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  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017004.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017031.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017020.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017017.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017009.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017022.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017015.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017032.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017025.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017010.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017005.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017002.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017027.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017023.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017019.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017016.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017012.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017011.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017008.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017007.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017001.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017030.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017029.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017024.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017021.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017013.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017006.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017003.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017028.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017026.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017018.jpg
  • Recently hatched cygnets with their parents at the boating pond in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland<br />
<br />
(c) Andrew Wilson | Edinburgh Elite media
    EEm_Swans_and_Cygnets_AW25052017014.jpg
  • Safety precations taking place at Dynamic Earth  ahead of the anticipated arrival of Storm Bernard in Edinburgh.<br />
<br />
(c) Ger Harley:L EEm
    SCT_EEm__Safety_First_Dynamic_Earth_...jpg
  • Safety precations taking place at Dynamic Earth  ahead of the anticipated arrival of Storm Bernard in Edinburgh.<br />
<br />
(c) Ger Harley:L EEm
    SCT_EEm__Safety_First_Dynamic_Earth_...jpg
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG
  • Whilst the world of modern dating can be complicated – whether to swipe left or right, where to go on your first date and so on – life for the gentoo penguins at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is thankfully a lot simpler. A kind gesture with a pretty pebble goes a long way.<br />
 <br />
Spring is in the air and for the team at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo that means placing the penguin nest rings and pebbles into Penguins Rock to kick start the annual breeding season. It is a noisy and lively time at the Zoo, as the penguins dash towards a mound of perfectly smooth pebbles to find the perfect one to woo their mate with.<br />
 <br />
Choosing a pebble is much like choosing an engagement ring – it has to be perfect. The gentoo penguins are no exception and carefully select the prettiest and shiniest pebble to give to their mate. However, occasionally they may spot a better looking pebble in a neighbour’s nest and decide to take it for their own, causing a few ruffled feathers!<br />
 <br />
Dawn Nicoll, Senior Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Penguin breeding season is one of our busiest times here at Edinburgh Zoo and one of the most exciting.<br />
 <br />
“After placing the nests and pebbles in Penguins Rock, it is fantastic to watch the gentoos pick out their favourite stone, find their mate and choose a nest together. It is quite common for gentoos to return to the same nest they have used year after year.”<br />
 <br />
Penguins typically court the same mate each breeding season but, contrary to popular belief, not all penguins mate for life. Same sex penguin partnerships are not uncommon and they tend to make great parents, as keepers will redistribute eggs from nests which have too many and give them to same-sex partnered penguins to rear.<br />
 <br />
After successfully finding a mate and filling the nest with shiny pebbles, the first eggs should start to appear in April, with the first chicks hatching in May after a 33 to 35-day incubation period. The penguin parents share the incubation and parenting duties and, when the
    SCT_EEm_Penquin_pebble_Picking_Edinb...JPG