An Ode to Penguins.

I very nearly committed a felony.

this will be my laptop wallpaper forever.

Recently, I visited the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, for the sole purpose of taking part in their "Penguin Connection" program.  Through it, a small group of eight is introduced to one African penguin ( Simon, in this case ) and then given the opportunity to pet him.  The entire session runs for half an hour.  I never realized just how fleeting thirty minutes were until then.

meet simon.

the closest i'll ever get to a penguin.

Simon is braver than I.  When his handler first set him onto the ground, I expected him to start waddling away from all these strangers.  Instead, he took a few steps forward, cocked his head sideways, inquisitively, and just stared.  "They see people as larger, perhaps stranger-looking, penguins," explains his handler.  "They have little fear of us."

simon joining his companions.

Penguins' inherent curiosity and lack of fear toward humans propelled their populations to drastically dwindle.  Their friendliness made it easy for egg collectors to steal their eggs.  I find this tremendously tragic.

too cute! <3

Thankfully, the situation is much improved today, as these darlings of the southern hemisphere are much beloved by society, and subsequently, protected.  They've waddled into the public's hearts, with what biologist Gerald Kooyman calls "the cuteness factor."

Back to my almost-felony: after the handler put Simon back into his habitat, I wandered over to the side, away from the pool.  The small piece of even land is essentially isolated from all other parts of the environment by rocks.  There, it was possible for me to climb up the side to get a closer look at the penguins...as well as reach in and touch one.

I was lucky there weren't many people around ( and that I had Mr. SB keeping watch ), else I probably would have been banned from the Aviary.  It was a huge test of self control to not pick one of them up and take him home.  The threat of who-knows-how-many-years of jail time was a strong deterrent.

It is a crime that I haven't seen March of the Penguins yet, but even so, their description of these flightless birds has resonated with me:

They have wings but cannot fly. They're birds that think they're fish. And every year, they embark on a nearly impossible journey to find a mate...In the harshest place on Earth loves finds a way.

Most see penguins as comic relief, and understandably so with their slightly chubby stature and ever-present waddle.  But I am like them, searching for love and cherishing family above all else.