7 June 2014
Some penguins are adventurers. This one I called Boofer Bird for obvious reasons. No sad and starving story here! Just fat and hanging out with the seals who appreciate a rounded curve!
Some penguins are adventurers. This one I called Boofer Bird for obvious reasons. No sad and starving story here! Just fat and hanging out with the seals who appreciate a rounded curve!
25 June 2014
When we find a sick or injured penguin we bring it into rehab until it is fit to survive in the wild. Sometimes a penguin might decide to leave before we think it is ready as did this one . Fortunately, this one changed its mind and waited patiently for us to find it and bring it back into care.
When we find a sick or injured penguin we bring it into rehab until it is fit to survive in the wild. Sometimes a penguin might decide to leave before we think it is ready as did this one . Fortunately, this one changed its mind and waited patiently for us to find it and bring it back into care.
|
16 July 2014
Rescuing penguins also involves creating safe places for them to live after they recover. We want them to breed and live happily ever after and so we create new places for them using nest boxes with trees for shade. Then we have to wait for penguin testing. I think this one passed the test! |
|
29 July 2014
The days are beginning to get longer and the penguins are beginning to get excited! Roll on spring!
The days are beginning to get longer and the penguins are beginning to get excited! Roll on spring!
1 November 2014
We have our first chicks: an early pair at Barracouta Bay has hatched two gorgeous balls of fluff that you can see below dad's fat belly - if you squint hard enough. They weigh about 100g and need to be kept warm like the eggs. The parents have a brood pouch where warm skin is exposed on the lower belly. This has kept the eggs at incubation temperature and will also keep the chicks warm until they grow secondary feathers and are able to maintain their own temperature.
We have our first chicks: an early pair at Barracouta Bay has hatched two gorgeous balls of fluff that you can see below dad's fat belly - if you squint hard enough. They weigh about 100g and need to be kept warm like the eggs. The parents have a brood pouch where warm skin is exposed on the lower belly. This has kept the eggs at incubation temperature and will also keep the chicks warm until they grow secondary feathers and are able to maintain their own temperature.
3 November 2014
Each egg is checked for fertility with our EggsRayMachine. A strong light is directed at the egg in the black box: if the egg is solid black with a torquoise air sac, it means the egg will (very likely) hatch. Eggs that don't hatch have a peachy colour and the air sac moves around sometimes. We need to determine which eggs are not going to hatch so that we can foster eggs whose parents have died. This year we have unfortunately lost an almost 20 year old father-to-be who had a broken flipper and had to be put down - nothing we could do for him. His mate is off being courted by the solo boys in the colony. She won't have any trouble finding a new mate for next year and will take the summer off. Their eggs were initially fostered to two other pairs that were incubating a single egg. Then we found a pair with two eggs that were unlikely to hatch and were able to foster the two extra eggs to them. Each egg is precious and we try hard to save them all. The rest is up to the penguins.
Each egg is checked for fertility with our EggsRayMachine. A strong light is directed at the egg in the black box: if the egg is solid black with a torquoise air sac, it means the egg will (very likely) hatch. Eggs that don't hatch have a peachy colour and the air sac moves around sometimes. We need to determine which eggs are not going to hatch so that we can foster eggs whose parents have died. This year we have unfortunately lost an almost 20 year old father-to-be who had a broken flipper and had to be put down - nothing we could do for him. His mate is off being courted by the solo boys in the colony. She won't have any trouble finding a new mate for next year and will take the summer off. Their eggs were initially fostered to two other pairs that were incubating a single egg. Then we found a pair with two eggs that were unlikely to hatch and were able to foster the two extra eggs to them. Each egg is precious and we try hard to save them all. The rest is up to the penguins.
4 November 2014
This is one of our unemployed birds: he was breeding here last year but his mate up and left him and is breeding with someone else. He does have a girl-friend though but she is only 2 years old and thought herself a bit too young for breeding just yet. He has a very handsome house and is an experienced breeder and thus a great catch, so she would do good to hold onto him for next year. Here is hoping for many pitta patta penguin feet in the future!!
This is one of our unemployed birds: he was breeding here last year but his mate up and left him and is breeding with someone else. He does have a girl-friend though but she is only 2 years old and thought herself a bit too young for breeding just yet. He has a very handsome house and is an experienced breeder and thus a great catch, so she would do good to hold onto him for next year. Here is hoping for many pitta patta penguin feet in the future!!
5 November 2014
On the nest round today we visited our oldest chicks that featured in the post on the 1 November. Here they are 4 days older and dad stood up to show them to us - so proud!
On the nest round today we visited our oldest chicks that featured in the post on the 1 November. Here they are 4 days older and dad stood up to show them to us - so proud!
8 November 2014
On our round checking the penguin nests we came across this beautiful male who had tried very hard to persuade his girl to breed with him but she felt it was too soon. Maybe it was just as well because he later got himself a cut on the the left foot that was infected, so he needed a wee stint in rehab. After a week he was allowed to go home which he did - straight to his house where we found him again waiting for his girl to come home.
On our round checking the penguin nests we came across this beautiful male who had tried very hard to persuade his girl to breed with him but she felt it was too soon. Maybe it was just as well because he later got himself a cut on the the left foot that was infected, so he needed a wee stint in rehab. After a week he was allowed to go home which he did - straight to his house where we found him again waiting for his girl to come home.
|
|
|
10 November 2014
Over half of our chicks have already hatched and we have only lost 2 super small chicks so far very shortly after hatching. We don't know what happened. The oldest ones in the colony are 11 days old and one of them poked its head out from under dad's fat belly. Notice how his bum is raised: the other chick is under there as well: he is keeping them nice and cosy as it is quite cold here in North Otago - ideal to keep the dreaded diphtheria at bay that can kill chicks and is prevalent in wet and warm springs.
Over half of our chicks have already hatched and we have only lost 2 super small chicks so far very shortly after hatching. We don't know what happened. The oldest ones in the colony are 11 days old and one of them poked its head out from under dad's fat belly. Notice how his bum is raised: the other chick is under there as well: he is keeping them nice and cosy as it is quite cold here in North Otago - ideal to keep the dreaded diphtheria at bay that can kill chicks and is prevalent in wet and warm springs.
11 November 2014
Penguin Rescue is proud to introduce our Naming Rights Sponsorship:
For $50 name an egg or chick
For $150 name a breeding adult
For $150 name an adult or juvenile in our hospital
You will receive a personalised certificate and receipt for your tax deductible donation by e-mail and updates on your penguin will be posted here on our Facebook page. Please e-mail us on rosaliegoldsworthy@gmail.com. We have a paypal account on our website www.penguins.org.nz.
Penguin Rescue is proud to introduce our Naming Rights Sponsorship:
For $50 name an egg or chick
For $150 name a breeding adult
For $150 name an adult or juvenile in our hospital
You will receive a personalised certificate and receipt for your tax deductible donation by e-mail and updates on your penguin will be posted here on our Facebook page. Please e-mail us on rosaliegoldsworthy@gmail.com. We have a paypal account on our website www.penguins.org.nz.
16 November 2014
The breeding season is marching on and the chicks are growing very fast. Here is an interim result: We have a total of 58 pairs breeding, they laid 113 eggs. Of these 82 chicks have hatched so far (17 eggs will not hatch) and there are another 14 eggs still to hatch. Unfortunately we have also lost 14 chicks so far, we don't know what has killed them but they were all less than 5 days old - and we always expect for some to die that young. So far we have not seen any sign at all of the dreaded Diphtheria, may it long last. The weather is dry here in North Otago and not too warm yet - so ideal for little penguin babies.
The breeding season is marching on and the chicks are growing very fast. Here is an interim result: We have a total of 58 pairs breeding, they laid 113 eggs. Of these 82 chicks have hatched so far (17 eggs will not hatch) and there are another 14 eggs still to hatch. Unfortunately we have also lost 14 chicks so far, we don't know what has killed them but they were all less than 5 days old - and we always expect for some to die that young. So far we have not seen any sign at all of the dreaded Diphtheria, may it long last. The weather is dry here in North Otago and not too warm yet - so ideal for little penguin babies.
17 November 2014
Today we celebrate: we have had our first returned chick from last summer sighted and identified at Katiki Point. As he had a transponder we were able to trace his history: he weighed 5.4kg when we gave him his transponder in early February and he fledged naturally a couple of weeks later. On 22 March he was back weighing only 3.1kg: he had not worked out how to catch a fish. So a stint in rehab was in order and he was about 6kg when he was soft-released into the colony. He definitely has worked out how to catch a fish the second time round: his ample waist line is proof and he came home, only 40m or so from where his parents raised him. So tonight we raise our glasses to the resilience of this bird and to second chances!
Today we celebrate: we have had our first returned chick from last summer sighted and identified at Katiki Point. As he had a transponder we were able to trace his history: he weighed 5.4kg when we gave him his transponder in early February and he fledged naturally a couple of weeks later. On 22 March he was back weighing only 3.1kg: he had not worked out how to catch a fish. So a stint in rehab was in order and he was about 6kg when he was soft-released into the colony. He definitely has worked out how to catch a fish the second time round: his ample waist line is proof and he came home, only 40m or so from where his parents raised him. So tonight we raise our glasses to the resilience of this bird and to second chances!
19 November 2014
Counting penguins is never easy but we have come up with an estimate of yellow-eyed penguin numbers living at Moeraki (North Otago): 58 pairs have laid eggs (=116 adults), 11 pairs were recorded in and round nests but did not lay (=22 adults); we counted 9 lonely males who like the chap in the picture had a house but no mate; and give or take a few individuals that fit neither category. So we here at Penguin Rescue have the privilege of watching over roughly 150 Yellow-eyed penguins at Moeraki (plus 90 odd chicks).
Counting penguins is never easy but we have come up with an estimate of yellow-eyed penguin numbers living at Moeraki (North Otago): 58 pairs have laid eggs (=116 adults), 11 pairs were recorded in and round nests but did not lay (=22 adults); we counted 9 lonely males who like the chap in the picture had a house but no mate; and give or take a few individuals that fit neither category. So we here at Penguin Rescue have the privilege of watching over roughly 150 Yellow-eyed penguins at Moeraki (plus 90 odd chicks).
23 November 2014
Every once in a while we arrive to a shocking sight at a nest. In this case it was a father to a 9 day old chick covered in blood. We were immediately concerned about his chance of surviving an injury that produced so much blood - and of course without a father the survival of a chick is in jeopardy. On closer examination is turns out he had a small nick in his left lower 'lip'. We went back later in the day to see if his mate had come home - she had - but then we did not see him for a week. The chick was growing so we were fairly confident that he was ok. We got confirmation today when he was home looking plump and clean. Lesson for the day: despite the blood this one did not need rescuing!!
Every once in a while we arrive to a shocking sight at a nest. In this case it was a father to a 9 day old chick covered in blood. We were immediately concerned about his chance of surviving an injury that produced so much blood - and of course without a father the survival of a chick is in jeopardy. On closer examination is turns out he had a small nick in his left lower 'lip'. We went back later in the day to see if his mate had come home - she had - but then we did not see him for a week. The chick was growing so we were fairly confident that he was ok. We got confirmation today when he was home looking plump and clean. Lesson for the day: despite the blood this one did not need rescuing!!
|
|
30 November 2014
And the award for cutest penguin chick in the colony goes to.....all of them! This one put its flipper up for the photoshoot though and posed with Mum while the sibling slept through it all! At 3 weeks old it has grown from 100g at hatching to over a 1kg: you can almost watch them growing at this age!
And the award for cutest penguin chick in the colony goes to.....all of them! This one put its flipper up for the photoshoot though and posed with Mum while the sibling slept through it all! At 3 weeks old it has grown from 100g at hatching to over a 1kg: you can almost watch them growing at this age!
5 December 2014
Penguin Rescue is proud to introduce Janine: our first sponsored yellow-eyed penguin chick at Moeraki. She is 2 weeks old here with her dad tucked up nicely under his bum. Thank you to Janine's sponsor!
Penguin Rescue is proud to introduce Janine: our first sponsored yellow-eyed penguin chick at Moeraki. She is 2 weeks old here with her dad tucked up nicely under his bum. Thank you to Janine's sponsor!
8 December 2014
Dad is home and he brought fish!!
The chicks are getting so big they are starting to chase the parents for food. Soon both parents will have to go to sea during the day and leave the chicks home alone so that enough food is delivered - but not yet, these guys still have either parent at home for now.
Dad is home and he brought fish!!
The chicks are getting so big they are starting to chase the parents for food. Soon both parents will have to go to sea during the day and leave the chicks home alone so that enough food is delivered - but not yet, these guys still have either parent at home for now.
14 December 2014
These are chicks named Hansi and Lora by one of our sponsors. They are doing very well and growing fast under the watchful eye of their father in the photo. Mum has gone food - eh, fish shopping!!
These are chicks named Hansi and Lora by one of our sponsors. They are doing very well and growing fast under the watchful eye of their father in the photo. Mum has gone food - eh, fish shopping!!
20 December 2014
Every now and then when we do a round we encounter both parents at the nest. One has just returned from fishing and is greeted enthusiastically by the mate and the chick. The one who has been at home will leave within 10 minutes or so to go fishing for the next meal for the chick. The chick is one month old.
Every now and then when we do a round we encounter both parents at the nest. One has just returned from fishing and is greeted enthusiastically by the mate and the chick. The one who has been at home will leave within 10 minutes or so to go fishing for the next meal for the chick. The chick is one month old.
28 December 2014
It's Christmas and season's greetings to all penguin friends out there. Here is a story to show that even penguin families can be blended: the photo shows an adult and two chicks but one of them is a foster chick and it has featured on this site before: 23 Nov this year when we found dad with a cut to his beak. He was fine......until we found him on 27 Nov - see next post!
It's Christmas and season's greetings to all penguin friends out there. Here is a story to show that even penguin families can be blended: the photo shows an adult and two chicks but one of them is a foster chick and it has featured on this site before: 23 Nov this year when we found dad with a cut to his beak. He was fine......until we found him on 27 Nov - see next post!
28 December 2014
Here he was doing his fatherly duties while bleeding from a cut from his left flipper. This was too much blood to leave him and so he was taken to hospital, fed, given antibiotics to ward off any infection and given rest. The bleeding stopped and we were able to tell that he had full function of the flipper and his movements were not compromised. The second photo shows as much a close-up as he would allow. But he was restless - maybe worrying about his chick and we let him go about a week later. He hung about his nest and called - in the meantime the wife as playing house with someone else and his 'child' was gone....not happy and he would not let us see the flipper so we resorted to spying: the last shot is of him at his nest called and showing the healed injury. In the meantime we had adopted his 3 week old chick to a family with one similar sized chick and now it is a month later and you just can't tell them apart. It works with a bit of love and patience!
Here he was doing his fatherly duties while bleeding from a cut from his left flipper. This was too much blood to leave him and so he was taken to hospital, fed, given antibiotics to ward off any infection and given rest. The bleeding stopped and we were able to tell that he had full function of the flipper and his movements were not compromised. The second photo shows as much a close-up as he would allow. But he was restless - maybe worrying about his chick and we let him go about a week later. He hung about his nest and called - in the meantime the wife as playing house with someone else and his 'child' was gone....not happy and he would not let us see the flipper so we resorted to spying: the last shot is of him at his nest called and showing the healed injury. In the meantime we had adopted his 3 week old chick to a family with one similar sized chick and now it is a month later and you just can't tell them apart. It works with a bit of love and patience!
|
|
30 December 2014
....aahh, how cute is that?!? Baby Yellow-eyed penguin sitting by the tree waiting for dinner to be delivered......
....aahh, how cute is that?!? Baby Yellow-eyed penguin sitting by the tree waiting for dinner to be delivered......
1 January 2015
Happy New Year to all our penguin friends! As you can see the penguin chicks got together and partied (one is hiding on the right) while the parents are 'at work'! We hope and wish you all the very best for the New Year - and may all (penguins) thrive!!
....aahh, how cute is that?!? Baby Yellow-eyed penguin sitting by the tree waiting for dinner to be delivered......
Happy New Year to all our penguin friends! As you can see the penguin chicks got together and partied (one is hiding on the right) while the parents are 'at work'! We hope and wish you all the very best for the New Year - and may all (penguins) thrive!!
....aahh, how cute is that?!? Baby Yellow-eyed penguin sitting by the tree waiting for dinner to be delivered......
5 January 2015
Most Yellow-eyed penguins chicks are about 2 months old now. They have done most of their growing, i.e. they are as big as their parents, and now they are starting to grow adult-like feathers starting with the insides and tips of their flippers and tail feathers. You can see both emerging in the photo. It will take about 4 weeks to look like real penguins (and not like fluffy toys) and then they are almost ready for the sea!
Most Yellow-eyed penguins chicks are about 2 months old now. They have done most of their growing, i.e. they are as big as their parents, and now they are starting to grow adult-like feathers starting with the insides and tips of their flippers and tail feathers. You can see both emerging in the photo. It will take about 4 weeks to look like real penguins (and not like fluffy toys) and then they are almost ready for the sea!
9 January 2015
This is Emma, one of our lucky chicks with sponsor-parents. Emma is shy, something that she was taught by her mother who hides herself and her baby well in the bushes. When we visit the nest and her father is on duty we get to hear his opinion about our visit (can't be repeated here) - loudly - and Emma runs and hides behind him. She is a singleton and spoilt with much food so she is beautifully fat - not easy to see in the picture as she is about to run into hiding again!!
This is Emma, one of our lucky chicks with sponsor-parents. Emma is shy, something that she was taught by her mother who hides herself and her baby well in the bushes. When we visit the nest and her father is on duty we get to hear his opinion about our visit (can't be repeated here) - loudly - and Emma runs and hides behind him. She is a singleton and spoilt with much food so she is beautifully fat - not easy to see in the picture as she is about to run into hiding again!!
17 January 2015
On January 1 these chicks featured as party chicks. They have done it again and drawn attention to themselves by climbing a tree. Who would have thought to see a penguin up a tree!
On January 1 these chicks featured as party chicks. They have done it again and drawn attention to themselves by climbing a tree. Who would have thought to see a penguin up a tree!
18 January 2015
The onset of post-guard stage is often a bit later for single chicks as the parents don't have to provide as much food as when they are feeding two chicks. Often one parent stays until mid morning and then leaves to go fishing, the other parent had gone at first light and returns early afternoon with a meal. The second parent arrives back later in the evening with another meal. This way this chicks get two meals a day and only a few hours on their own.
The onset of post-guard stage is often a bit later for single chicks as the parents don't have to provide as much food as when they are feeding two chicks. Often one parent stays until mid morning and then leaves to go fishing, the other parent had gone at first light and returns early afternoon with a meal. The second parent arrives back later in the evening with another meal. This way this chicks get two meals a day and only a few hours on their own.
19 January 2015
The chicks are starting to replace their downy feathers with sea-worthy ones starting at the tip of the flippers, then the belly turns white and the back blue. Last are the feathers round the head and they look like they are wearing a woolly hat. They are also more adventurous and are often found a way away from the nest like these two that are sitting on a cliff top overlooking the ocean keeping a watch for the parents' return.
The chicks are starting to replace their downy feathers with sea-worthy ones starting at the tip of the flippers, then the belly turns white and the back blue. Last are the feathers round the head and they look like they are wearing a woolly hat. They are also more adventurous and are often found a way away from the nest like these two that are sitting on a cliff top overlooking the ocean keeping a watch for the parents' return.
25 January 2015
The chicks of the Yellow-eyed penguins are at that half'n'half stage when they still have down but are already showing significant adult feather coverage. They are the size of the adults and require about 1kg of food a day - and should be 5-5.5kg themselves: that means the parents have to feed them 20% of their body weight every day - times two if they are raising chicks. It is a very, very demanding time for the parents and often they will split the chicks, each parent feeding one chick: here Hansi (one of our sponsored chick) is with dad (Lora and mum nowhere to be seen!)
The chicks of the Yellow-eyed penguins are at that half'n'half stage when they still have down but are already showing significant adult feather coverage. They are the size of the adults and require about 1kg of food a day - and should be 5-5.5kg themselves: that means the parents have to feed them 20% of their body weight every day - times two if they are raising chicks. It is a very, very demanding time for the parents and often they will split the chicks, each parent feeding one chick: here Hansi (one of our sponsored chick) is with dad (Lora and mum nowhere to be seen!)
28 January 2015
This week we caught all the penguin chicks in our colonies and put them in these sleeping bags so that we can weigh them and then fit them with transponders. These are chips that are inserted under the skin in the neck and have replaced flipper bands as a marking techniques. We believe they are much better as they will not drag in the water making swimming more hard work. These two are Hansi and Lora again, our adorable sponsored chicks and they - like all the others - are less than impressed with being in a sleeping bag. The whole procedure takes less than 5 minutes and they are on their way.
This week we caught all the penguin chicks in our colonies and put them in these sleeping bags so that we can weigh them and then fit them with transponders. These are chips that are inserted under the skin in the neck and have replaced flipper bands as a marking techniques. We believe they are much better as they will not drag in the water making swimming more hard work. These two are Hansi and Lora again, our adorable sponsored chicks and they - like all the others - are less than impressed with being in a sleeping bag. The whole procedure takes less than 5 minutes and they are on their way.
30 January 2015
After we catch the chicks and put them into sleeping bags they are weighed. We caught, weighed and transpondered 59 chicks around the age of 70 days. Ideally they should be over 5kg, if they are between 4.5kg and 5kg we keep a close eye on them; and any chick under 4.5kg has to come into our rehabilitation facility. The parents are obviously struggling to fatten them and the chick would have to come in later anyway or it will fledge skinny and have a significantly reduced chance of surviving post-fledging. Our 59 chicks weighed on average 5.0kg, so some did very well, others not so and six chicks had to come into rehab so far until we can released them at around 6kg. It's not a fab result, but pretty good.
After we catch the chicks and put them into sleeping bags they are weighed. We caught, weighed and transpondered 59 chicks around the age of 70 days. Ideally they should be over 5kg, if they are between 4.5kg and 5kg we keep a close eye on them; and any chick under 4.5kg has to come into our rehabilitation facility. The parents are obviously struggling to fatten them and the chick would have to come in later anyway or it will fledge skinny and have a significantly reduced chance of surviving post-fledging. Our 59 chicks weighed on average 5.0kg, so some did very well, others not so and six chicks had to come into rehab so far until we can released them at around 6kg. It's not a fab result, but pretty good.
2 February 2015
When we catch the Yellow-eyed penguin chicks to weigh them, we need to inject a transponder or chip for identification later. This is done under the skin on the back of the neck with a once-use (enormous) needle. You would expect the penguin to struggle when it is poked with something like this. One person holds the penguin, the other does the poking. Most of the time there is not a twitch from the penguin. Once the transponder is injected we make sure it works with a transponder reader and then use a wound sealer to close the hole so the transponder doesn't pop out or an infection develops. That's it, job done. Unlike flipper bands that create drag in the water and can damage the body and/or feathers of the penguin, transponders are under the skin and do not disturb their torpedo shape. The only disadvantage is that you can't look at a penguin to determine whether it has been marked, you always need a reader. Small price to pay for that perfect shape!
When we catch the Yellow-eyed penguin chicks to weigh them, we need to inject a transponder or chip for identification later. This is done under the skin on the back of the neck with a once-use (enormous) needle. You would expect the penguin to struggle when it is poked with something like this. One person holds the penguin, the other does the poking. Most of the time there is not a twitch from the penguin. Once the transponder is injected we make sure it works with a transponder reader and then use a wound sealer to close the hole so the transponder doesn't pop out or an infection develops. That's it, job done. Unlike flipper bands that create drag in the water and can damage the body and/or feathers of the penguin, transponders are under the skin and do not disturb their torpedo shape. The only disadvantage is that you can't look at a penguin to determine whether it has been marked, you always need a reader. Small price to pay for that perfect shape!
5 February 2015
Raising chicks ain't easy and some parents struggle in the last few weeks of feeding their chicks. That is why we weigh them at 70 days to get an idea of how they are doing. Twice weekly check-ups after that involve a visual assessment of the chick to see if the breast bone is visible and/or the backbone and how they are developing. If we are having any doubt we re-weigh. They ought to be putting on weight and be over 5kg. If they have gone backwards and lost weight and are slipping under the 5kg mark, we collect them and take them to our rehabilitation facility. Initially we put them in the hospital (pictured) where they learn to eat from the hand. They are not alone as they can see their neighbour in the pen beside them. They are babies afterall and like a bit of company. So far 10 chicks have had to come in - they are doing very well now and their parents can concentrate on fattening up for the moult.
Raising chicks ain't easy and some parents struggle in the last few weeks of feeding their chicks. That is why we weigh them at 70 days to get an idea of how they are doing. Twice weekly check-ups after that involve a visual assessment of the chick to see if the breast bone is visible and/or the backbone and how they are developing. If we are having any doubt we re-weigh. They ought to be putting on weight and be over 5kg. If they have gone backwards and lost weight and are slipping under the 5kg mark, we collect them and take them to our rehabilitation facility. Initially we put them in the hospital (pictured) where they learn to eat from the hand. They are not alone as they can see their neighbour in the pen beside them. They are babies afterall and like a bit of company. So far 10 chicks have had to come in - they are doing very well now and their parents can concentrate on fattening up for the moult.
8 February 2015
Once the chicks have learnt to eat nicely from the hand while alone in the hospital pen, we transfer them to the garden pen where they 'graduate' to having a pen-mate. Three is the maximum we will put together - it gets too confusing otherwise trying to feed more than three and keep track of how much food each has had. It is also easier to notice if something is wrong with the feeding procedure, e.g. when they have a fungal throat infection they won't eat out of the hand but slap the fish away - making it a flying fish!! A pill will fix that in 24 hours.
Once the chicks have learnt to eat nicely from the hand while alone in the hospital pen, we transfer them to the garden pen where they 'graduate' to having a pen-mate. Three is the maximum we will put together - it gets too confusing otherwise trying to feed more than three and keep track of how much food each has had. It is also easier to notice if something is wrong with the feeding procedure, e.g. when they have a fungal throat infection they won't eat out of the hand but slap the fish away - making it a flying fish!! A pill will fix that in 24 hours.
11 February 2015
When the chicks have learnt their manners and socialised in their pens with their new friends, it is feeding time. We feed salmon, about three 25cm long fish or roughy 400g per meal. There is no handling and no stress and these three are being very polite. It is a joy and a pleasure and privilege.
When the chicks have learnt their manners and socialised in their pens with their new friends, it is feeding time. We feed salmon, about three 25cm long fish or roughy 400g per meal. There is no handling and no stress and these three are being very polite. It is a joy and a pleasure and privilege.
15 February 2015
The first Yellow-eyed penguin chicks have left to go to sea to learn to catch a fish. This is one of our oldest chicks on it's last day ashore. It has been looking at the ocean for months and now it is out there. All fingers crossed, little guy, that we will see you again, fat and happy!
The first Yellow-eyed penguin chicks have left to go to sea to learn to catch a fish. This is one of our oldest chicks on it's last day ashore. It has been looking at the ocean for months and now it is out there. All fingers crossed, little guy, that we will see you again, fat and happy!
18 February 2015
Over winter we planted a lot of trees to create shade for the penguins and during this hot and dry summer these need to be watered. We constructed a pipe and trough system that allows us to water the trees without having to cart the water too far. On our round to check the penguins we found someone else enjoying the water in a cool bath on a hot day. It was possibly thinking that it had expected the ocean to be a bit bigger than this but hey, it was a hot day and a chick needs to cool off! It scrambled out of its bath when it saw us and we put in some bricks to make it easier for it to get in and out.
Over winter we planted a lot of trees to create shade for the penguins and during this hot and dry summer these need to be watered. We constructed a pipe and trough system that allows us to water the trees without having to cart the water too far. On our round to check the penguins we found someone else enjoying the water in a cool bath on a hot day. It was possibly thinking that it had expected the ocean to be a bit bigger than this but hey, it was a hot day and a chick needs to cool off! It scrambled out of its bath when it saw us and we put in some bricks to make it easier for it to get in and out.
22 February 2015
We transponder and weigh the chicks when they are 70 days old but they don't fledge until they are on average 106 days old so we continue to check on them twice a week until they go to sea. It is the hardest part of raising a chick: each chick needs about 1kg of food every day and especially when the parents feed two chicks this can be a challenge. We watch for loss of weight or stalling in their development, e.g. there are still fluffy brown feathers on the head or flippers when there should not be. This is Emma, one of our sponsored chick and although she is a singleton she has stopped putting on weight. We retrieved her and here she is in the cage on the back of Penguin Rescue truck on her way to rehab. Removing her gives her a chance but also her parents can now keep all the food and get ready for their moult.
We transponder and weigh the chicks when they are 70 days old but they don't fledge until they are on average 106 days old so we continue to check on them twice a week until they go to sea. It is the hardest part of raising a chick: each chick needs about 1kg of food every day and especially when the parents feed two chicks this can be a challenge. We watch for loss of weight or stalling in their development, e.g. there are still fluffy brown feathers on the head or flippers when there should not be. This is Emma, one of our sponsored chick and although she is a singleton she has stopped putting on weight. We retrieved her and here she is in the cage on the back of Penguin Rescue truck on her way to rehab. Removing her gives her a chance but also her parents can now keep all the food and get ready for their moult.
28 February 2015
In the evening the adult Yellow-eyed penguins return from fishing with a belly full of food and hand it over to the chicks who have been waiting all day for dinner. Here a chick is ready to head out to sea any day now, it has lost all its down and grown proper penguin feathers, is the size of the adult and ready to go. We have had calm weather which is wonderful for the chicks to experience the ocean for the first time. Most of our chicks have now left with only the youngest still here.
In the evening the adult Yellow-eyed penguins return from fishing with a belly full of food and hand it over to the chicks who have been waiting all day for dinner. Here a chick is ready to head out to sea any day now, it has lost all its down and grown proper penguin feathers, is the size of the adult and ready to go. We have had calm weather which is wonderful for the chicks to experience the ocean for the first time. Most of our chicks have now left with only the youngest still here.
3 March 2015
Sweet Emma learnt how to eat out of the hand here in the hospital ward where we kept her by herself for a few days. This way she does not pick up any bad behaviour from another chick. She can see her neighbour so she isn't lonely. She has already put on weight.
Sweet Emma learnt how to eat out of the hand here in the hospital ward where we kept her by herself for a few days. This way she does not pick up any bad behaviour from another chick. She can see her neighbour so she isn't lonely. She has already put on weight.
5 March 2015
Emma was a quick study and learnt how to take fish out of the hand and so she graduated to the garden pen where she got a companion (here in the back). She is rounding out nicely on her salmon diet and when she gets near the 6kg mark she can be released - it won't be long now and she can experience the sweet taste of freedom - which comes with the responsibility of having to find her own fish. The easy life is coming to an end!
Emma was a quick study and learnt how to take fish out of the hand and so she graduated to the garden pen where she got a companion (here in the back). She is rounding out nicely on her salmon diet and when she gets near the 6kg mark she can be released - it won't be long now and she can experience the sweet taste of freedom - which comes with the responsibility of having to find her own fish. The easy life is coming to an end!
8 March 2015
It's almost D-day for sweet Emma: tomorrow morning (NZ time) she will get her last meal in her pen in the forest where she has been able to see the ocean for a week. We then leave the gate open and she and her three mates can leave and go to sea at their leisure. If they are still there the next morning, there will be another meal brought to them but we have found that the chicks are ready for the big blue and are gone. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed for Emma and all her mates that they will find plenty of fish to eat out there and have the sense to come back to this beach if they get exhausted and hungry. If you are so inclined a prayer might help too!! They all need all the help they can get. Feel free to leave your thoughts in a comment! We love to hear from you.
It's almost D-day for sweet Emma: tomorrow morning (NZ time) she will get her last meal in her pen in the forest where she has been able to see the ocean for a week. We then leave the gate open and she and her three mates can leave and go to sea at their leisure. If they are still there the next morning, there will be another meal brought to them but we have found that the chicks are ready for the big blue and are gone. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed for Emma and all her mates that they will find plenty of fish to eat out there and have the sense to come back to this beach if they get exhausted and hungry. If you are so inclined a prayer might help too!! They all need all the help they can get. Feel free to leave your thoughts in a comment! We love to hear from you.
9 March 2015
This morning in the pens in the forest, it was time for the last breakfast and then we left the gate open for Emma and her friends to leave. It did not take them long - the pull of the Big Blue was strong and they were ready for it. Farewell and come back soon, fat and happy! It's been a pleasure to care for you.
This morning in the pens in the forest, it was time for the last breakfast and then we left the gate open for Emma and her friends to leave. It did not take them long - the pull of the Big Blue was strong and they were ready for it. Farewell and come back soon, fat and happy! It's been a pleasure to care for you.
13 March 2015
One of our chicks and his mother were sponsored late in the season and were called Finn and Becs. Finn has lost his sibling shortly after hatching and he got sick when he was about 10 days old. We treated him with antibiotics for 5 days and he came right. Since then Finn has done really well and had a parent with him until well into January - unusually long for even a single chick. Usually both parents are needed to bring back enough food for the chicks so they are usually home alone for the last 6-8 weeks. Not Finn. And he grew beautifully plump which means his parents were very good providers. Here in the photo is Finn a few days before going to sea.
One of our chicks and his mother were sponsored late in the season and were called Finn and Becs. Finn has lost his sibling shortly after hatching and he got sick when he was about 10 days old. We treated him with antibiotics for 5 days and he came right. Since then Finn has done really well and had a parent with him until well into January - unusually long for even a single chick. Usually both parents are needed to bring back enough food for the chicks so they are usually home alone for the last 6-8 weeks. Not Finn. And he grew beautifully plump which means his parents were very good providers. Here in the photo is Finn a few days before going to sea.
17 March 2015
Most of the patients at the Penguin Rescue hospital are Yellow-eyed penguins but there are Little Penguins also living along this coast and some need a helping hand through the moult or are found with injuries. Here is a Little Penguin that weighed only 800g and was still moulting. All he needed was a bit food and soon will be released again.
Most of the patients at the Penguin Rescue hospital are Yellow-eyed penguins but there are Little Penguins also living along this coast and some need a helping hand through the moult or are found with injuries. Here is a Little Penguin that weighed only 800g and was still moulting. All he needed was a bit food and soon will be released again.
20 March 2015
Little penguins rarely learn to eat out of the hand and have to be held to manoeuvre the fish into them. They learn this quickly and it becomes easy although it can be a bit messy.
Little penguins rarely learn to eat out of the hand and have to be held to manoeuvre the fish into them. They learn this quickly and it becomes easy although it can be a bit messy.
24 March 2015
The Yellow-eyed penguins in our hospital at Penguin Rescue are fed 20-30cm salmon - each penguin gets 2-3 twice a day. Whilst this does not fill them and they always want more, the fish is so rich that a penguin can increase its weight by 1kg a week once it has overcome any infections or illness. It is wonder-food for us, easy to prepare and feed and the penguins thrive on it. Here is the table set: each ice-cream container has one meal for one penguin. The containers are colour-coded: white for adults, dark blue for chicks and black for juveniles. This way we keep track!
The Yellow-eyed penguins in our hospital at Penguin Rescue are fed 20-30cm salmon - each penguin gets 2-3 twice a day. Whilst this does not fill them and they always want more, the fish is so rich that a penguin can increase its weight by 1kg a week once it has overcome any infections or illness. It is wonder-food for us, easy to prepare and feed and the penguins thrive on it. Here is the table set: each ice-cream container has one meal for one penguin. The containers are colour-coded: white for adults, dark blue for chicks and black for juveniles. This way we keep track!
29 March 2015
Yellow-eyed Penguin moult after the chicks have left and pairs will often do this together. They are less social and gregarious than other penguin species and like their own patch, but other penguins are close by and they locate and recognise each other by calling. Here is a pair that has found the perfect spot to spend 4 weeks with each other overlooking the bay and the ocean while growing new feather. It's the perfect holiday!
Yellow-eyed Penguin moult after the chicks have left and pairs will often do this together. They are less social and gregarious than other penguin species and like their own patch, but other penguins are close by and they locate and recognise each other by calling. Here is a pair that has found the perfect spot to spend 4 weeks with each other overlooking the bay and the ocean while growing new feather. It's the perfect holiday!
2 April 2015
Moulting Yellow-eyed Penguin pair enjoying the last rays of the evening sun after another exhausting day of standing round growing feathers!!
Moulting Yellow-eyed Penguin pair enjoying the last rays of the evening sun after another exhausting day of standing round growing feathers!!
4 April 2015
"Honey, I think I found a loose feather. Let me get that for you!" "Oh yes, please. I found one, too, right here!" It is easy to anthropomorphise penguins. They seem so like us and that's their appeal. Mutual preening is a courtship behaviour that strengthens the pair bond. It is a matter of trust to let another penguin near your most important asset (your eyes) with their most formidable weapon (their beak).
"Honey, I think I found a loose feather. Let me get that for you!" "Oh yes, please. I found one, too, right here!" It is easy to anthropomorphise penguins. They seem so like us and that's their appeal. Mutual preening is a courtship behaviour that strengthens the pair bond. It is a matter of trust to let another penguin near your most important asset (your eyes) with their most formidable weapon (their beak).
7 April 2015
The last of our Yellow-eyed penguin chicks that needed care before fledging have been released from their forest enclosure a couple of weeks ago. It is the last station in their rehabilitation. They spend a week here being fed once a day. They can see and hear the ocean, meet the locals, hopefully imprint on the area and return here if they are in trouble or better still as plump juveniles in a few months time. We have had some return after unsuccessful attempt to learn to fish and the process is started from the beginning in the hospital and ends up in the forest enclosure for another attempt. We hope to give them the best possible chance of survival.
The last of our Yellow-eyed penguin chicks that needed care before fledging have been released from their forest enclosure a couple of weeks ago. It is the last station in their rehabilitation. They spend a week here being fed once a day. They can see and hear the ocean, meet the locals, hopefully imprint on the area and return here if they are in trouble or better still as plump juveniles in a few months time. We have had some return after unsuccessful attempt to learn to fish and the process is started from the beginning in the hospital and ends up in the forest enclosure for another attempt. We hope to give them the best possible chance of survival.
10 April 2015
The moult is an undignified process. For penguins it is 'catastrophic' because all feathers are changed at the same time. The new feathers push through the skin and are half grown when the old feathers start to fall off. They are interlocked and sit on top of the new feathers like an old coat. A good gust of wind or a preening beak will displace them easily. This means penguins are never 'naked' or have the plucked-chicken-look.
Guess how many feathers a Yellow-eyed Penguin has on average!! The answer will be posted in a few days!
The moult is an undignified process. For penguins it is 'catastrophic' because all feathers are changed at the same time. The new feathers push through the skin and are half grown when the old feathers start to fall off. They are interlocked and sit on top of the new feathers like an old coat. A good gust of wind or a preening beak will displace them easily. This means penguins are never 'naked' or have the plucked-chicken-look.
Guess how many feathers a Yellow-eyed Penguin has on average!! The answer will be posted in a few days!
12 April 2015
There has been one guess of 3000 feathers on a Yellow-eyed penguin - thank you Gary! Maybe if I told you that they have 12-13 feathers per square cm of skin more of you will have a stab at guessing. Here is a photo of a penguin that has almost finished the moult. It has been standing in about the same place for 3 weeks and it looks like it has been snowing!
Go on, have a guess!!
There has been one guess of 3000 feathers on a Yellow-eyed penguin - thank you Gary! Maybe if I told you that they have 12-13 feathers per square cm of skin more of you will have a stab at guessing. Here is a photo of a penguin that has almost finished the moult. It has been standing in about the same place for 3 weeks and it looks like it has been snowing!
Go on, have a guess!!
15 April 2015
Some brave souls have ventured a guess about the number of feathers a Yellow-eyed penguin wears. Some were closer than others but we estimate the number to be about 45 000. This is based on counting 12-13 feathers per square cm on the skin of an actual penguin and then multiplying it by the surface area of a (gentoo) penguin (found in the scientific literature). Gentoo penguins are about the same size.
Some brave souls have ventured a guess about the number of feathers a Yellow-eyed penguin wears. Some were closer than others but we estimate the number to be about 45 000. This is based on counting 12-13 feathers per square cm on the skin of an actual penguin and then multiplying it by the surface area of a (gentoo) penguin (found in the scientific literature). Gentoo penguins are about the same size.
18 April 2015
This is Becs, one of our sponsored adults who successfully raised her chick Finn with her mate (who is hiding in the bushes). She is about half way through the moult and looking fantastic.
This is Becs, one of our sponsored adults who successfully raised her chick Finn with her mate (who is hiding in the bushes). She is about half way through the moult and looking fantastic.
22 April 2015
We are coming to the end of moulting time for the Yellow-eyed penguins and most of them are now finished. During the day they are out fishing and return home most evenings to rest and socialise in the colony - and maybe admire the sunset?
We are coming to the end of moulting time for the Yellow-eyed penguins and most of them are now finished. During the day they are out fishing and return home most evenings to rest and socialise in the colony - and maybe admire the sunset?
25 April 2015
Today is World Penguin Day (as well as Anzac Day and some people's birthday) - lets celebrate! The penguins are having a head start on the beach (and yes, that is the colour of the beach here at Moeraki in New Zealand)!
Today is World Penguin Day (as well as Anzac Day and some people's birthday) - lets celebrate! The penguins are having a head start on the beach (and yes, that is the colour of the beach here at Moeraki in New Zealand)!
28 April 2015
This is Stitches, a 1 year old Yellow-eyed penguin that we have currently in our rehabilitation facility. We found him in early April weighing only 3.7kg and with a huge bite wound on his lower belly and the kind vets from the St Kilda vet clinic in Dunedin patched him beautifully. He is easy to care for, eats very nicely out of the hand and is putting on weight. This is his third stint in rehab in his short life. He was one of our chicks from last summer and fledged naturally but could not work out how to catch a fish first time round. He came in weighing only 3.1kg in March last year, we fattened him up and released him and to our joy recorded him again in the colony through spring and summer. Then it was time for him to moult for the first time and he tried this weighing only 5.3kg when he should have been 7.5-8kg to make it through his 4 weeks fast. Lots of food saw him grow his adult feathers and he was off again only to return with the wound. He knows how to fish and in a few days can be released. He will have a small leak in his dive suit but he will be ok. He is now a resident here at Katiki Point, so we can keep an eye on him should he need more assistance. It has been a delight and privilege to care for him and we wish him all the best of luck!
This is Stitches, a 1 year old Yellow-eyed penguin that we have currently in our rehabilitation facility. We found him in early April weighing only 3.7kg and with a huge bite wound on his lower belly and the kind vets from the St Kilda vet clinic in Dunedin patched him beautifully. He is easy to care for, eats very nicely out of the hand and is putting on weight. This is his third stint in rehab in his short life. He was one of our chicks from last summer and fledged naturally but could not work out how to catch a fish first time round. He came in weighing only 3.1kg in March last year, we fattened him up and released him and to our joy recorded him again in the colony through spring and summer. Then it was time for him to moult for the first time and he tried this weighing only 5.3kg when he should have been 7.5-8kg to make it through his 4 weeks fast. Lots of food saw him grow his adult feathers and he was off again only to return with the wound. He knows how to fish and in a few days can be released. He will have a small leak in his dive suit but he will be ok. He is now a resident here at Katiki Point, so we can keep an eye on him should he need more assistance. It has been a delight and privilege to care for him and we wish him all the best of luck!
|
|
2 May 2015
This year we didn't see a lot of juvenile Yellow-eyed penguins - which are last year's chicks and don't have the yellow line round the back of the head - indicating that survival was not very good. Juveniles often struggle to make it through their first moult and here is one that is normal weight (about 5kg) but he wants to moult. For that he should be 7.5kg or 8kg. At any other time of the year we leave a penguin of 5kg alone - they are fine. A un-moulted juvenile in April weighing 5kg is not fine. So lots and lots of food in the hospital and then he can moult. No dramas but without intervention this perfectly fine individual would not have made it. Some are just easy to save.
This year we didn't see a lot of juvenile Yellow-eyed penguins - which are last year's chicks and don't have the yellow line round the back of the head - indicating that survival was not very good. Juveniles often struggle to make it through their first moult and here is one that is normal weight (about 5kg) but he wants to moult. For that he should be 7.5kg or 8kg. At any other time of the year we leave a penguin of 5kg alone - they are fine. A un-moulted juvenile in April weighing 5kg is not fine. So lots and lots of food in the hospital and then he can moult. No dramas but without intervention this perfectly fine individual would not have made it. Some are just easy to save.
4 May 2015
There are two ways of releasing a rehabilitated Yellow-eyed penguin: The soft-release pens and hard release. This is a hard release: we carry it to near water in a safe place and let it go. It can then decide when it wants to go to sea. We make sure it is fat enough that it can sit round for a few days. This was a juvenile that has now finished the molt and is nice and plump. It stayed for about a week and then was away. We hope to see it again of course, it knows how to fish and it is a resident - no need to try to imprint it on the area. It knows this is home.
There are two ways of releasing a rehabilitated Yellow-eyed penguin: The soft-release pens and hard release. This is a hard release: we carry it to near water in a safe place and let it go. It can then decide when it wants to go to sea. We make sure it is fat enough that it can sit round for a few days. This was a juvenile that has now finished the molt and is nice and plump. It stayed for about a week and then was away. We hope to see it again of course, it knows how to fish and it is a resident - no need to try to imprint it on the area. It knows this is home.
He knows something is up.....!
9 May 2015
Stitches is ready to be released. The wound has healed and he doesn't want food from us anymore. He is restless and is preening a lot - so it is time for him to go home to the wild.
Stitches is ready to be released. The wound has healed and he doesn't want food from us anymore. He is restless and is preening a lot - so it is time for him to go home to the wild.
First he is put in a bag.
|
And he is weighed: 5.7kg - great weight.
|
He has arrived at his forest release site.
|
And he is out of the bag.
|
... it isn't easy!
|
and there is really no way of doing this elegantly or gracefully.
|
