Here at Spiffy, we love penguins and what better way to show our love for them by adopting a penguin! It has been a few years since we symbolically adopted Spiffy the Penguin and we are here to give you another update on her exciting adventures.
Since our last update, she has arrived at her summer vacation spot in southern Brazil with her friends! However, not all of the penguins will stay off the coast of Brazil; some will continue up north to Rio de Janeiro. While Spiffy is enjoying her vacation, we wanted to share the success of the previous breeding season. The colony in Argentina produced 58 healthy chicks for every 100 eggs laid, which is excellent news! On average, a breeding rate of 50% is considered a success and is more than enough to maintain a healthy colony.
When adult penguins lay eggs, they will take turns incubating them. One will stay with the egg to keep it warm, while the other will go out to sea to hunt for fish. The parents will switch every two to three days to ensure that one parent does not go without food for an extended amount of time. On occasion, a parent can lose track of time and won't return in time. Studies show that an adult left with the nest will wait about six days before they are forced to leave the nest to find food. Sadly, when the parent leaves the nest and the eggs unprotected seagulls will steal the eggs.
Another reason for egg loss can be bad weather, as heavy rain can cause the eggs to get too cold, which can lead them to stop growing and not to hatch. This happened at a colony on Magdalena Island, where they experienced terrible weather and rain so heavy that it flooded the ground and the burrows that housed the eggs. After the storm, the island had a 38% breeding success. This translates to about eight chicks for every ten nests, which is enough for the colony to remain healthy.
Overall, one poor breeding season does not significantly affect a colony. Instead, the problem arises when breeding success is low, year over year. This has occurred recently in the Falklands Islands, where the large fishing industry takes most of the food from penguins and other wildlife. Even if there is a large number of eggs hatches there, it is hard to sustain the growing chicks with the limited food around the island. Sadly, this colony has declined over 90% since the fishing industry began to have an impact in 1988. It's crucial to protect the land and fish that the penguins live off of, or else we will see a decline of penguin populations.
Here at Spiffy, we understand the importance of our ecosystem, which is why we strive to be an eco-friendly company. All of our products are safe for the environment and our customers, and we also reclaim 100% of water and supplies that we use.
Do your part to help protect the environment by going green with Spiffy for your car wash and detailing needs!
Posted in Lifestyle
