The last fluff-balls

Penguin chicks are cute at any stage but when they are almost adult size but still all brown and downy, they look like soft toys and it is hard to imagine how they can transform into the timeless elegance of adults. It is the same with all penguins and so these are our last cute-and-fluffy photos of our Yellow-eyed penguin chicks for the season as they have started their transformation into looking like real penguins. Enjoy!

Their feathers really do feel like fur. Notice some hanging off its beak - lots of preening going on. The new feathers are on their way through the skin.

Hanging out in the forest.

These are the same four chicks that were having a sleep-over the other day. Still hanging out together!!

Solo chick - and the attention of two adults. Notice the distinctive black feathers on the adult's chest. That's dad! And he came to investigate what the chick found so interesting: a human!! with a black box that goes click!