Sidney and Bette are “expecting.” Today may be the day.

Sidney and Bette are African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), members of a critically endangered species that lives in a colony at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.  The birds nest in burrows or under bushes so the Aviary has provided a special cubbyhole for the pair that’s equipped with a nestcam so we all can watch.

Here’s the action up to now, described by the National Aviary:

Penguin parents, Sidney and Bette, laid two eggs on November 7th and 11th. The first egg is expected to hatch between December 14 and 18, and the second egg is expected to hatch between December 18 and 22. If all goes well, the chicks will eventually join the National Aviary’s current colony of 20 African Penguins. This is the fourth set of chicks for Sidney and Bette who have had 6 chicks together at the National Aviary (not including these two)!

It’s quite a privilege to watch African penguins nesting.  There used to be 4 million of them in 1800 but now there are less than 25,000 pairs in the wild.  When these eggs hatch they’ll be a significant addition to the population.

Click here or on the screenshot above to watch the African Penguin Nestcam at the National Aviary.

Will today be the day?  Only Sidney and Bette know for sure.

UPDATE on Dec 17: First egg hatched on Sat December 16.  One more egg to go.

UPDATE on Dec 20: Second egg hatched today. Two cute penguin chicks!

(screenshot from the African Penguin nestcam at the National Aviary)