Sometimes, the best thing for a penguin is to go with the flow.
Magellanic penguins change their strategy for navigating home based on the strength of ocean currents, researchers report July 17 in PLOS Biology. In calm waters, penguins head almost straight back to their colony after fishing trips. But in strong currents, they follow the flow — increasing travel distance, but conserving energy.
From September to February, Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) live in South America, breeding in colonies along the coasts of Chile and Argentina. Adult penguins will travel over 100 kilometers in a single trip to find small fish, squid and shellfish to feed their chicks.