Are you starved for live bird activity on your computer? Do you miss the peregrine webcams?
Well, here’s something to pique your interest while you wait for spring. The National Aviary has installed a Penguin Cam at their African penguin exhibit.
If you haven’t met these penguins yet you’ll soon find out they’re photogenic, sociable and cute.
Because their native climate in South Africa is similar to Pittsburgh’s the penguins live outdoors with glass viewing areas for visitors. The clear cylinder at the back of the image is one such viewing area so don’t be surprised if you see a person in it. There’s no sound on the video but you can watch the penguins all night because infrared light illuminates the scene.
If you’re familiar with the Aviary’s peregrine falconcams, you’ll notice the Penguin Cam is similar but better than ever. PixController helped set it up, Wildearth.TV is streaming, and the new equipment behind the scenes is more reliable. The picture is sharper, the colors brighter and the image is much less likely to freeze. It’s such a good arrangement that this equipment is planned for the falconcams next spring.
Check out the Penguin Cam. Try out the new chat. Click on the image above to watch the action.
After you meet the penguins online I’m sure you’ll want to see them in person at the National Aviary.
(screenshot of the National Aviary’s Penguin Cam)
p.s. Scroll down the Penguin Cam webpage to learn more about African penguins and see a short video.
New falcon cams!!! Can’t wait!
Of course, the penguins are adorable. I highly recommend visiting the Aviary… it’s better than ever!
You know what I like about you? You’re always helping us learn new and exciting things. I never knew there was a National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Is it at the Zoo? We live about 90 miles away but are always up for a good drive and exhibits. Love the Leafy sea dragons, are the Penguins in the same place? Thank You Kate for making my mornings brighter. One of the first places I go to see what is going on. Keep up the good work!!!
Kat, Pittsburgh has a Zoo *and* an Aviary. Two places to visit! Click on the National Aviary link in my blog (aviary.org) for more information on when & where to visit.
Information on the Pittsburgh Zoo is at http://www.pittsburghzoo.org.
Another live cam is so exciting! Thanks to the Aviary for doing this.
And thank you Kate, for telling us all about it!
It will be great to have better quality and more reliability with the falcon cams in 2011!
I checked out the penguin cam before daylight. It was snowing there in Pittsburgh and looked so pretty, with the penguins walking around. Just like the song that is on the radio right now, “Sleigh Ride!”
I have a friend who is a volunteer at the Aviary, and she gave us a behind the scenes tour when my daughter was thinking of volunteering there. Until this new exhibit was built, the penguins weren’t on permanent display, just brought out from their enclosures a couple of times a day for public encounters. It’s really great that they can be seen all of the time now, and much more close up than the Antarctic penguins at the Zoo since they are warm weather penguins.
Just another note…I can’t play the Aviary streaming video on my computer at work..I think that perhaps my employer is blocking the domain. I was able to view the falcon cam sporadically this year, but now I have a feeling I won’t be able to watch it at all next year. In some ways, I miss the lower tech broadcasting because it didn’t take up enough bandwidth for employers to care and it didn’t involve watching commercials. I know it has to be paid for somehow though….
Kate is great! Kate is great!!! Your fan club thanks you once again!
Kate is great for sure!!! Maybe she could autograph peregrine egg shells or pigeon feathers (from leftovers). It is a wonderful thing for sure we all share and she is the thread that hangs us all together.
Thanks for the vote of confidence but don’t give me any credit for the Pengiun cam! The Aviary is really innovative and was already testing the Penguin Cam before I asked about the falconcams. Needless to say I am very pleased the falconcams will be using this new technology.
Check out the Penguin Cam at feeding time and you’ll see Aviary staff on camera and get a sense of just how small these penguins are!