A Biologist’s Christmas: Working with Penguins Means No Time Off, Even on Holidays
For Sparks Perkins, Christmas doesn’t mean presents, festive meals, or time off. Instead, it means a day spent tending to the needs of his feathered charges: African penguins at the California Academy of Sciences’ Steinhart Aquarium. As a biologist, Perkins is part of the essential workforce, ensuring the well-being of the aquarium’s 50 or so penguins, a responsibility that knows no holidays. This Christmas, just like many others, will be a day of beak trims, fish gutting, and penguin care, a reality Perkins embraces with a love for his work.
Key Takeaways:
- No Time For Festive Cheer: Biologists, like Sparks Perkins, are essential workers, even during holidays. Their dedication to animal welfare means they are on duty, ensuring the health and happiness of creatures under their care.
- Penguin Life: A Daily Soap Opera: Penguins, despite their often-perceived stoicism, have dynamic personalities. From cheeky antics to unexpected romantic pairings, they exhibit a wide range of behaviors for those lucky enough to work with them.
- Beyond the Glass: Enrichment is Key: Aquariums play a crucial role in animal welfare, providing stimulating environments and enriching experiences. This goes beyond just providing food and shelter, including activities like bubble play, laser pointer games, and even playing penguin sounds over an iPad.
- A Passion for Birds: Perkins’ love for birds began at age three and continues to this day. His dedication to the welfare of these fascinating creatures is reflected in his daily work and his involvement in conservation efforts in South Africa.
A Life Dedicated to Birds
Perkins describes his work as a daily soap opera, with each penguin having their own distinct personality, quirks, and even romantic dramas. "Some have wandering eyes. They’ll wander off for a little fling and then come right back," he describes. He recounts the time two male Magellanic penguins formed a bond, creating a "fabulous nest" and demonstrating their natural design skills. Perkins’ passion for birds is deeply rooted, starting with a parakeet gifted to him at the tender age of three. His upbringing was filled with avian companions, including macaws, lovebirds, and even ornamental pigeons. He recalls fondly his days as a 14-year-old, where instead of playing sports, he built aviaries and cared for up to 70 birds.
The Arrival of the Hatchlings:
The Steinhart Aquarium recently welcomed two African penguin hatchlings, adding further responsibility to Perkins’ already demanding schedule. "Every morning, Mr. Perkins lifts each chick from its nesting box, places it on a tiny scale and logs an adorable number of grams." These delicate chicks, barely able to stand, are a testament to the aquarium’s commitment to preserving endangered species. While they might appear clumsy and inept, these chicks are quickly gaining weight and growing stronger. Perkins and his team create stimulating environments for the penguins, utilizing tools like laser pointers, bubbles, and penguin calls from an iPad.
The Importance of Connection:
The aquarium staff goes above and beyond to provide enrichment for their charges. Even during the peak of the pandemic, when visitors were absent, staff performed yoga sessions for the penguins’ viewing pleasure, recognizing the importance of social interaction for their well-being. Perkins sees the connection between these captivating creatures and the visitors who come to observe them as further enrichment for the penguins, providing a sense of natural interaction that mirrors their lives in the wild.
A Different Kind of Holiday
This Christmas, Perkins and his colleagues will find creative ways to make the day special, despite the absence of typical holiday celebrations. They understand that "they’re not turtle doves or partridges in a pear tree, but they’re family." While Christmas may not be spent with family and friends in the traditional sense, Perkins and his team find solace in the bond they share with their avian wards, knowing that their dedication is making a difference in the lives of these fascinating creatures.
