|
Facebook news
From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz 
|
|
|
To get some images of our penguins we put out trail cameras last week to see if we could catch them doing stuff..... It is a hit and miss whether you get anything and/or the penguins were doing stuff. Not many penguins were around and were only really walking from here to there like this one that stopped to have a pooh for you all! Finding your feet on the water's edge ain't easy........  The penguins are not around very much - so we don't get to see them either! The odd one here and there that has returned home early might be hanging about in the forest, but for the rest, they stay at sea or return after we have gone home. This is all normal - but does provide much for FB.......There is no reason to believe anything is amiss: it's winter, and it's normal.  Our most delightful guest got his micro-chip and was released after completing his moult. He was a pleasure to care for, but he was not well. He came back positive for Malaria and we wonder if he picked it up here on the South Island. We hope so, the alternative is that Malaria made it to his home island, probably Antipodes Island, and that is not good news. He certainly did not waste any time to head away! We don't get to see the penguins much these days. During the day they are out fishing and even in the evenings not many come ashore. This is normal behaviour and we delighted with the condition of the penguins. They appear to be doing just fine!  This wee girl is a chick from this past season, raised by Odd Simen and Butterbell and she has come back. She was not feeling very well and was a little on the skinny side but she clearly had learnt how to catch fish. She had an infection she was treated for, was released but was back within a a week with a sore throat. She remembered how to eat nicely and after she was well again, she was released again. The main thing is she knows how to catch fish and she knows where to go when she is feeling unwell. See you round, little one! And well done.  We don't see so many of these and when we do they are usually in trouble. These wee guy came to us in early May and was not only in an unsafe place but really, really late with his moult. They are such gentle creatures and so polite. Please excuse the wobbles in the video, it ain't easy to manoeuvre a fish into the bird while also holding a camera!! |
Archives
December 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
