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Zoo penguins are nesting

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Nonu Wed 02-Apr-14 19:15:51

What a total delight, I will watch the others later on

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Elegran Wed 02-Apr-14 18:57:22

I( think she was just trying the nest for size and comfort. But there is definitely an egg at the nest three rows back, fourth from the left. I saw it when she stood up to change position.

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Elegran Wed 02-Apr-14 18:43:25

Oh! She has gone AWOL while I was posting. Where is she?

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Elegran Wed 02-Apr-14 18:42:20

There is one female who seems very fidgety and keeps shuffling round and looking down. I wonder whether she is about to lay?

(top left of the four nests in the foreground)

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Elegran Wed 02-Apr-14 18:33:28
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The Zoo penguins have paired up and taken possession of their nest rings.

They collect pebbles to line the nest, and pinch them from the next door if a neighbour is not looking. The penguin webcam shows frequent disagreements if the theft is detected, or if a male neighbour seems to show too much interest in a female.

DNA tests on chicks revealed a surprising number whose father was not the male of the pair. I heard that last year "Snowflake", who has a lighter, pale brown back and is very recognisable, was running no less than eight ladies on separate nests. This year he has been unenthusiastic about pairing up at all - lack of energy?

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