This post is for Thuy who is crazy about all penguins!

Did you know that Fairy Penguins have 2 names? One is Fairy Penguin, and the other is Little Blues. They are the smallest penguins in the world. They are only 16-17 inches tall, and weigh only two pounds. They are found in the Southern Hemisphere. A lot of people think all penguins live where it is cold and icy. So it might be a surprise to learn that Fairy Penguins like the warm waters of Southern Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania.

Fairy Penguins live in big cracks in rocks or burrows like ground squirrels. This is where they sleep, lay their eggs, and protect their babies until they are safe to go out.  Their groups or families are called “rafts.”  During the day, they hunt for small fish and squid to eat. When they’re in the water, they have to look out for sharks, sea lions, and seals.  At dusk they return to the safety of their burrows, but they still have to be careful not to get caught by seagulls.

Did you know that emperor penguins lay eggs in the winter unlike other birds? While the mom penguins look for food, the dads take over the nest. After two months, when the eggs have hatched, the mom comes back.

Another fun fact about Penguins is that they can stay under water for 20-30 minutes.