Penguin Parade at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

January 20th is Penguin Awareness Day.To celebrate, the Monterey Bay Aquarium hosted a “Penguin Parade.”

Five African Penguins waddled around the aquarium and strutted their stuff. Aquarium-goers greeted them for their final stretch, and there were plenty of smiles.

“I think when a lot of people see them, they think ‘snow and ice,’ because that’s how the media typically portrays them,” Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Cat Chiappa said. “We see birds in books and in movies in snow and ice. There are certainly some birds that live in that environment, but only a handful of the 17 species. So, more often than not, they’re living in climates that are very similar to what we experience right here in Monterey.”

As for some other penguin facts, they have more feathers than any other bird, about 70 per square inch. Also, their spot patterns are unique, almost like a fingerprint.

Unfortunately, penguin numbers have dwindled over the years because their food sources are over fished.

But, you can help protect penguins and other seabirds by keeping plastic and trash out of the ocean.