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colony to learn the ways of the sea. These chicks have to teach themselves how to feed at sea. Older penguins usually leave the colony in December when there is lots of food and can swim dive right away. The first five years are spent mostly in the sea or on icebergs. When the penguin is five it will come back to its birthplace colony to mate.

Other facts about penguins are they have to molt. This means to shed their feathers and come onto land. During this process black feathers turn brownish. Penguins are not quarrelsome as in mating season while molting and are quiet. to keep energy. It takes two to four weeks for feathers to come back. Penguins must replace all their feathers. While molting the normal streamlined profile is lost therefore it takes place on land. During molting old feathers are lost and new ones grown. Penguins live from fat in body while this process takes place.

The black and white feathers help them to hide in the water. The ice and sunlight blend with the color of a penguin's belly. They move on ice and snow better and faster on their bellies. Penguins have claws to grip slippery surfaces and to propel when sliding. The claws also help them to dig burrows. Penguins at sea dart with head between shoulders forming a torpedo shape. Onshore they hop or waddle therefore they are not for walking long distances or running.

Deepest dives take place at midday when sun shows through water allowing penguins to see further. To strike at prey the penguin extends its neck fast. This gives it amazing reach with fast moving prey. Prey is swallowed while underwater. Stiff spines improve a penguin's grip on slippery food. A lot of saltwater is swallowed this way, so penguins have a gland to remove some of it. Now when you buy stuff with penguins on it you know the story behind the lives of real ones.

Learn more about this author, Tracy Bishop.
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