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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
and not in a good way. Over the last couple of years the surplus of yellow-eyed penguin males in our colonies has increased and our trail cameras have picked up a new issue: single - and lonely - males have tried to take over the neighbouring nests and the fights that have ensued have resulted in the loss of an egg (this happened in two different nests). The video below shows such a vicious fight. When we realised this was happening we took the remaining egg and fostered it to a pair without these problems and gave these a plaster egg. The fights did not stop and now that their egg is due to hatch we decided that a fragile newly-hatched chick would not survive despite the best efforts of its parents to protect it. We took their plaster egg away and they are having the summer off to sort out their differences with their neighbour - maybe move away to another nest site. Every year we are learning something new about these penguins and we need to be vigilant to protect the next generation. |
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