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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
Wondering what U2's frontman would say to this fluffball! It is certainly well looked after with Stewie Junior in attendance on this occasion and Anna out at sea getting dinner!
These two have also started to grow those tail feathers and are usually home alone while the parents are out at sea fishing. They are fairly young still but tracking well - the parents are excellent providers.
Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm were not together on this day. One was hiding in the nest box (Chris' Cabin) and the other was about 5m away under a bush. Maybe they had a disagreement?
These two are Rocco and Hollie's chicks (hatched in Penny Box 4 - a very popular box) and have wandered a little bit from the nest box and hanging out in the shade. Like with the other chicks, the tail feathers have started to come through. They have reached adult size and weight, now it's a matter of growing those sea-going feathers.
Mum and chick have wandered to the back of the box where they can catch the breeze. Skipper is also Jackson's chick and he is out getting dinner while Hazel is watching over fluffball!
This chick really lives up to its name: it is our youngest and Vivek's chick but like the others it has started to wander and it is a bit of search to find these guys on some days - especially when it's a bit warmer and they are finding a cool shady spot to hang out.
This wee female was hanging out in the colony and looked great. Welcome back, little one! She has already been sighted with an adult - so there appears to be a boyfriend around - we will find out during the moult. And fingers crossed she'll make some babies next summer!
This is one of our chicks sponsored last year and she has shown up and was in an odd place and acting out of character. She weighed 4.8kg which is a bit light for this time of year when they ought to be fattening up for the moult. She can do that now safely in rehab on a diet of salmon!
Now even our youngest two chicks are home alone during the day. It's not surprising as they weigh over 4kg now and will need a lot of food! They keep each other company and snooze the day away while their parents (Mary and her mate) are out getting dinner!
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