Whether it’s splurging on flowers or preparing a delicious meal, everyone has their own way of impressing a potential partner.
But for these house-proud penguins, it’s all about having the fanciest bachelor pad.
As mating season approaches, Edinburgh Zoo’s gentoo penguins are busy tidying up their nests.
Using nest rings and a collection of pebbles provided by zookeepers, the male penguins have carefully chosen the perfect stones to attract their lover.
But there can be trouble in paradise, as the penguins often fight to get the best stones.
At Edinburgh Zoo, male gentoo penguins are busy collecting their favorite stones to try to win over their ideal mate.
Gentoo penguins are native to Antarctica, so they can only build their nests with pebbles. This means that choosing the right pebble is key to finding a partner.
Edinburgh Zoo is home to the largest open-air penguin pool in Europe, with three different species and over 100 individuals.
A large number of them are gentoo penguins, a small species native to Antarctica.
In the wild, these characterful birds make their nests on rocky shores, where they collect smooth pebbles to build their nests.
And, just like humans, these penguins also get married by giving each other a nice shiny stone.
Male penguins will select the smoothest pebble in their nest to present to their potential mate.
If she thinks the offering is good enough, the female will take the stone and place it in the nest.
Male penguins will present females with the best pebble from their nest as a proposal
If the female penguin accepts the stone, she will take it and place it on the next one. The pair will then work together to build a nest, mate, and raise two eggs.
The pair will then work together to build a nest, where the female will lay two spherical eggs.
Gentoo penguins are devoted parents and often form lasting bonds.
During the 33 to 35 day incubation period, the parents will take turns keeping the egg warm while the other forages for food.
This year, the first eggs should be laid in April and we should see the first chicks starting to hatch in May.
After about three or four months, these chicks will be old enough to leave the nest and will join a large nursery of other chicks where they will learn to swim and feed.
This year, to help the penguins find their perfect match, Edinburgh Zoo has provided them with a collection of painted pebbles.
The rocks were painted by children supported by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital charity at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
This year, Edinburgh Zoo provided the penguins with colored stones painted by children from the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
Pebbles are very important to gentoo penguins because, in the wild, they would help them keep their eggs elevated above the ice and snow.
Penguins carefully choose pebbles that allow snow and water to drain off, ensuring the eggs stay warm and dry during their month-long incubation period.
But these pebbles are so important to the males’ chances of finding a mate that they sometimes lead to disputes.
On the frozen shores of Antarctica, it can be difficult to find materials to build nests.
Some penguins even dive to the seabed for pebbles, meaning it can take days, if not weeks, to build the right nest.
Faced with this titanic task, some penguins will turn to crime and try to steal the best stones from their rivals’ nests.
Criminal couples may even try to completely hijack another couple’s nest if they leave it unattended for too long.
Some penguins find it easier to turn to crime, stealing the best stones from their rivals’ nests to build their own.
Competition for the best pebbles is fierce and often causes neighborly fights among zoo residents.
But this is not just a matter of aesthetic choices or neighborly jealousy.
With no twigs, branches or leaves to build their nests, pebbles are all gentoo penguins can use to keep their eggs safe.
A solid pebble base keeps the egg elevated above frozen ground and snow, ensuring it can survive incubation.
Choosing the right pebbles means that water or snow can run off the nest rather than pooling on the surface.
This means that building a good, sturdy nest can make the difference between successfully raising a chick or the egg not hatching.
So while eggs are unlikely to freeze in the Scottish spring, scuffles and fights are very common among zoo residents as the breeding season approaches.