{"id":58908,"title":"African Penguins: A closer look","description":"Meet the African penguin: distinctive spots, surprising calls and a personal connection to the photographs behind Kind Penguins designs.","content":"

\"Image:Image: An African penguin nesting in the sand.<\/em><\/p>

A spotted belly, pink patches above the eyes and a voice you might mistake for a donkey. African penguins reward a closer look - and they\u2019re the birds at the heart of Kind Penguins.<\/strong><\/p>

I got to know them while volunteering in South Africa in 2019. Caring for birds at a rehabilitation centre and monitoring penguins on Robben Island gave me plenty of reasons to pick up my camera. Those original photographs later became the starting point for my African penguin designs.<\/p>

Here are a few things to notice next time one catches your eye\u2026<\/p>

Penguins beyond the ice<\/h2>

African penguins breed along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia<\/strong>. Their world includes rocky islands, sandy shores and the sea beyond them.<\/p>

They stand roughly 60 centimetres tall: considerably smaller than an emperor penguin, but quite capable of filling a photograph!<\/p>

\"Image:Image: An African penguin waddling towards us with its distinctive speckled chest.<\/em><\/p>

Spot the individual<\/h2>

Look at an adult African penguin\u2019s white belly and you\u2019ll see scattered black spots. Each bird has its own pattern<\/strong>, which can help distinguish one individual from another.<\/p>

Add the dark band across the chest and the white stripe curving around the face, and there\u2019s a lot to appreciate in that apparently simple black-and-white outfit.<\/p>

Those markings are part of what makes them such rewarding subjects for my illustrations. The details belong to a real bird.<\/p>

Pink patches with a purpose<\/h2>

The bare pink patches above their eyes help African penguins regulate their temperature. More blood flows through these areas when the birds get hot, helping them lose heat.<\/p>

Their voices are equally distinctive. A braying call earned them the historical nickname \u201cjackass penguins\u201d. Elegant appearance; rather unexpected soundtrack.<\/p>

\"Image:Image: A \u2018braying\u2019 African penguin and its quieter friend on the beach, South Africa. <\/em><\/p>

A bird we could lose<\/h2>

African penguins are now globally classified as Critically Endangered<\/strong>. Shortages of their fish prey, alongside threats including oil pollution, put their future at risk.<\/p>

Having cared for these birds, I find that difficult to contemplate. You can read about the rescue and rehabilitation work we support in our SANCCOB article<\/a>, including ways to help directly.<\/p>

From African shores to everyday favourites<\/h2>

My African penguin illustrations are based on original wildlife photography<\/strong>, preserving the markings and poses that first caught my eye.<\/p>

If you\u2019ve enjoyed meeting the bird, take a look at the designs<\/u><\/a> it helped create. Choose a t-shirt to wear your penguin appreciation, a mug for your daily tea or coffee, or an art print that invites a closer look.<\/p>

Explore the shop<\/u><\/strong><\/a> and find your favourite African penguin.<\/strong><\/p>

10% of profits donated to penguin conservation.<\/strong><\/p>

Darren<\/strong>
Founder & Head Penguin<\/em><\/p>

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