The Boulders Beach Penguin Colony is one of only a few mainland breeding colonies of African Penguins with most breeding occurring on islands. During our visit in February we were lucky to see all aspects of the breeding cycle from mating birds to egg incubating and young from freshly hatched to almost mature chicks. African penguins are monogamous and return to the same breeding site each season. On a sandy beach the nest is formed by a hollow dug in the sand with a few pieces of stick and kelp added. On harder surfaces a small scrape is created and on guano islands and dunes a burrow may be dug. Incubation duties are shared by both parents and lasts about 40 days. The egg is kept warm by close contact with a patch of bare skin known as a brood patch. The accompanying photos illustrate some stages of the cycle.