If the penguins at SeaWorld's Antarctica attraction seem to be carefree, just chilling in their habitat, they actually have an impressive "to-do" list.

  • Penguin breeding season at SeaWorld
  • Penguins use river rocks to help build safe nests for their eggs
  • First eggs to be laid by Halloween
  • SeaWorld AnimalVision Penguin Cam

It's breeding season and that means it's time to build homes for their future babies.

SeaWorld Orlando senior aviculturist T.J. Dray let us in on a few secrets. He gave us exclusive access to unveil what's going on behind the scenes.

Dray showed us some of nearly 8,000 pounds of river rocks they got from a local company. Some was stored outside in a large covered bin.

"Rock that's big enough that the birds can pick up individual pieces and take it back to a nest site when they have formed a bond with a partner," Dray said.

While guests shiver their way through 30-something-degree temperatures, they might not realize that the lighting is purposeful, too. The habitat follows a Southern Hemisphere light cycle.

"Penguins need to do certain things at the same time every year, and it's all based on the amount of light and the type of light that they have," Dray said. "That light cycle keeps them in tune with being a penguin."

That means, our fall is their spring, so it's time to breed. This happens yearly. So how "loyal" — if you will — are these mates?

"I think it's all based on that nest site," he said. "If they have good luck at the nest site, it's a safe nest site, and they've had success, the same pair tend to go back to that site."

Like a couple of rockhoppers he pointed out to us (pictured in the gallery above). They were standing on their nest, a site they've been at for three seasons.

We then saw something that looked super cute — as if they were massaging each other's necks with their beaks.

"Actually, this is really cool," Dray said, excitedly. "What you're seeing is what's called preening. Every square inch is roughly 70 feathers jammed in there. They can't reach every single feather on their body. They need to have a good relationship."

There are nearly 300 penguins inside the Antarctica attraction, and six species. A cool tip we learned is to check out the bracelets. Penguins wearing white ones are females. Those in black accessories are the males.

Dray expects to see the first eggs laid by Halloween. Depending on the species, it takes one to two months to incubate.