Feathers fly at The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham

Feathers fly at The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham
during its 20th anniversary year!

Everyone has a bad hair day from time to time but spare a thought for the Gentoo penguin colony at The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham as it’s currently experiencing the ultimate hair disaster – a catastrophic moult, which is a 14 day long feather fiasco!

Unlike other aquatic birds that generally lose their feathers one or two at a time, when a penguin’s plumes are ready to shed it happens all at once leaving the birds in an unfortunate state of undress; looking like a bunch of exploding pillows!

Naomi Bird, Penguin Keeper at The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham comments: “Feathers are quite literally flying around the enclosure at the moment! Moulting is a normal part of the development in healthy and happy penguins like ours and simply means that the old feathers are replaced by beautiful new ones.

“During this process, the special waxes the penguins usually create to waterproof their feathers aren’t produced so the birds stay on land and forgo the regular dives and swims they’re so renowned for.

“The Gentoos also lose their appetite during the moult although in the weeks before it occurs, they gorge themselves on plenty of oily and nutrient rich fish to help build up the natural fat reserves that protect them from the cool Antarctic climate they thrive in.”

For further information or to pre-book tickets online to see the Gentoos with their feathers aflutter during their annual moult, please go to www.SEALIFE.co.uk/birmingham. Reduced prices are available for tickets booked in advance.

For regular news, updates and competitions, The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham is also on Facebook www.facebook.com/sealifebirmingham and Twitter twitter.com/sealifebham. You can also keep up-to-date with what Ginny the Gentoo has to say by following her on twitter at twitter.com/ginnygentoo.