Teetering on the brink - Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African ...

growing pains...while breeding, adult penguins depend on a reliable source of food forthemselves and their chicks close to the breeding islandAboveCounts of moulting penguins provide a better index of population trendsthan breeding numbers, because all penguins moult each year, whereassome adults may not breed if conditions are unfavourable.RightAn immature African Penguin is harassed by an adult. Young penguins areoften the target of adult aggression on land, probably an extension of theirexclusion from adult feeding flocks at sea. Immatures lack the bold plumageand requisite skills to join adult feeding groups (see Africa – Birds & Birding1(3): 44–50).albert fronemanPrevious spreadAfter some initial setbacks, the mainland colony on the south coast at StonyPoint, Betty’s Bay, has seen rapid growth in recent years. In addition to providingnesting sites for more than 300 pairs of penguins, it is an extremelyimportant moulting location for penguins that have built up their fat reserveson the abundant pelagic fish in the area.chris van rooyen48 african penguinsjune/july 2009african penguins49