User talk:Ricky2cooka2

''Yellow Eyed Penguin : Megadyptes antipodesPenguins-Up-Close Maori Name : Hoiho (meaning "noise shouter") Size: 65-70 cm (third tallest) Weight : Average 5 - 6 kg, before moult 7.5 - 8 kg Age : 17 - 22 years (oldest known penguin was 24 years)

General Information : Yellow - eyed Penguins gain their name because of their yellow iris and the characteristic yellow head band. They live in New Zealand and are one of the rarest penguins in the world with only about 5000 - 6000 individuals left. About one quarter of these live in the east coast of the South Island and Stewart Island. The rest live on Campbell and Auckland islands, about 600 km to the South. The Yellow - eyed Penguin is different from other penguins in many aspects of it's biology and is the only penguin species that does not become tame. They originally nested in the coastal forest, but their distribution is now restricted to forest remnants and coastal shrubs after extensive logging during the last 150 years.

Reproduction : Females become sexually mature at two years and males at three years of age. Both sexes stay fertile until their death and as far as known they breed every year. The pairs are faithful to each other when breeding is successful, but they are more likely to "divorce" if breeding fails. Each pair holds a large territory around the nest site that is defended very aggressively against intruders.

Eggs : Two eggs are normally laid in the second half of September and both parents share the six week incubation period equally. The chicks start hatching at the beginning of November and the parents will feed them for three and a half months. On fledging in the middle of February, the chicks become independent and are then called juveniles.

Juveniles : They can be easily distinguished from adults by their lack of the yellow head band and their grey iris. After leaving their parents they spend 3-4 months at sea learning how to fish and little is known about their whereabouts. Only about 48% on average, will make it to a reproductive age. In June, the first ones will be seen ashore again and juveniles will visit many colonies along the coast line in the following months. One year after fledging, they moult for the first time and develop the characteristic yellow head band and the yellow iris. They are now considered adults.

Moult : All birds and thus all penguins have to moult once a year. Young Yellow - eyed Penguins start their moult in February, the adults will follow suit in March and April. Old feathers are replaced with new ones during this four week period and the penguins have to stay out of the water this time because their plumage is not water resistant. They are thus fasting for the four weeks living off the extra body fat they have accumulated in anticipation of the moult. Penguin feathers become water resistant when the bird "milks" the oil gland at the base of the tail and distributes the oil over the whole body.

Voice : The Maori named the Yellow - eyed Penguin the Hoiho meaning the "Noise shouter". Their ecstatic display call can be ear-piercing close-up and they use their voices for recognition, territorial claims, courting and threatening. Their monosyllabic inquiry call is also easily recognized.

Senses : The eyes are the best sense in penguins and a membrane enables sharp vision under water and in air. Their hearing ability is good but their sense of smell is of little importance.

Food : Daily foraging trips usually alone or in pairs take penguin between 5 and 25 km off the coast. They leave the colony at sun - rise and usually return every evening, but they have been known to stay out over night. Maximum diving depth recorded was 123m, but the average dive is about 50m. Dives are short (2-5 minutes) but continuous with only a few seconds on the surface for a breath of air. They mainly eat sprat, juvenile red cod and also squid. All prey is swallowed head first and regurgitated to feed the chicks later on.''