Briny Bubbles
It’s common to see frozen stones, chunks of ice, and even a few eggs in the penguin exhibit at the Kovler Penguin/Seabird House. But a few times a year lucky visitors will see bubbles floating through the 40-degree air and penguins waddling after them.

“It’s enriching for the birds. It provides a physical activity that is out of the norm for them,” says bird keeper Kristin Dvorak, who bundles up, enters the craggy room and cracks opens her pink plastic bottle of bubbles—just like the ones kids use.

Two rockhopper penguins, Russ and Evey, are the most enthusiastic bubble poppers, chasing after the drifting spheres and piercing them with their stout beaks. Dvorak believes the enthusiasm is because these two are young—two and three years old respectively—and because they tend to play with other enrichment items,  such as ping-pong balls and ice cubes.

The other rockhoppers and a few chinstrap penguins show passing interest, while the larger king penguins remain motionless, watching the spectacle from a distance.

After a few minutes of play, Dvorak leaves the chilly exhibit, blowing bubbles on her way towards the door, with a pair of popping penguins waddling behind her.