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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz 
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The yellow-eyed penguins are staking out their future nest sites and are trying out various boxes - including sponsored ones. This box had a couple interested - time will tell if she likes it enough for them to breed in it!  We can't ever guarantee that a sponsored box is going to be used and sometimes it takes a year or two to see a penguin in such a box. Here, the box with "Benny's Angels" on it had been occupied by a single male - alas he never bred in it. Over the last few weeks there have been one or two penguins in it. It seems to be to their liking. The writing is almost disappeared but the thought is still there!  We have shifted our trail camera to spy on a pair of yellow-eyed penguins at their nest site. Here one of them gives a full ecstatic display call this penguin species is known for as Hoiho - in Maori it means the noise-shouter. Once all the preening and socialising on the beach is done the penguins make their way through the forest to their nests. Here, this group of three was passing through a puddle of late afternoon sun on their way.  Watching the penguins negotiating the waves on the edge of the beach makes one realise how much they are at home in the ocean. Every once in a while we see a penguin being tossed about a bit but usually they ride a wave onto the beach, land there and scramble to their feet and walk away.  A yellow-eyed penguin on the way home through the forest is peering out from behind a tree to see who else is wandering around. They are wary of humans and usually stay out of the way.  A single yellow-eyed penguin has just come ashore and is being met by four others - and a shag! This seems to be happening a bit when the penguins have finished with their post-arrival preening, they mess around on the beach being sociable and checking out who else arrives back.  Usually these penguins arrive back onshore alone, in twos or threes but here we saw a group of 10 arrive together. Where they met up is anyone's guess but they messed around in the surf for a while and then all come ashore together.  ...and dithering by the looks of it. These yellow-eyed penguins are messing around on the beach having a bit of social time before going fishing for the day. Penguins can be vicious when they are fighting and there is no holding back. Here we witnessed a couple of yellow-eyed penguins going to town with each other. They are using their flippers and scream at each other. They can also use their bills with their sharp edges and that can cause some small injuries as well.  |
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