Hi readers, my name is Morgan Blickley, and I am a senior student at Cedar Crest College. I am a double major in Biology and Writing with a minor in chemistry and a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. This blog is part of an assignment for my Digital Journalism class.
So, why penguins? Well, African penguins are my research animal, so I know a lot (actually, too much) about them. For the last four years, I have conducted two observational studies on the penguin colony at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
My first project focuses on how the colony dynamic changes when a new penguin chick is introduced. The study that I intend to use for my thesis examines seasonality, divorce rates, and performance of mating behaviors in captivity.
One of my hopes in writing this blog is that it raises awareness for this endangered species and sparks your interest in conservation efforts. I also want to provide you with free access to updates in the field by reporting on recent research that isn’t available to the general public.
Enjoy!
The Penguin Researcher 