For a few weeks each year, thousands of baby birds wait together while their parents forage for food. Soon after the chicks fledge, parents will begin molting. Unlike some birds that shed a few feathers at a time, penguins lose all their feathers at once during a process called catastrophic molt.
About two-thirds of penguin species are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, making them one of the most endangered seabirds. Loss of habitat, disease, and infectious diseases spread by tourists loom as threats.
Commercial fishing in the Southern Ocean is also a significant concern, as it has reduced fish supply by about half in the Antarctic Peninsula. This forces many penguins to compete for food, and puts them in danger of getting accidentally captured by fishing nets.
Among the biggest threats to penguin populations is climate change. Warming in the polar regions has melted sea ice, which penguins depend on to find food and build nests. Rapidly changing conditions mean Antarctica could lose most of its penguins to climate change by the end of the century. To survive, they may have to relocate to new habitats. All rights reserved. A pair of gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua.
Common Name: Penguins. Scientific Name: Spheniscidae. Diet: Carnivore. Group Name: Colony. Average Life Span: years. Size: inches. Among bird species, penguins are particularly likely to be misunderstood. Nevertheless, students are fascinated by penguins — making it worthwhile for teachers to consider the various ideas that their students might hold. In this article, we discuss some common misconceptions related to birds: classification, characteristics, behavior, and interaction with humans.
We also provide tools for formative assessment and ideas for teaching the correct scientific concepts. What do your students think? Volumes 1 , 2 , and 3 of Uncovering Student Ideas in Science each contain 25 formative assessment probes to help teachers identify misconceptions.
Assessing student ideas about the physical characteristics of birds may be as simple as creating and discussing drawings. While the lesson is designed for grade 3 and up, teachers of primary students could also have their students draw pictures and discuss their understanding of bird characteristics.
Bird Up Grades Teachers can assess student misconceptions through drawing and discussion. Students use online resources to learn about birds and their characteristics. Students may hold many misconceptions about migration. Teachers can use the books to start a discussion of bird migration, and ask students to share what they know through a discussion or a K-W-L chart.
The Dance of Life An article about sanderlings, a migratory bird species, for students in grades K-1, , and Available as a text-only document, full-color illustrated book, or electronic book. KWL Chart Print a blank chart for student use. Misconceptions about bird-human interactions may not surface in the context of a classroom unit, but they may arise in informal conversations with students.
Where Do Penguins Live? This probe, modeled with permission from NSTA Press after those found in Uncovering Student Ideas in Science , Volumes 1, 2, and 3, is designed to elicit student ideas about penguins and their habitats worldwide. Observations of birds in the wild as well as supplemental images in books and online can help students better understand the unique physical characteristics of birds. Citizen Science projects from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology allow students to observe bird behavior firsthand.
Teachers should be careful to present accurate explanations of bird behavior including migration. In addition, interdisciplinary lessons and activities provide opportunities for students to develop an understanding of penguin characteristics.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Citizen Science Provides an overview of several citizen science projects about birds. Penguins Around the World This interactive site includes lesson plans, a kid-friendly interactive map, a slide show, an online treasure hunt for penguin facts, and two online quizzes. The entire National Science Education Standards document can be read online or downloaded for free from the National Academies Press web site.
Science Content Standards can be found in Chapter 6. Benchmarks for science literacy. New York: Oxford University Press. Keeley, P. Eberle, and L. Uncovering student ideas in science, vol. Eberle, and J. Eberle, and C. If a penguin is part of the genus Pygoscelis, the feathers on his tail might be more extended. The living penguin species in this genus are gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus and Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae.
If a penguin's tail seems to have longer feathers than those of most others, he might fit into one of these categories -- specifically brush-tailed penguins. Fish, krill and squid are dietary staples for penguins of all varieties. Taking note of exactly what penguins consume can sometimes be a handy indication of their specific geographic locations, however. Those living near Antarctica typically feed on higher amounts of krill and squid.
Those in northerly settings generally dine more heavily on fish. Penguins who consume mostly fish also usually have noticeably more slender beaks. By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use.
Size Differences All penguins possess similar overall body outlines. Nuances in Color Mature penguins, regardless of species, all have pale stomachs and darker backs.
Tail Observation Tails on penguins are small and reminiscent of wedges, shapewise.
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