Posing penguins on postage stamps

For many families, the ski holiday is just around the corner again. And although you won't come across a single one in France, Switzerland, or Austria, when it comes to snow, I often think of penguinsActually a strange thought, because penguins are not only found at the South Pole. They also live in South Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and even on the Galapagos Islands. The island group in the Pacific Ocean near the equator, where turtle Harriet came from. Incidentally, we were able to admire Harriet regularly on television again last week, in connection with the Darwin Year. That island group is about the only similarity between giant tortoises and penguins that I can think of. They are special, mind you, such large tortoises, but also a bit dull and boring. We have a very different opinion about penguins. I asked some kids in my circle: 'What do you actually think of penguins?' The answers? 'Funny, nice, cute, sweet, super cool, and cheerful.' Personally, I call them endearing. The series of stamps below comes from the Falkland Islands. It looks as if these penguins, all of which are found on the Falkland Islands, posed especially for the photographers. Depicted on the stamps are: the King Penguin, the Gentoo Penguin, the Magellanic Penguin, the Rockhopper Penguin, the Macaroni Penguin, and the Albino Rockhopper Penguin.   Falkland Islands 2008 Two more series from the Falkland Islands:   Falkland Islands 1991   Falkland Islands 2002 The penguin is a bird that cannot fly. But it is an excellent swimmer. Thanks to the webbed feet between their toes, penguins are also fast. At speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour, they are true swimming champions. Their streamlined body shape makes it look just as if they are flying through the water. They can steer with their webbed feet.   Frans Antarctica 1953      Belgium 1971 Japan 1971 Most penguin species lay 2 (sometimes 3) eggs. The males and females take turns incubating. When a penguin is incubating, its entire weight rests on its toes. Once the chick has hatched, it is also fed by both parents. The chicks sometimes eat nearly 1 kilo of fish per hour. An Emperor penguin lays only one egg, which is incubated by the male. He holds the egg on his feet under a protective fold of skin. The females feed the chicks. The following stamps by Tristan da Cunha depict a brooding Rockhopper penguin. At least, I *think* it is a Rockhopper penguin, but it might also be a Gentoo penguin.   Tristan da Cunha 1974 Penguins can withstand the cold water well. They have a thick layer of subcutaneous fat and three layers of feathers. The outermost layer of feathers, the down, covers their body like a loose, irregular layer in which air is trapped. This is how the penguin keeps itself warm. In Antarctica, of course, that is also sorely needed. The photos on the stamps below illustrate this beautifully.   Brits Antarctica 2008   Brits Antarctica 2006 On land, penguins are slower than in the water. But in the snow, they can walk faster than humans. That looks very funny, of course—a fast waddling penguin like that. That waddling is because they actually walk on their hips. Strange but true, their hip joint is low to the ground, while their knee joint is much higher. They also often slide across the ground on their bellies, as shown on the following stamps from British Antarctica.   Brits Antarctica 1997 Penguins turn out to be quite popular. They also contribute to special days. Like recently on Valentine's Day. Lia posted one there. nice message about. And sometimes they are in the spotlight at Christmas too. British Antarctica issued a series of Christmas stamps in 1997 featuring cheerful penguins.   Brits Antarctica 1997 And when I look at the New Zealand stamp, on which two stand snugly side by side, I think, 'as far as I'm concerned, they can become much more popular'.   New Zealand 1988