Spring is in the air, and so is penguin nesting season!
Both species of penguins at Shedd are provided with nest-building materials like rocks, pieces of hose and lavender to mimic materials found in their native habitats for nesting season. Males will work to build nests to attract a female mate or to reinforce an existing bond.
Female rockhoppers will inspect the nests to choose their mate, so the males must carefully select the best rocks, carrying them back one-by-one in their beaks. But if a fellow male has an eye-catching rock already in his nest, the penguins may resort to stealing from others in the colony.