multi-generation madhouse includes pets and meals

We love to go to the zoo and really try to get there at least once a week. Being that my daughter is a penguin nut no matter what else we do we always go for the penguin feeding.

For those of you who don’t know, juvenile African Penguins look different from the adults. Their first set of waterproof feathers is black everywhere but the belly, while adults have white up their necks and around their head.. Typically when they are between 18 and 24 months they go through a molt losing all of their feathers at one time and then their new feathers have their adult markings.

Our zoo has two babies Toby, who turned one this month, and Alerian, who is 8 months. A few weeks ago we noticed that Toby had a few feathers missing; but we figured it was something other than molting as she isn’t quite old enough. Surprise, apparently no one told Toby she had to wait and there she was bobbing in the pool with her brand new black and white plumage. She is very cute and now we are excited waiting to see when Alerian will look like when it’s time for his first molt.

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