The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco wants to put penguins in your pocket.
“Pocket Penguins,” a new smartphone app released Tuesday, offers live views of the colony of 17 African Penguins at the academy, located in Golden Gate Park.
The app, which is free and available to both Apple iPhone and Google Android users, allows people to toggle between three different cameras in the exhibit to watch the birds 24 hours a day.
The African Penguins, an endangered species because of commercial fishing, oil spills and predation, are among the Academy of Sciences’ most popular exhibits, academy spokeswoman Helen Taylor said.
The new app is “a great opportunity for us to share the experience of watching them with a greater audience,” Taylor said.
The animals can be seen courting each other, establishing and defending territories, and collecting material for nests, Taylor said.
“As it gets closer to bedtime, they start to lie down, and during feeding time they can be more active,” she said.
People watching the live video feed on Thursday will get to see staff celebrate the fourth birthday of one of the penguins, Pete, during feeding times at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The video feed is also available on the academy’s website.
The apps can be downloaded via the iTunes Store or Android Market or at www.calacademy.org/apps/penguins. The webcam is also available online at www.calacademy.org/webcams/penguins.
Of course, visitors to the academy can also see the birds in person at its African Hall.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
