13 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

www.cbsnews.com said:

If these penguins look blue to you, it's not because they are down in the dumps. They have a special protein structure in their feathers that generates the blue color by reflecting light in a way that has never been seen in feathers before.

Lead author Matthew Shawkey of the University of Akron was surprised to find the new structures, which "shatter current dogma," Shawkey told LiveScience."We found a previously undescribed way that birds make a non-iridescent blue color in feathers.

Shawkey found the structure in feathers of the blue penguin, a bird commonly found in Australia and New Zealand and also called the little, or fairy, penguin, awkwardly stands about a foot tall (30 cm) and weighs a little more than 2 pounds (about 1 kg). They have the traditional tuxedo look of penguins, though their feathers are a non-iridescent dark blue.

Read more...

[Cloudshill]

Good idea.....blue penguins......

[Mistydawn]

I prefer mine covered in milk chocolate!!

[Still Waters]

Cloudshill, on 12 February 2011 - 12:29 AM, said:

Good idea.....blue penguins......

They look cute. I think so too  

Mistydawn, on 12 February 2011 - 08:56 AM, said:

I prefer mine covered in milk chocolate!!

P-p-p-pick up a penguin  

[aquatus1]

Cool blue penguins, and neat matrix thing on the feathers...a little dramatic, I think, the whole "shatters current dogma", but otherwise, cool find.

[Lilly]

Oh...pretty penguin! Do they also come in pink?  

[Mistydawn]

Only weighing 2 pounds.. wee cuties.

[Timonthy]

There was a colony of these penguins near where I used to live. The curious little fellas used to swim right up to us while we were surfing, within arms reach. Although seeing a flash of black out of the corner of my eye before I realised what it was was enough to send shivers down my spine... (but the seals, dolphins & southern right whales did a better job of this!)

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

Reminds me of Easter Chicks:

[cav3man.]

They are cold! Give them a blanket or something

[Timonthy]

They are warmer than you!

[star energy]

I want one! If it wasn't one of natures wildlife I'd diffentally have one as a pet! I'd call him Sky or maybe just plain Blue.

[slowfade]

A bad penguin-related joke, in celebration of these cute little fellas:

Q: Why don't polar bears eat penguins?

A: They can't get the wrappers off.

... I'll get me coat...

[Mistydawn]

slowfade, on 26 February 2011 - 07:08 PM, said:

A bad penguin-related joke, in celebration of these cute little fellas:

Q: Why don't polar bears eat penguins?

A: They can't get the wrappers off.

... I'll get me coat...

Oh, I don't know, it wasn't that bad....

Question: What do penguins have for lunch?   Answer: Iceburgers

Question: Why don't you see penguins in Britain?  Answer: Cause they are afraid of Wales.