Facebook news
From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
This box was sponsored years ago and a pair has gone back and occupied it. They filled the box with so much nesting material that it was near impossible to get a photo of them. The two chicks are now bigger and it's all getting a bit cramped so they have started to sit out front.
This family gave us a bit of a fright. They have two chicks and they are among the biggest and the other day there was only one. OH NO! We looked everywhere and one of our volunteers was very persistent and kept going down the hill, and down and down - all the way to the beach with the seals - and there it was. The chick had fallen 30m or so and the parents had lost sight of it and given up. It was alive and we were able to return it to the nest. AND we built a fence so it won't happen again. What will it be next???? They certainly keep us on our toes!
This male has been sponsored some time ago and he has chosen the box "In remembrance of Morgan Brassill" a young man who loved penguins. Morgan, the penguin is the proud dad of a couple of adorable fluff balls now and so far all is well.
She is back, she has a new mate, a new house and now two new chicks - very camera-shy though. Her mate is a bit older and very experienced and has been an excellent father in the past. The lady herself - well, a little frilly maybe? Very mixed results and a colourful past.
She is freshly sponsored - and for those of you who have been following us since last season, she is Pablo's mother, our last-hatched chick last season. She is the mum of two chicks this season - you can only see one - and she is peeking out between those protective bars of her nest box. The chicks have survived Diphtheria and are getting big. Hollie has an experienced mate but she is getting a whole lot more experience this season herself.
Not much was happening at this nest and only the chicks were visible and they were intrigued as to what that visitor was doing (not much, just taking photos). Mum didn't realise but must have caught on because the chicks looked engaged and curious about something. She had peek out the box, saw me and flew out the door outraged - or was it guilty? After all she got caught not paying attention. And then she looked almost sheepish - gosh they are so funny!
This is a proud dad, freshly sponsored by the Hartfiel Family who has two chicks that are among the oldest in our colony. They are starting to get the gawky, all elbows fluffy look of soft toys about them and for now Gustl is keeping them will in his house where they are safe. Soon enough they will start hanging out outside where it is a little less crowded.
She has two chicks - one is well hidden but it is there under mum. She lives in the box sponsored by Chris, Gen, Milly and Elsa Leech - right now getting a photo of chicks AND a sponsored box is almost impossible but soon the chicks will start wandering around outside. For now they are kept safe by Lesley in this case well inside the box.
He is a lucky boy. He has a new mate and now two chicks and he only let us have a wee glimpse at them as they are growing quickly now. They have survived Diphtheria and are doing very well and soon they will no longer fit under dad!
This pair of yellow-eyed penguins raised a chick last season and they started out well this year with both eggs hatched. Both chicks had to be treated for Diphtheria and made it. Alas, there is always something else. It's not just diseases that kill our precious chicks, one of theirs was taken by a predator. We have stepped up our trapping efforts again, and are hoping that will be enough to keep them safe.
|
Archives
December 2022
Categories |