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IT’S A BOY! PENGUIN CHICK HATCHED AT DETROIT ZOO
The Detroit Zoo proudly announces the hatching of a male macaroni penguin chick. The hatchling arrived on May 22 covered in fluffy down feathers and tipping the scales just shy of 100 grams. The chick is being hand-reared by zookeepers off-exhibit and will join the Zoo's penguin colony in mid-to-late August after it has "fledged" or grown its adult feathers for swimming.
Visitors to the Detroit Zoo website have been submitting suggested names for the chick. A panel of zoo staffers is reviewing the submissions and selecting the names to be voted on. The top five submissions will be posted here on the Detroit Zoo website where the public can vote on the winning name. Once the voting has been completed the winner will be named.
Stay tuned to vote for the penguin chick name.
The contest winner and three guests will receive an up-close-and-personal "Mingle with the Macaronis," which includes the opportunity to interact with the penguin chick and the Zoo's 62 other penguins in their chilly habitat, hand feed the birds, receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the keeper area and incubation/nursery area, and take photos of the memorable experience.
The macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a sub-Antarctic penguin found on islands surrounding Antarctica. Also referred to as a "crested penguin," the macaroni gets its name from the bright yellow crest feathers that adorn its head. These plumes reminded early English explorers of an 18th century man called a "macaroni" who wore flashy feathers in his hat.
The Detroit Zoo currently has 25 macaroni penguins – including the latest addition – and is one of four institutions in North America that is home to macaronis. The Zoo's Penguinarium also houses rockhopper, king and blue penguins, and features a circular pool which allows the birds to swim continuously through the habitat.
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