEXT BREEDING SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER.

FOR THOSE YOUNGSTERS WHO SURVIVED

THE ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING.

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