Birch Aquarium welcomes five Little Blue Penguins during first hatch season

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The Birch Aquarium has completed its first penguin hatch season since the birds arrived in 2022.

This year, a total of five Little Blue Penguin chicks hatched during the months of January and February, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego said on its website.

“It's so exciting to introduce these juveniles to the colony as they are curious and adventurous and a delight to watch explore their new home through diving and socializing,” said Kayla Strate, Assistant Curator of Birds. “This is a huge milestone for Birch Aquarium as it's our first successful contribution to an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) avian breeding program.”

New Year's Day marked the first time ever a chick has hatched at the aquarium, according to officials. On Jan. 23 and Jan. 26, the two middle chicks hatched, while the two youngest chicks hatched on Feb. 18 and Feb. 20. Four of the chicks are male and the sex of the youngest one is still awaiting confirmation, the aquarium said.

The chicks first learned how to eat, socialize and swim during the first few months. Then, they joined the rest of the colony in the aquarium’s Penguin Care and Conservation Center, Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins, around the three-month mark.

According to Birch Aquarium, the five chicks can be identified by their colorful wing bands: white/white, blue/green, black/black, orange/yellow and yellow/brown.