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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
....are hanging out in Uncle Chang's box?? If the shoe fits.... Penguin TJ is a girl and Goldenglitter is a boy - it's their choice of abode that is going to be trouble: If Stewie Junior and Anna come home and find them there, there is going to be trouble. For now, they still had a chick to feed at the time of taking the photo, so PenguinTJ and Goldenglitter might be able to enjoy the house for a little while - but not too long.
PS it's Goldenglitter out front just starting to moult while PenguinTJ is almost finished (she cheated with salmon and was recently released from rehab). This is one of two chicks this pair hatched last season. While this particular bird has not got a name (or sponsor) it was wonderful to see it back in the colony. It is starting the moult weighing 7.6kg - pretty good for its first moult ever. We have erected a tent in one of our colonies to keep our penguins safe from the mosquitos that can cause Malaria. This little group has some juvenile and adults during the moult - and some of them have names and therefore sponsors. Not too sure which is which but among these five are: Hazel's mate, Pompey, Jo, Hehu and no. 5 is a juvenile from the next colony south of Moeraki. Welcome back everyone - you made it! Congratulations
The chicks are very social: here is the last photo of neighbour kids: Two chicks from Penny Hack's box, Lena and sibling from the Trii Top box and Janet's chicks, and Randy. They were gone within a few days of this photo being taken. Good luck, you guys, you are fat and ready!
This little rascal was being naughty to the other chicks in rehab and so we decided that it was so restless it was time for it to start the process of releasing. First stop was one week in the soft-release pen - alone - so it wouldn't beat up anyone. Here it is getting its last meal before we opened the gate - and Golden Tainui was off like a shot. Being beautifully fat and there appears to be plenty of fish in the sea, it should have a decent chance to learn how to catch a fish. Good luck, little buddy! P.S. Not sure whether Golden Tainui is a girl or a boy - the head measurement was inconclusive. We will find out when it gets back - hopefully as an accomplished juvenile! Once Golden Tainui was gone we were able to take the next lot of chicks to our soft-release pen: nine in total and they are:
Gustl's 2 chicks Hollie's chick Bequette's chick / Claus' sibling Kraka Bronn's chick Dylan's 2 chicks Goldenrod These chicks are in this pen by the beach for one week and are fed once a day. Then the pen door will be opened and they are free to go - or to stay if they fancy another meal. They are fed until they leave. Hopefully with this method they remember that there is food to be had here and that they can return if they are in trouble. Fingers crossed that they remember this! The same day we found Goldenstar with foot injuries we found Molly with some as well. She was not in such good nick, weighed only 4.5kg, but that was hardly surprising since she raised Randy and his sibling - recently sponsored Richard who is in rehab. Randy still has dad to feed him and we are expecting him to be gone any day. So it was good timing to give Molly a bit of TLC and lots of salmon - she has the munchies which is always a good sign.
This male is Golden Tainui's dad and he got himself damaged feet. He was a good weight but we could not leave him be without treating those cuts. So he is in rehab for a wee while for his treatment. He hasn't got the pre-moult munchies just yet, as evidenced by his sporadic appetite. One fish was smacked right across the pen with his flipper. OUCH.
These are three sponsored chicks that are waiting their turn to be released - soon. On the left is Manaia, in the middle is Richard and on the right is Xanthe. Manaia and Richard have been sponsored very recently and we are very grateful for the support for these chicks. Thank you all!
While they don't have their own names, they have sponsored parents. Both chicks needed a little top-up in rehab. Eric and Thor have done so well getting them to their 90 day check up: they are both girls and so precious. We will make them as fat as possible so they have the best possible chance to survive their fishing lessons out there.
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