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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
To weigh our chicks we put them into these weigh bags. Here Randy is having his 90 day check up and put 5.6kg on the scales. His head was 143mm so he is definitely a boy. His sibling is in rehab as it had fallen behind. Molly, his mother is also in rehab with foot injuries but dad is still there to feed him. He is not far away from leaving.
These two chicks have finally left the box and have started to explore more widely in the forest - slowly but surely they learn which way to the beach. They have a little bit more time - they have not had their 90 day check-up yet, but very soon we will find out if they are boys or girls!
This chick was raised by Goldenstar and Honeydrop and they have done a fab job getting their chick to this age. At 70 days Golden Tainui should have weighed at least 5kg but was only 4.8kg so we decided it was time to let the parents off the parental hook. So now the chick has learnt how to eat salmon from a human - what a clever bird. Still has a little bit of down on the back of the neck and the 90 day check up is getting closer and then we will know if it's boy or girl. Notice the dark blue eyes. These chicks have dark brown almost black eyes when they hatch and within the next 6 months they will have turned yellow. For now they are blue!
These two are among the oldest in this colony and they have had their final 90 day check up: 6.6kg and 145mm head: that's a boy; and 6.0kg and 139mm head: that's probably a girl. So they have raised one each and done so well.
and her sibling are looking so grown-up. It's just amazing how quickly these penguin chicks grow from tiny brown balls to a 6kg penguin that is ready to head to sea. These two are not far off, still a wee bit of down to go. Bruce and Chicky have done such a good job this year!
This chick is Stitches chick and adorable who she hides in the bushes and hopes that we just pass by and leave her be. We did that day. She is not up for her 90 day check yet - but soon!
These two are a little bit younger as evident by the fluff they are still sporting. On this day also a parent was home - or was it the neighbour? We don't know, as we usually just look the chicks over for any sign of trouble. These two passed the visual inspection - they will be weighed again at 90 days and have their head measured so we can tell whether they are boys or girls.
These two and rather grown chicks are from Andy Cunningham's box and they had their last health check a few days ago. They passed with flying colours: 6.0kg and 5.9kg and one is definitely a boy (147mm head) and the other may also be a boy but may also be a girl (140mm). It's too early to call as they can still grow - and become a boy - or not so much and stay a girl!
White-flippered penguins only live there but we get stragglers here in Moeraki. This one was trying to moult and was not fat enough. A kind soul found it and we can now see it through the moult and release it to go home.
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