A mirror helps a lonely penguin

@JudyEv (381837)
Rockingham, Australia
March 31, 2026 10:11pm CST
We used to live in Esperance on Western Australia’s south coast. The French word Esperance means 'hope'. A few days ago, a king penguin was seen on nearby Quagi Beach, more than 4,000 kms from its normal habitat. King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) are the second-largest of the species and live in ice-free parts of the sub-Antarctic region, which includes McDonald, Macquarie and Heard Islands. In 2025, bird flu was detected on Heard Island. Thankfully all swabs taken from Hope returned negative. Hope was underweight when she was taken in. It’s believed Hope came ashore to moult. Penguins undergo a ‘catastrophic moult’ and need to be on land when this occurs. Before the moult, penguins eat as much as possible to put on weight. It then has to hang around on dry land for a month till the moulting process is complete. Hope is now eating a kilogram of fish a day. She will be released when she has finished her moult. Meanwhile, a mirror has been placed in Hope’s enclosure so she won’t feel so lonely. Wikimedia photo courtesy: Grendelkhan
11 people like this
11 responses
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86583)
• United States
1 Apr
Don't you just LOVE the people who study wildlife, know their habits like this, and are so willing to help them out?! I hope "Hope" doesn't get into an argument with her reflection!
5 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (34935)
• United Kingdom
1 Apr
@JudyEv Me too. I had to move a mirror I had in the garden because a blackbird was spending all his time attacking his reflection, I was afraid he'd wear himself out! And all his activity trampled the plants that were in front of it.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
@Fleura We had a crow that would peck at his reflection in a French door. There was a fly screen door as well and he eventually made holes in it and would draw blood.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
I have so many questions about this. Does she think the other penguin is very stand-offish and/or uncommunicative? I guess we'll never know - but what a clever idea.
3 people like this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Apr
Nice to know that a penguin has a new lease on life.
5 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
Once it has all its feathers again it will be released back into the ocean.
2 people like this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Apr
@JudyEv That is good news.
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208772)
• United States
1 Apr
This discussion reminds me of a bird that used to visit one of the feeders I had. It was built of a hard plastic and had a reflective surface. One of the birds that visited used to gaze at his reflection in the feeder all the time. I suppose he thought it was another bird..or he liked admiring his reflection...What a handsome fellow I am!
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208772)
• United States
2 Apr
@JudyEv What a strange bird all it does is stand there, he thought.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr
He might have been wondering why the other bird didn't seem interested in him - or maybe he thought it was! lol
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148720)
• Roseburg, Oregon
1 Apr
I am glad the mirror is there so she will not feel lonely.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
It seems a very good idea to me.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34935)
• United Kingdom
1 Apr
Gosh that's a long way from home! I wonder how she came to be there?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
They have the occasional penguin that seems to get blown off-course and ends up on that coast. I think it is the first king penguin.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Apr
I'm glad Hope is doing well and has a mirror to help with the loneliness.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Apr
@JudyEv It is clever.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr
I thought it was a very clever idea.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502207)
• Italy
1 Apr
Poor Hope, it has been a great idea to place mirror in her enclosure, may be she is going to eat with more appetite and she may be soon released.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502207)
• Italy
2 Apr
@JudyEv - They are taking good care of hope.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr
Once she has all her feathers again and is a healthy weight, she will be released.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174281)
• United States
1 Apr
I'm glad people could help her.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174281)
• United States
2 Apr
@JudyEv That's good, then.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr
She was lucky that were campers there who contacted the wildlife service. It's quite a deserted area.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Apr
I hope she can be returned soon.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
Once her moult has finished and she has fattened up, she'll be released. Maybe they'll take her out to sea by boat and let her go.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
2 Apr
Aww. I'm so glad Hope is getting some good care.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Apr
She is a lucky penguin.
1 person likes this
Jehanne
@Jehanne (1832)
• Philippines
1 Apr
Hopefully, Hope will be reunited with other penguins soon
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr
She will be pleased to get back to her own.
1 person likes this