Penguin Chicks' First Molt
In Penguin Chicks' First Molt, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how the baby chicks experience their first molt as summer approaches. What other challenges await them in Antarctica and a changing planet? This video is excerpted from BBC’s Dynasties, a documentary that follows endangered species fighting for their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: What fraction of the chicks survived?
A: Two-thirds of the chicks survived.
Q: Why do penguin chicks molt?
A: The penguins molt to replace old feathers with new feathers and become waterproof or maintain their waterproofing.
Q: What may have happened to the one-third of chicks that did not survive?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may talk about chicks freezing or not having enough food to survive until summer.
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