Penguins

Rockhopper Penguin The animated film “ Happy Feet ” was a hit among kids and parents back in 2006. If you’re like me, you probably found the character, “Lovelace,” voiced by the always animated Robin Williams , to be unforgettable. But unforgettable is now a description that applies in more ways than one for the Northern Rockhopper Penguin . Researchers reported last week that populations of the frilly-headed penguin dropped an astounding 90% over the past 50 years. A few decades ago, millions of Northern Rockhopper Penguins lived on islands in the South Atlantic . Today, the numbers are in the tens of thousands ... Read Full Story

Set deep inside the icy land of Antarctica, two emperor penguins have a baby named Mumble. Hatched upon his feet, he has an amazing skill for tap-dancing. However, penguins are not supposed to tap dance. Even worse, he cannot sing. All emperor penguins are supposed to have a heart song, and he has a try at it - with awful results. Torn apart from his mom, dad, and best friend, Gloria, as a teenager who still has his adolescent feathers, his ventures off into the icy landscape. He is rescued from a leopard seal from a group of Adelie penguins, whom which the leader ... Read Full Story

A federal judge today approved a settlement between the Center for Biological Diversity and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the fate of 10 penguin species imperiled by global warming. Under the settlement, the Service must by December 19th complete its overdue finding on whether the penguins should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The finding is due on the emperor, southern rockhopper, northern rockhopper, Fiordland crested, erect-crested, macaroni, white-flippered, yellow-eyed, African, and Humboldt penguins. “Right now penguins are marching towards extinction due to the impacts of global warming,” said Shaye Wolf, a seabird biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Protecting ... Read Full Story

With the start of the Pittsburgh Penguins main training camp, how did the prospects fair at their camp? I've come across and posted highlights from the three tournament games played this past weekend - Monday, but what were the actual results of where the players stand since the camp? According to the WB/S Penguins Insider , the Penguins organization announced which players were invited to this week's NHL training camp and there are currently 51 players on the camp roster. Joey Haddad is the only free agent to receive an invitation (and may end up playing for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins). Jean-Michel Daoust, ... Read Full Story

The Penguins open their abbreviated training camp today in defense of their Eastern Conference crown with holes to fill and questions to answer. It’s a markedly different team that will show up for physicals today and hit the ice early Wednesday morning as compared to the team that watched Nik Lidstrom skate around the Igloo ice with the Stanley Cup in June. Some filling of the holes are relatively easier than some others. Miro Satan will replace new Red Wing Marian Hossa on the 1st line right wing, unless he totally tanks it, that is. Matt Cooke will be on one of the checking ... Read Full Story