Forget pigeon racing...

I've often wondered what would win in a running race between a penguin and an ostrich. After viewing this video evidence, I have to say I'm still none the wiser. I should also point out that the whole 'ostriches sticking their heads in the sand when there scared' thing is a myth!

Penguin count

The National Geographic website, which is always a great source of intriguing wild bird stories, features a video about penguins in Argentina that is worth a look.

The short film shows how these microchipped birds are helping scientists by doing what comes naturally on the penguins' favorite 'highway' to the sea. 

Click to watch the video.

Water you scared of?

We all have our irrational fears. Some people are scared of the dark, some are petrified of spiders, and other can't stand heights. Personally, I'm not too bothered about heights. It's falling from them that I have a problem with. And then there is my lovely editor, Kim, who is scared I will write something libelous in this blog. Of course, I never would...

But spare a thought for 11-year-old Kentucky - the Humboldt penguin that is scared of water! Poor Kentucky simply looks on at Blackbrook Zoological Park, in Leek, Staffordshire, as his 23 pals splash around in their pool.

His fear of the water could be put down to him having lost a few of his feathers, according to keepers at the park. "He's had moulting problems most of his life," assistant birdkeeper Adam Stevenson explained.

"He's moulted quite badly and lost a lot more feathers than some of his friends," he said. "It's a bit too cold for him in the water so he spends all his time on the rocks just walking around."

The bitter cold winter we've been experiencing can't have done Kentucky's fear of the wet stuff any good. So, for his sake at least, I'm hoping for a nice toasty warm summer so he can get back to doing what penguins do best.