🐧 Ep. 37: Penguins and the Amazing Birds That Fly Underwater (Animals for Kids)

Today we discover birds that don't fly through the sky—but instead fly through the water! In this episode we dive into the incredible world of penguins. If your family enjoys learning through a kids nature podcast, this episode is packed with fascinating discoveries, surprising science, and unforgettable animals for kids facts about one of God's most beloved birds.

One of the most surprising animals for kids facts is that not all penguins live in Antarctica. While Emperor Penguins are famous for surviving the freezing cold, many other penguin species live in South Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and even on the warm Galápagos Islands near the equator. Through nature exploration for kids, children will discover that God designed different penguin species to thrive in many different climates around the Southern Hemisphere.

In this educational kids podcast, listeners will learn that penguins are birds—but instead of flying through the air, they use their powerful flippers to "fly" through the water. Some penguins can swim over 20 miles per hour, making them incredibly fast underwater hunters. They use their streamlined bodies and strong flippers to chase fish, squid, and krill beneath the ocean's surface. These incredible animals for kids discoveries show how perfectly penguins are designed for life in the sea.

Children will also discover that penguins are amazing divers. Emperor Penguins can dive more than 1,800 feet below the surface and stay underwater for over 20 minutes before coming up for air. Special muscles help them store oxygen so they can make these incredible underwater journeys. These remarkable abilities make penguins some of the most impressive birds in nature life.

One of the most heartwarming animals for kids facts is how Emperor Penguin fathers care for their eggs. After the mother lays a single egg, she carefully passes it to the father. He balances the egg on top of his feet and keeps it warm under a special flap of skin called a brood pouch while standing through the harsh Antarctic winter for about two months. This incredible example of fatherhood and dedication is one of the most inspiring parenting stories in the animal kingdom.

Another fascinating discovery is that penguins sometimes travel across the ice by sliding on their bellies, a behavior called tobogganing. This helps them move faster while using less energy. Penguins also stay warm by huddling together in large groups, taking turns standing on the cold outside so every penguin gets a chance to warm up in the middle. These amazing kids animal discoveries demonstrate the importance of teamwork and caring for one another.

This family friendly nature show helps children and families discover God's amazing world through storytelling, science, and engaging nature facts that make learning exciting and memorable. Whether your child loves birds, ocean animals, or discovering amazing animals for kids, this episode is full of surprising facts they'll want to share with everyone.

With a gentle Christian perspective, this episode reminds listeners that God designed us to care for one another, just as penguins work together to survive. From fathers protecting their eggs to entire colonies huddling together against the cold, penguins remind us that love, teamwork, and serving others are woven throughout nature and God's creation.

Whether you're listening during homeschool science, enjoying a family road trip podcast, or winding down with bedtime nature stories, this penguin adventure is a fun and inspiring way to explore one of God's most remarkable birds.

If your child loves birds, ocean adventures, and discovering incredible animals for kids, this penguin episode is one they'll want to listen to again and again.

Send us an email (naturelovingkidspodcast@gmail.com) to say "hi" to the nature loving kids, request a birthday shoutout or recommend a fun animal or nature phenomenon to discuss on the show!

And if you liked our episode please leave a 5 Star Review and share with a friend!

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hey kids, we're doing something fun. What if you had the chance to be on the podcast? Here's what we're gonna do over the next month. Draw a picture of your favorite animal from any one of our episodes. Have your mom or dad send it to us at nature lovingkidspodcast at gmail.com. We will pick a winner and then you will get to record. The world is full of wild wonders and be on the podcast. So today's episode is July 29th. You have until August 30th to get your submissions in. So start drawing, send us those pictures, and who knows, you could be our next winner.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

This is a big chance, kids, so do your best. We will pick four winners. It's going to be so fun.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

What if I told you? Slides on its belly and carries its babies on its feet. Today we're meeting one of God's most amazing birds. I'm your host, Garrett Maroon, and before I introduce my three polar explorers, let me say a huge thank you. Thank you to Zion from Perth, Australia for giving us this week's topic. If you want to say hi to the Nature Loving Kids, get a birthday shout-out, suggest a topic, or send us a joke, please email us at Nature LovingKidsPodcast at gmail.com. And don't forget about the contest, keep those pictures coming. Now, introducing my three favorite polar explorers.

SPEAKER_00 2:25

Hi, I'm Hattie, and I always thought penguins were just funny looking birds. And I'm Dylan, and they waddle like they're wearing giant boots. And I'm Ivy, and I have 26 strokes.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Well, not quite that many, but today we are going to discover that penguins are also incredible athletes. Here's our first surprise. Not all penguins live in Antarctica.

unknown 2:54

What?

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Really? Where else do they live?

SPEAKER_01 2:57

Penguins actually live all across the southern hemisphere. Some live in Antarctica, but others live on beaches in South Africa, the rocky coasts of South America, Australia, New Zealand, and one species even lives near the equator on the Galapagos Islands.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Penguins at the equator?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Huh?

SPEAKER_00 3:18

I thought they needed snow.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Many people think that, but God designed different penguin species for different climates. Now you probably did know this. Penguins can't fly through the air, but they do something almost as amazing.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

They fly through the water. What do you mean?

SPEAKER_01 3:42

Their wings have become stiff flippers. Instead of lifting them into the sky, they push them through the water like powerful paddles. Some penguins can swim over 20 miles per hour.

unknown 3:55

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

They're underwater superheroes.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

That's a pretty good description.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Wanna know something fascinating? Yaa! Penguins are incredible divers. The Emperor Penguin can dive deeper than 1,800 feet. That's deeper than most buildings are tall.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Way deeper. Some can stay underwater for more than 20 minutes before coming up for air. How? God designed them with special muscles that store oxygen and help them use it very efficiently. Alright, penguin joke time. What do you got for us, kids?

SPEAKER_00 4:42

How does a penguin build a Lego house? How? It glues it together. What did the penguin say to the penguin that was next to him? What? Penguin, I got a joke for you. What's the eyeball? Hey parents, did you know my dad is a real estate agent and leads one of the largest Christian agent communities in the world? If you ever know someone wanting to buy or sell a home and wishing they could meet a Christian agent anywhere in the world, my dad can help. Just email us at Nature LovingKidsPodcast at gmail.com. And he'd be happy to get you in touch. Now back to the show.

SPEAKER_01 5:34

Now let's talk about one of the most amazing penguin facts. After the mother Emperor Penguin lays her egg, she carefully passes it to the father.

SPEAKER_00 5:44

Then what? The dad balances the egg on top of his feet and covers it with its warm up of skin called a brood pouch. Oh he stands there through freezing Antarctic winter storms for about two months while the mom travels to find food. That's incredible. He's protecting the baby the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

He sure is. Now, Dylan, have you ever seen a penguin slide across the ice? No. It's called tobogganing. Instead of walking, they sometimes slide on their bellies while pushing with their feet and flippers. It's actually faster and uses less energy.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

That's awesome! I'm gonna go slide on my belly right now.

SPEAKER_01 6:35

Now, Hattie, how do penguins stay warm in freezing temperatures?

SPEAKER_00 6:40

First, they have thick layers of fat. Second, their feathers are packed together so tightly that water can't easily reach their skin. And when it gets really cold, they huddle together in giant groups. Like one big penguin hug.

SPEAKER_01 6:57

Exactly. The penguins on the outside slowly move toward the middle so everyone gets a turn staying warm.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

That's so cute.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

One of my favorite things about penguins is how they help each other. The dads protect their eggs, the penguins huddle together to survive the cold. They remind us that God often designed his creation to work together.

SPEAKER_00 7:21

Kind of like how families help each other.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Exactly. God designed us to care for one another too. When we work together, everyone benefits. Alright. Time for one more joke break. Tell me some penguin jokes.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

What do penguins like to eat? What? Rita's. What do the penguin say to the building? And stretching. What? Wait, I'm gonna slide down that building before it crashes down like a bite herb. That's so confusing. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Think about this.

SPEAKER_00 8:03

A bird that can't fly dives deeper than most submarines, swims faster than many fish, slides across the ice, and carries its baby on its feet. Penguins are more amazing than I thought.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

They really are. The more we learn about penguins, the more we discover God's incredible creativity. Penguins aren't birds that failed to fly, they're birds that became amazing swimmers instead.

SPEAKER_00 8:34

From their underwater flight to their incredible parenting and teamwork, they remind us that God's creation is full of wonderful surprises.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Thanks for joining us on the Nature Loving Kids Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

If you like this episode, share with a friend. And remember, click the follow button. New episode every one. And keep jumping in those pictures. We'll click on four winners. Next one. Next time, five to one like one.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Until next time, take curious. Get outside and look.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

The world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

The world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

The world is full of wild wonders. The world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

Penguins aren't birds that failed to fly. They're birds that became amazing swimmers instead.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

From their underwater flight. From their underwater flight to their incredible parenting and teamwork. They remind us that God's creation is full of wonderful surprises. They remind us that God's creation is full of wonderful surprises. I have to do that again.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Thanks for joining us on the Nature Loving Kids podcast.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

If you like this episode, share with a friend. And remember, click the follow button. New episode every Wednesday. And keep sending in those pictures. We'll pick out four winners next. We'll pick out four winners next month. We'll pick out four winners soon. And keep sending in those pictures. We really love that.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Yeah, but not yet. Yeah. First say, and next time you see a penguin.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

And next time you see a penguin.

SPEAKER_01 12:16

Try to waddle like one.

SPEAKER_00 12:18

Try to waddle like one.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

It's really fun.

SPEAKER_00 12:21

It's really fun.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

No no no. Say, um I'm literally doing it right now.

SPEAKER_00 12:27

I'm literally doing it right now. And try to say, and and don't forget, the world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

Until next time, stay curious, get outside, and remember.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

The world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

The world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_00 12:49

The world is full of wild wonders.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

Alright, good job, babies.