Penguins on Parade!

We made it to the world famous Penguin Parade last night at Phillip Island, where, at sunset, the native Little Penguins emerge in groups from the Tasmin Sea to waddle up the beach to burrows in the sand dunes. The smallest (and cutest) penguin in the world, the Little Penguin is around 12-13 inches tall with adults weighing just over 2 pounds. The Little Penguin is the only blue feathered penguin in the world and will typically live for 7 years. The scientific name of the Little Penguin, Eudyptula minor means 'good little diver'. Right now, many of the penguins coming ashore are super fat as it is the most important time of the year for them: molting season. The penguins are coming ashore and for two weeks,will stay in their burrow, molting their old feathers and getting new ones for the coming year--that is why they are so fat, as they have been eating their weight in fish, krill, etc in order to just sit in their burrows and molt. Without the new feathers, they won't be able to survive the winter.

The way that this parade works is that you go and wait until sunset, and a little bit after, and then the Little Penguins come into shore in groups, called "rafts", because safety is in numbers. They then make a mad dash for the dunes. Photography isn't allowed, as it would disturb this natural process-- though the concrete stadium steps and the massive lights on the beach are fine.

We had a wonderful time, even though it was pouring rain and Will had a flip-flop blow out. We were soaked to the bone but thrilled to see the cutest Penguins ever. We followed a little fellow to the parking lot, as he was looking for his home.And on the way out, we were reminded to look under the cars in case we had stowaways. We thought that this was just sweet, but after we followed out the little guy, we double checked to make sure that no Penguins were under the car, behind the car, or in my handbag to take back home... ;)