First flock of penguins bred in captivity hatches at the Lincoln Park Zoo!

After two years of preparation and anticipation, the first flock of penguins bred in captivity hatched today at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

"This is a great accomplishment for our zoo, and we are excited to have these little penguins grow up and thrive here," said Curator of Birds Stephanie Wagner.

The four African penguins – three males and one female – hatched on Tuesday, November 7. They will remain behind the scenes with their parents for several months while they learn how to swim and hunt. The public will be able to see them starting in early 2018.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of 30 institutions in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African penguins. This coordinated breeding program helps ensure the survival of animals threatened with extinction.

In order to breed the penguins, the zoo's animal care team created a simulated colony environment resembling their natural habitat in Africa. This included rocks, sand, kelp and other decorations to stimulate their behavior and nesting instincts.

"Creating an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat is so important for these animals," said Wagner. "It not only encourages breeding but also allows us to study their behavior more closely."

Flock of Geese terrorize golfers on a local course.3. Police investigate reports of a murder of a chicken in a small town in Indiana.4. Farm raising sheep experiences substantial losses as their flock is hit with a mysterious sickness.5. Amazon purchases 'The Flocking Corporation', a leading manufacturer of bird feeders and bird houses

Each year, as the weather warms and the days grow longer, America's golfers brace themselves for the annual flock of geese that take to the green. The messy birds leave behind unsightly droppings and are known to ruin a good game by chasing golfers around on the course. This spring is no different, with dozens of reports of goose disturbances at golf courses across the country.

Police in a small town in Indiana are investigating reports of a murder of a chicken. The chicken's owner, who runs a small farm raising sheep, discovered the dead bird and believes that one of the farm's dogs may be responsible. The farm has suffered substantial losses in recent weeks as their flock has been hit with a mysterious sickness that has killed several animals.

In a surprising move, Amazon has announced that it has purchased 'The Flocking Corporation', a leading manufacturer of bird feeders and bird houses. The move is seen as an attempt by Amazon to expand its presence in the home and garden market.