Humboldt Penguins

They’re popular, much sought-after and look spiffy in black and white. They are Humboldt penguins and they call Cessna Penguin Cove opens their home at Sedgwick County Zoo. The new exhibit was made possible through a generous gift from the Cessna Foundation.

Your journey to the Cessna Penguin Cove begins as you leave the Central Plaza of the Zoo and are transported to the rocky Pacific coast of the South America. Walking up the path of pebbles and seashells you’ll pass through a gateway of barnacle-covered damp posts, indicating that you are not far from the seashore. This is a rough environment, with cacti growing in the rocky terrain set between cliffs. Among the rocks and sand you discover the skeleton of a minke whale that has washed ashore long ago. Where did it come from and how did it die, you wonder. You find more barnacles, mussels, sea stars and crabs coexisting – surviving off one another.

As you walk further up the path, surrounded by cliffs, you finally reach the waters edge of Cessna Penguin Cove, home to the Humboldt penguin. Looking beyond the rocks, high on the side of the cliffs you see a group of Inca terns with bright red beaks and white feather mustaches. Some birds are resting; others fly here and there.

Humboldt penguins get their name from the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current off the mainland coast of Chile and Peru. Penguins are designed for their marine lifestyle, with streamlined bodies that allow them to “fly” through the water. Their wings are stiff, flat flippers used to propel them through the water. Unlike other birds, they have heavy, solid bones that reduce the energy needed to dive. The tail and feet make an effective “rudder” to swim with ease. Although short feet assist them in the water, they are also the reason the penguins have a waddling walk on land. They are dependent on land for molting, the annual shedding of feathers that are replaced with new, as well as for nesting and breeding. Humboldt penguins nest in natural crevices or small caves. You will see these in the rock wall on the opposite side of the cove. Breeding generally takes place when environmental conditions are favorable and food sources are highest.  

Penguins can be seen performing a variety of behaviors including mutual displays where a male and female face each other, bow forward and then throw their heads backwards while making a variety of vocalizations. Pairs may also be seen bowing to each other with their bills facing the nesting area. A lone male might actively pursue any unpaired females or be seen trying to break up a bonded pair.

 Learning Programs for Kids Ages One to Ninety-two

One of the most prominently placed buildings at the Sedgwick County Zoo is the Cargill Learning Center. Opened in 1980, it was one of the pioneer buildings in American zoos designed specifically for education. With its 350-seat auditorium, a large classroom area with movable walls, offices and a library, it has served the Zoo well through the years. During the course of an average year, the Education Department will serve more than 50,000 visitors. Thousands of volunteers through the years have begun their Zoo experience by going through interviews and orientations with the volunteer department housed in the Center. Despite its significant role in the functions of the Zoo, many guests, even Zoo members, enter and exit the Zoo just down the sidewalk without glancing to the north to see the Center.

The newly expanded Cargill Learning Center, completed in March 2006, keeps all the existing space of the previous building (reconfiguring a few areas) and adds additional footage to the south and the west toward the Zoo entry and the Asian Farm. The 15,000 square foot Center boasts four permanent classrooms, a large auditorium, a library, interior and exterior gathering places and a channel that connects the Center to the interior of the Zoo. The Center is also considered a “green” building – recycled glass, flooring, countertops, natural lighting, and other environmentally friendly products are used in the design of the building.