Penguin Parade

 Looking back at our last posts I realised that we hadn't finished writing up about the Penguins we saw on the beautiful Phillip Island. They are so cute and are the smallest penguins that exist. They are commonly called Fairy penguins and they are honestly soooooo cute.




  We had to wait until sundown to see them as they only return to their burrows on the island after a day of fishing. And only once the sun has gone down to avoid any predators who may be waiting on the beach. Since they are totally without defence it's a pretty good strategy!

 It was pouring with rain but we were determined to see them So after paying a small fortune to get into the sanctuary (they are highly protected and looked after as any wildlife here in Australia), we were guided to the beach where they come in every night. They came in reluctantly, first one and then another waiting until one or the other was brave enough to make the dash across the beach the others would follow. It was quite funny and sooooooooo cute!

Just before sundown we were treated to not one but a double rainbow what a beautiful spectacle that only God can perform! We were cold and wet but extremely happy to be there and then.

Called hanks, sweaters, and even koozies, these jumpers are not the result of Paris Hilton’s unnatural obsession with clothing animals, but of the Penguin Jumper Project, which began in 2000 after an oil spill loomed over a population of fairy penguins on the southern tip of Australia. These little jumpers are not only cute but have a purpose! Penguins preen every day to ensure that their feathers are perfectly alined so they are waterproofed and so keeps them warm in the icey waters. Unfortunately when their feathers are covered in oil as they preen and swallow it,it kills them. And when their feathers are not properly preened they suffer from cold and die as well. That's the purpose of these jumpers. The time that the rangers can clean the feathers and as soon as they can preen safely again these little jumpers lovingly knitted by people all over the world have helped to save the penguins! Isn't that sooooooo cute?