QUESTION:
What do penguins do when they lose their family?  Why do
the penguins hang in a crowd, for protection or other factors?
                
        Felicia J., Mr. Lewis' 3rd grade class at
        Burnley- Moran School in Charlottesville, Va



ANSWER from Steven Downey, Doctoral Student, University of Illinois
            Mon, 3 Mar 1997 11:50:27 -0500

Dear Felicia,

If penguin parents lose a chick, they often will try to raise another that
same season.  This, however, depends on how late in the breeding season it
is.  If the chick is lost early in the season, they parents can try again;
if it is late in the breeding season they won't because the chick probably
wouldn't survive the colder weather which arrives at the end of the season.

As for why penguins hang out in a crowd, there are two reasons.  First,
there is safety in numbers.  Being in a group makes it more difficult for a
predator to single out a penguin to eat, especially if that penguin is in
the center of the group.  (If you're a penguin on the outside edge of the
group, you have to be more careful).

The other reason for staying in a group is warmth.  Emperor penguins
particularly are well known for grouping to stay warm.  During the 60+
sunless days in which male Emperors watch over their egg, they spend most
of their time huddled in a group to stay warm.  After warming up while
inside the group, those males in the center will move to the outside so the
outer group of males can move in and get warm.  (If you're wondering where
the female Emperors are, they spend this time at sea feeding.  When they
return, they feed the chick while the male to sea to feed.)

Thanks for your question!
Steven Downey