| We
spent a smiling afternoon at Boulders Beach, a lovely spot between Simon's
Town and Cape Point. Penguins are among the most social of all birds. All
species are colonial to some degree. Penguins use their bills to preen their
feathers frequently, which must be maintained in prime condition to ensure
waterproofing and insulation. A gland near the base of the tail secretes
oil that the penguin distributes throughout its feathers. They also preen
for several minutes in the water by rubbing their bodies with their flippers
while twisting and turning over. Watching a protected community such as
this, it was hard not to be struck by the group's resemblance to a convention
of jolly, industrious little old men dressed to the nines in tuxes and tails.
Images on the next page seem to show several high-level conferences going
on. |
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