Penguin Awareness Day is not to be confused with "World Penguin Day", though it was established for similar reasons - to highten public awareness of the 17 species of birds, all native to the southern hemisphere, and the threats the species face. Antarctica is breeding ground to six species of these delightful, vertically statured birds, including: Emperor, King, Chinstrap, Adelie, Gentoo and Macaroni. Most penguins are monogamous and are highly social, gathering in large groups to mate and rear young. To aid partners in locating each other, individual birds have distinct calls. Penguins generally lay one or two eggs per mating season. Of the 17 recognized living species, 11 have been listed as either Vulnerable or Endangered.
