BS: Penguins don't topple!!!

Subject: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: Troll
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 07:49 AM

Heres new light on an old thread. I know that this latest bit of information will ease the minds of all those who were concerned.Study: Penguins Do Not Topple Watching Aircraft

02/01/01

LONDON (Reuters) - Do penguins topple over when they peer into the sky watching planes and helicopters fly over?

Finally, a full blown scientific study has come up with the answer. They may waddle away in fright but they do NOT lose their balance and topple over.

Rumors of falling penguins have abounded since British plane and helicopter pilots returning from the 1982 Falklands War claimed their flights had toppled the earth-bound birds.

To settle the issue, a favorite of cartoonists and penguin jokes, environmental research scientist Richard Stone spent five weeks watching helicopters fly over two King Penguin colonies in the Antarctic, studying their effect on more than 1,000 birds.

"We saw birds moving away from the noise (of helicopters and planes)," he said. "Not a single bird fell over after 17 flights."

"As it (the helicopter) approached, the birds went quiet," he said. "They didn't appear to turn around and look."

Some birds waddled away from the helicopters. Others became quiet. A few minutes later, they waddled back.

"We don't know if it's the noise or the visual aspect -- whether it looks like a potential predator," Stone said.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 07:51 AM

Ah, but why spoil a good story with the facts, troll? Ha ha!

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: MMario
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 08:32 AM

obviously these penguins have been exposed to aircraft before and thus are blase about their flights. The study really should be done again using a flock of penguins which have been carefully reared without exposure to aircraft. *grin*

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 08:52 AM

Weebles wobble but they don't fall down.

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: GUEST,brian
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:31 AM

Radio 5 Live this morning said that a more useful project would be:-

Do people fall over when they see penguins fly?

Now there's a thought!

Brian

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: Grab
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:37 AM

But penguins don't have a spherical bottom, Sinsull. I know of what I speak... ;->

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: mousethief
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 11:45 AM

Unfortunately this is another case of studing oranges to prove apples aren't round.

The original story was not about helicopters, but harrier jets, which look quite different and sound quite different from helicopters, and thus might have different effects on the penguins.

Tscha. What do they teach them in these schools?

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 12:16 PM

Now is the time for the penguin on your television to explode.

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: mousethief
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 12:26 PM

How did she know that was going to happen?

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 01:23 PM

I'm psychic. ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: GUEST,guestguest(intruder)penguin
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 02:05 PM

i'll believe a harrier pilot before i'll believe any scientist...

after all, they lied about superelasticbubbleplastic, now didn't they?

Subject: RE: BS: Penguins don't topple!!!
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 06:39 PM

SINSULL: The only reason I read this questionable thread was I was SURE I'd find the answer to this great mystery:

Has it been scientifically established just why Weebles don't fall down? Are we sure never fall down? Is there a secret agenda behind this claim?