Why little penguins can’t fly, but swim like torpedoes
Little penguins traded flight for speed underwater. Here’s why Eudyptula minor’s wings evolved into flippers built for swimming, not flying.
How deep do little penguins dive, and how do they hunt?
Little penguin diving depth and duration explained: how Eudyptula minor hunts small fish and squid beneath Port Phillip Bay before returning to St Kilda.
How far St Kilda’s penguins swim in a single night at sea
St Kilda penguin foraging trips can cover surprising distances each night. Here’s what’s actually known about how far they swim to feed.
Why almost no penguins actually breed on mainland Australia
Of 17-18 penguin species worldwide, only the little penguin breeds on mainland Australia. Here’s why, and what it means for the St Kilda colony.
How St Kilda’s penguins waterproof feathers, and why oil is fatal
Penguin waterproofing relies on preening and a single oil gland. Learn why marine oil spills are so lethal to St Kilda’s little penguin colony.
Heatwaves are the new threat St Kilda’s penguins can’t outswim
Climate-driven heatwaves are a growing risk for St Kilda’s little penguins, an urban colony with a fixed rock wall and nowhere cooler to go.
How researchers tell St Kilda’s penguins apart for banding
How volunteer penguin banding at St Kilda works, and how researchers tell individual little penguins apart across years of monitoring.
How a St Kilda penguin finds its own nest cavity in the dark
How does a little penguin find its own nest cavity among hundreds at St Kilda? Smell, memory and calls all play a part after dark on the breakwater.
Why off-leash dogs are the biggest threat to St Kilda’s penguins
Off-leash dogs are one of the biggest threats to St Kilda’s little penguins. Here’s why a lead-free minute on the breakwater can undo a season’s work.
Boat traffic and propeller strike risk at the St Kilda breakwater
St Kilda’s little penguins share a working harbour with constant boat traffic. Here’s what propeller strike risk actually means for the colony.
