Page 35 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands

An interesting factoid about the name of this bird: It is most often

accepted that “penguin” is a Welsh word meaning “white-
headed.” Interesting since not all penguins have white feathers

on their heads! Why the Welsh had the honor of naming the bird
is also unknown. Actually, there are other theories about the

word’s origin. Some linguists say that the extinct Great Auk of the
Arctic was called Pen Gwyn, pronounced as Pin-wing, since that
bird also had rudimentary wings like modern penguins. Still others

believe that the word came from the Latin, pingius, meaning “fat.”
There is not much evidence supporting a Latin origin. No definitive

answer is accepted.

The 12 “blues” on display while we visited are thriving, so much so
that they are successfully reproducing. This is a good thing, since

they are an endangered species, but this fecundity is also
producing a problem for the Center and DOC—what to do with
the chicks when they mature since they will be normal and

healthy birds? Can they be relocated to a safe and secure
location? Will they be accepted by a colony already established?

Will they know how to feed themselves and survive the threats in
their environment such as predatory seals and orcas? That

question is still being pondered by the scientists at DOC and other
penguin experts being consulted around the world. In the

meantime, the captive birds continue nesting and fledging their
chicks! What to do?

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