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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz 
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If you ever thought that penguins are oh-so-cute and harmless - maybe this will convince you that they have very strong opinions and are not shy about expressing them with their flippers while shouting. Here, clearly the opinions clashed and needed sorting!  Every once in a while our yellow-eyed penguins take a day off and hang out on shore for the day - often with a partner or prospective partner. We don't go after them to identify them - although we would love to know who it is - as this will cause too much stress. We make sure they are ok and move on to leave them to their day of rest.  Our yellow-eyed penguins appear to be in excellent nick indicating that they are doing well finding food. They seem to be enjoying the off-season and are doing a lot of socialising after returning from fishing.  Occasionally we are delighted to spot a juvenile among the adult yellow-eyed penguins hanging out in our colonies. It is wonderful to see them back and socialising with the residents.  These yellow-eyed penguins seem to have a lot to say to each other and they seem to do it mostly by shouting!  We don't get to see our yellow-eyed penguins all that much now in the middle of winter unless we stay in the colony until they arrive from fishing. Here a group has assembled on the way home just off the beach for a spot of preening.  Our yellow-eyed penguins are so beautiful at the moment with their new feathers and full bellies - it is good to be reminded that they sat around for a full four weeks like ugly ducklings for their gorgeous look now. Here, a breeding pair is doing it together.  It can be a bit of a tumble-dryer effect when the big waves roll in, but this yellow-eyed penguin was not bothered and messed around in the big waves for a while before timing it perfectly to land on the beach.  This juvenile yellow-eyed penguin has caught the attention of an adult - good or bad, that's hard to tell - and is running away. The body language can be interpreted as "enthusiastically delighted to see you" or "you have come too close to my territory and it's time you move along NOW". The youngster certainly is opting for a quick get-away!  We have a second juvenile yellow-eyed penguin in care at the moment as well. She was picked up looking a bit skinny and "sick" looking and examining her blood it turns out she has an elevated white blood cell count. So after her course of antibiotics and lots of salmon, she can be released again. It's amazing to see our young ones back already. Given that the little penguins have already started laying eggs both at Takiharuru/Pilots Beach and in Oamaru it looks like food conditions at sea are good. This is most excellent news!  |
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