San Diego Penguin Cam
March 6, 2012 1:17 PM Subscribe
Featuring nearly 300 penguins, San Diego's PenguinCam provides hours of entertainment during March and April.
I love this. I also want somebody offering subtitled translations for the penguins. Mostly filled with ridiculously corny old bits like the "How do you know I'm not wearing a tuxedo?" joke.
posted by .kobayashi. at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by .kobayashi. at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2012
Squee!
posted by Melismata at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 1:24 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Later this year, they'll be moving the cam down the street for 24-hour coverage of Comic-Con attendees in their natural habitat.
posted by evilmidnightbomberwhatbombsatmidnight at 1:31 PM on March 6, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by evilmidnightbomberwhatbombsatmidnight at 1:31 PM on March 6, 2012 [3 favorites]
HAWNK
posted by not_on_display at 1:31 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by not_on_display at 1:31 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Today I learned that penguins are mammalian vuvuzelas.
On preview: I think one of them just flipped me off.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:34 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
On preview: I think one of them just flipped me off.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:34 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
penguins are mammalian vuvuzelas
....Um...
I think one of them just flipped me off.
I kept getting one guy camera-bombing his buddies.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:36 PM on March 6, 2012
....Um...
I think one of them just flipped me off.
I kept getting one guy camera-bombing his buddies.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:36 PM on March 6, 2012
penguins are mammalian vuvuzelas
Taxonomy HONK!
posted by cromagnon at 1:36 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Taxonomy HONK!
posted by cromagnon at 1:36 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Birds...? They are BIRDS?! But she said she was a proud mammal and that our babies would look beautiful and she didn't like eggs too. i am such a fool why have you forsaken me linnaeus
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:53 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:53 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I was watching this last night and all the penguins and at the top of the hour I could hear a person saying hello to the penguins. She must have had food because all the penguins started making a ruckus (except a few in the foreground that were trying to sleep). Right now, most are pretty quiet compared to the party last night.
As a birdherder (but not your birdherder and this is not bird herding advice) I can say that penguins are the avian vuvuzelas.
posted by birdherder at 1:57 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
As a birdherder (but not your birdherder and this is not bird herding advice) I can say that penguins are the avian vuvuzelas.
posted by birdherder at 1:57 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
so penguins spend all day standing around squawking at people?
I can relate
posted by The Whelk at 2:00 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
I can relate
posted by The Whelk at 2:00 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Adelie!
posted by New England Cultist at 2:05 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by New England Cultist at 2:05 PM on March 6, 2012
I feel an odd sense of peace. I could work out to this webcam -- just half an hour of penguins blankly wandering around. Squawkin' at stuff. Maybe pooping, who knows. The day is ours. Why is this so relaxing? I'd be creeped out if I weren't so zen right now.
posted by harperpitt at 2:05 PM on March 6, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by harperpitt at 2:05 PM on March 6, 2012 [7 favorites]
So, it's come to this. sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras is required to download Flash player to watch the PENGUIN cam.
posted by thewalrus at 2:12 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by thewalrus at 2:12 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
Too bad about the shit on the lens.
posted by crunchland at 2:17 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by crunchland at 2:17 PM on March 6, 2012
Too bad about the shit on the lens.
Penguin Moderator! One of your flightless birds is ruining a metafilter thread.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 2:24 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Penguin Moderator! One of your flightless birds is ruining a metafilter thread.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 2:24 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I can't believe San Diego got a Penguin Cam before Gotham City. Would have prevented a whole bunch of Arkham breakouts.
posted by PlusDistance at 2:28 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 2:28 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm waiting for a compressed Bender in a tux to walk by.
posted by stratastar at 2:30 PM on March 6, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by stratastar at 2:30 PM on March 6, 2012 [3 favorites]
To be a penguin moderator, all one needs is a bucket of fish.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:37 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:37 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm on hold with Apple support which is pissing me off. I have to say that the penguins are the only think keeping me from flying into a rage.
posted by cjorgensen at 2:38 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by cjorgensen at 2:38 PM on March 6, 2012
> Foci for Analysis
> I think one of them just flipped me off.
It's a rare sight to see a bird flipping the bird to someone :-)
(some context - penguins are the network admins for that company)
posted by egor83 at 2:54 PM on March 6, 2012
> I think one of them just flipped me off.
It's a rare sight to see a bird flipping the bird to someone :-)
(some context - penguins are the network admins for that company)
posted by egor83 at 2:54 PM on March 6, 2012
Just be thankful they haven't figured out a way to transmit smell over the internet yet, 'cause there's definitely an aroma in that building.
posted by LionIndex at 2:59 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by LionIndex at 2:59 PM on March 6, 2012
Why would you want to moderate penguins, anyway? They are so good the way they are, they are by nature moderate and reasonable birds
posted by clockzero at 3:00 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by clockzero at 3:00 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Who just saw the one penguin chasing the other penguin around oh my god i might die from the cuteness
posted by dismas at 3:01 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by dismas at 3:01 PM on March 6, 2012
The only way this could be cuter is if there were baby penguins wobbling around. But it's pretty damn cute as it is.
posted by andrewesque at 3:06 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by andrewesque at 3:06 PM on March 6, 2012
Too bad about the shit on the lens.
The staff are actually pretty good about wiping down the camera enclosure. I've been watching this for a few days and it's rarely this dirty...And I see on preview they've wiped it off while I typed this.
It's been really interesting to see how much effort goes into maintaining the enclosure. That dirty, poopy snow they're walking on was pristine about six hours ago. They'd hosed that area down to bare concrete, then resprayed new snow (which the penguins seemed to enjoy).
Feeding time is also pretty cool. The keepers bring out buckets of fish and fling handfuls of them into the water, then hand-feed the younger ones. They do it several times a day; I'm not sure if they're on a set schedule, but I've seen a few feedings in the morning (9-11ish Pacific Time) so I'd recommend watching during that time if you want to catch one.
posted by stefanie at 3:08 PM on March 6, 2012
The staff are actually pretty good about wiping down the camera enclosure. I've been watching this for a few days and it's rarely this dirty...And I see on preview they've wiped it off while I typed this.
It's been really interesting to see how much effort goes into maintaining the enclosure. That dirty, poopy snow they're walking on was pristine about six hours ago. They'd hosed that area down to bare concrete, then resprayed new snow (which the penguins seemed to enjoy).
Feeding time is also pretty cool. The keepers bring out buckets of fish and fling handfuls of them into the water, then hand-feed the younger ones. They do it several times a day; I'm not sure if they're on a set schedule, but I've seen a few feedings in the morning (9-11ish Pacific Time) so I'd recommend watching during that time if you want to catch one.
posted by stefanie at 3:08 PM on March 6, 2012
Best. Thing. Ever.
posted by ciderwoman at 3:11 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by ciderwoman at 3:11 PM on March 6, 2012
The random penguin slap fight was an awesome thing to behold. I just got to work, and that's the first thing I saw. You've a) made my day, and b) made it nearly impossible for me to get any work done today.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:11 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 3:11 PM on March 6, 2012
This is what the inter-tubes was created
for ... anybody else find themselves making up dialogue for them in your head?
posted by cdalight at 3:12 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
for ... anybody else find themselves making up dialogue for them in your head?
posted by cdalight at 3:12 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wondered why I was only seeing a blurry fuzz and then I saw a big PENGUIN EYE
meow meow stare into the abyss meow meow meow
posted by louche mustachio at 3:16 PM on March 6, 2012
meow meow stare into the abyss meow meow meow
posted by louche mustachio at 3:16 PM on March 6, 2012
I bet this camera is meant to prevent more "penguin in the pants" incidents.
posted by mullacc at 3:19 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by mullacc at 3:19 PM on March 6, 2012
A TALL PENGUIN WEARING YELLOW PANTS AND A RED WINDBREAKER APPEARS
The other penguins seem very excited to see him. He must be their king.
posted by louche mustachio at 3:19 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
The other penguins seem very excited to see him. He must be their king.
posted by louche mustachio at 3:19 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
Why is this so damn hypnotic? I love the sound... And they just wiped the poop off the glass!
I just heard 4 part harmony squawks!
posted by njohnson23 at 3:25 PM on March 6, 2012
I just heard 4 part harmony squawks!
posted by njohnson23 at 3:25 PM on March 6, 2012
I've turned the audio off so I can run PingCam as a screensaver.
posted by subbes at 3:44 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by subbes at 3:44 PM on March 6, 2012
Why are some of the pings wearing mardi gras beads on their flippers?
posted by subbes at 3:46 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by subbes at 3:46 PM on March 6, 2012
Why are some of the pings wearing mardi gras beads on their flippers? --- Epaulets.
posted by crunchland at 3:58 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by crunchland at 3:58 PM on March 6, 2012
My second monitor is now showing PenguinTV. This is awesome.
posted by cgg at 4:01 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by cgg at 4:01 PM on March 6, 2012
Logocam, with hint of penguin!
posted by George_Spiggott at 4:02 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by George_Spiggott at 4:02 PM on March 6, 2012
And I'm amazed that nobody's asked "What's on the television then?"
posted by George_Spiggott at 4:05 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by George_Spiggott at 4:05 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
That one Gentoo penguin is a total attention whore.
Yes, I had to look it up because seriously dude is all up in my face. Like, "I'm not here to make friends. I am here to win," and everyone else is like 'Whatever, bitch go back to the Falklands cuz you ain't all that."
posted by louche mustachio at 4:15 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yes, I had to look it up because seriously dude is all up in my face. Like, "I'm not here to make friends. I am here to win," and everyone else is like 'Whatever, bitch go back to the Falklands cuz you ain't all that."
posted by louche mustachio at 4:15 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I love this so much
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:21 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:21 PM on March 6, 2012
Strange that they decided to put this exhibit right next to the "guys riding motorcycles with kazoos on the exhaust pipes" exhibit.
Still pretty damn awesome. Especially the photobombing dude.
posted by ShutterBun at 4:29 PM on March 6, 2012
Still pretty damn awesome. Especially the photobombing dude.
posted by ShutterBun at 4:29 PM on March 6, 2012
THERE IS A MAN IN THE ENCLOSURE
REPEAT, THERE IS A MAN IN THE ENCLOSURE
posted by subbes at 4:43 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
REPEAT, THERE IS A MAN IN THE ENCLOSURE
posted by subbes at 4:43 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I watched this for 30 minutes before I came to my senses. Very hypnotic and mellowing. I love the big penguin who keeps randomly walking behind other penguins who are very engrossed in grooming, and 'bumps' into them until they move away with a confused look. That must be the socially awkward penguin.
posted by UseyurBrain at 4:52 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by UseyurBrain at 4:52 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
If the internet consisted of nothing but this, it would still be worth the effort.
posted by ShutterBun at 4:53 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by ShutterBun at 4:53 PM on March 6, 2012
Coming to your senses is over-rated. I LOVE this...
posted by cdalight at 5:02 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by cdalight at 5:02 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's like Penguin Recess in there. There's the seniors all standing around being cool, smoking and being all "whatevs" while all the underclassmen are spazzing out, running around the open area and then "WTF? Is that Weird Harold? what is he doing by the cammera? Dude, your nose is like, FUCKED UP. OMG, Harold, you're lying down in poop! GROSS! Jeez, what a f'n weirdo, amirite?
posted by KingEdRa at 5:21 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by KingEdRa at 5:21 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
"♫ Arm band! I got an arm band here! ♫ Arm baaaaaand! ♪"
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:25 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:25 PM on March 6, 2012
I think it's feeding time, the lady just squealed HI GUYS. and many penguins hooted enthusiastically.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:31 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:31 PM on March 6, 2012
They don't seem at all bothered by the crew walking
around. I wonder what they would do if a pantomime
polar bear wandered in?
posted by quazichimp at 5:34 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
around. I wonder what they would do if a pantomime
polar bear wandered in?
posted by quazichimp at 5:34 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have a video about inclusive education due tomorrow and am extremely tempted to just dub over some of this footage.
posted by sarae at 5:36 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by sarae at 5:36 PM on March 6, 2012
It looks as though the Donald Trump comb over has
caught on with a few of them.
posted by quazichimp at 5:37 PM on March 6, 2012
caught on with a few of them.
posted by quazichimp at 5:37 PM on March 6, 2012
I just found out why they call them Jackass Penguins: They sound like jackasses!
This leads me to conclude that the rest of the habitat consists of Elephant Penguins, Goat Penguins, Formula One Penguins, Chewbacca Penguins, and Live Chicken Being Put Through A Meat Grinder Penguins.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:40 PM on March 6, 2012 [5 favorites]
This leads me to conclude that the rest of the habitat consists of Elephant Penguins, Goat Penguins, Formula One Penguins, Chewbacca Penguins, and Live Chicken Being Put Through A Meat Grinder Penguins.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:40 PM on March 6, 2012 [5 favorites]
They keep looking or poking at the camera... does the guy who fixes/cleans the camera happen to also be the man who delivers the fish in a bucket?
Does he happen to clean the camera without washing his hands?
posted by Slackermagee at 6:15 PM on March 6, 2012
Does he happen to clean the camera without washing his hands?
posted by Slackermagee at 6:15 PM on March 6, 2012
This. is. so. addictive.
I have a GoToMeeting with some clients tomorrow and I am going to ask them to let me share my desktop and spring this on them. Hee.
posted by madamjujujive at 7:03 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have a GoToMeeting with some clients tomorrow and I am going to ask them to let me share my desktop and spring this on them. Hee.
posted by madamjujujive at 7:03 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
This absolutely makes up for the horrifying spider pictures five or so threads above.
posted by spitefulcrow at 8:39 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by spitefulcrow at 8:39 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
March (and April) of the Penguins
posted by ShutterBun at 10:42 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by ShutterBun at 10:42 PM on March 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
Am I the only one that imagines a facehugger erupting out of one of these guys? (Oh, wait... look at that little guy, waddling away... squee!)
posted by SPrintF at 10:58 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by SPrintF at 10:58 PM on March 6, 2012
Oh geez. Just watching them sleep with their heads off to the side/back is making my neck hurt.
posted by deborah at 12:47 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by deborah at 12:47 AM on March 7, 2012
Who's with me about starting up a petition now ~ for them to never, ever, ever take this away?
posted by cdalight at 6:45 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by cdalight at 6:45 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
OMGHAHAHAHAHAHAHAOMG. Thank you thank you. I can't wait to show this to my daughter!
posted by tr33hggr at 7:28 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by tr33hggr at 7:28 AM on March 7, 2012
"LOOK AT MY BEAK. LOOK AT IT."
posted by tr33hggr at 7:45 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by tr33hggr at 7:45 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is far better than the Apple announcement.
No thank you Apple, we already have retina screens. Of penguins' eyes!
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 3:25 PM on March 7, 2012
No thank you Apple, we already have retina screens. Of penguins' eyes!
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 3:25 PM on March 7, 2012
Ugh. Apparently I'm almost OCD when it comes to shit on the lens. I CAN'T STAND IT.
posted by crunchland at 4:00 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by crunchland at 4:00 PM on March 7, 2012
Just made this my default homepage for the next two months.
posted by OsoMeaty at 6:18 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by OsoMeaty at 6:18 PM on March 7, 2012
I've put this on fullscreen on the hallway computer where I work; it's been there for the past three days. WIN.
posted by not_on_display at 9:20 AM on March 9, 2012
posted by not_on_display at 9:20 AM on March 9, 2012
The camera is offline - and I'm breaking out in hives ..........
posted by cdalight at 1:12 PM on March 9, 2012
posted by cdalight at 1:12 PM on March 9, 2012
Who's with me about starting up a petition now ~ for them to never, ever, ever take this away?
posted by cdalight at 8:45 on March 7
According to the exhibit web page the entire enclosure goes dark in the summer, to mimic the lack of light in the Antarctic, and signal when its breeding time. Also, we're seeing a fraction of the exhibit, but I can't tell how much.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:41 PM on March 11, 2012
posted by cdalight at 8:45 on March 7
According to the exhibit web page the entire enclosure goes dark in the summer, to mimic the lack of light in the Antarctic, and signal when its breeding time. Also, we're seeing a fraction of the exhibit, but I can't tell how much.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:41 PM on March 11, 2012
THE PENGUIN CAM IS NOW SHOWING THEM UNDERWATER AND SWIMMING YAY
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:55 AM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:55 AM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
« Older Rub a greased palm along the bottom | Help, I've Cut Myself & I Want to Save a Life Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by jquinby at 1:23 PM on March 6, 2012