Mystic Aquarium

Sea Research Foundation’s Mystic Aquarium is pleased to announce the hatching of two African penguin chicks. Hatched on Feb. 1 and Feb. 10, the chicks currently weigh 696 grams and 281 grams, respectively. The chicks will be named when they are fully fledged and their gender will be determined by a DNA test at approximately six months of age.

People from around the world have been tuning into the live African penguin webcam during nesting season and viewers can continue to watch as the chicks grow into full fledgling penguins. They can also get weekly video updates and submit questions to penguin trainers via Mystic Aquarium’s Facebook page.

The live webcam provides the unique opportunity to witness the chicks’ fascinating developmental process. Viewers meet our trainers, get up-close views of the chicks, hear firsthand about their progress and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Pavilion.

In Mystic Aquarium’s “Weekly Bird Bit” videos, penguin trainers share insights on the chicks’ development and milestones, as well as answer two or three of viewers’ most interesting or commonly-asked questions.

Today, the chicks are 19 and 10 days old. During the first 40 days, the little ones are unable to maintain their body heat, so they seek warmth under their parents. Viewers will see their heads and beaks emerge when they are hungry and when their parents feed them. Later in this period, the inquisitive chicks will slowly venture on their own into other areas of their room. Once they are weaned (around day 50), people can observe the aquarium’s trainers teaching the chicks to feed from them.

At 75 to 100 days of age, the chicks will be fully fledged. Their soft down will be replaced with juvenile plumage, and they will be ready to fend for themselves and join the 26 adult African penguins on exhibit at the aquarium.

Mystic Aquarium participates in the Species Survival Plan, a collaborative breeding program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The African penguin is an endangered species.

Click here to view a gallery of the chicks.

Published on Feb. 20, 2013