Many unusual bird sightings have been reported in North America over the past several years, most due to the dramatic change in our earth’s climate. In the case of the “far-off-course” penguins, it has been the severe melting of the ice in the Arctic that has driven these birds out of their normal habitat and onto our beach. Other Arctic birds have been reported in northern Canada this spring. A pair of Lapland Buntings has been nesting on the roof of the capital building in Ottawa since 2004, for instance. Canadian ornithologist, Katherine Featherstonehaugh told me that huge flocks of Snowy Owls have become pests in downtown Toronto, feeding on rats and pigeons and terrorizing old ladies. So, it wasn’t surprising to her that a pair of adventurous penguins has shown up in our little corner of the world.

Chinstrap penguins are the most numerous penguins in the world. It is estimated there are 12 to 13 million located on the barren islands of the sub-Antarctic Region and the Antarctic Peninsula. These penguins live and breed in large colonies. They are the boldest penguin and are most likely to fight other penguins. They get their name from the thin curved line of black feathers running under the chin. They stand about 28 inches (72 cm) tall and weigh about 9 to 14 lbs. (3.5 to 5 kg). The weight of the adults varies during the year.

The Director of Public Safety here in Duxbury, asked me to tell the public that the extreme rarity of these birds necessitates her closing Duxbury Beach until such time that the penguins hatch and fledge their young. I implored her to consider how curious our residents are certain to be to see these comic and interesting birds and she finally arranged a system that will ensure that we can all observe the life cycle of a Chinstrap Penguin without endangering the animals. Here is the compromise. Those Duxburyites who wish to see these amazing birds should go to the beach exactly 2 hours following sunset on April 2nd through April 8th. Trying to be as quiet as possible and carrying a flashlight shielded with red paper (ultrascarlet rays are invisible to penguins), wait quietly at the beach end of the bridge. The penguins typically walk northward on the beach, under the bridge to feed on the plankton on the bay side of the beach. All of their activity is, of course, at night. Be very quiet and at no time make any attempt to get close to the birds. Frightening the penguins can cause them to fight with each other and even to attack the babies. There will be State Police keeping order from sunset to sunrise until the birds leave.

We are honored to have these amazing birds visit our corner of the world, let’s all show a little respect!

Happy April 1st.