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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
They got together this season and are happily incubating eggs. Mr Dee has not been breeding for three years since Vivek divorced him. He has dutifully incubated dummy eggs in those years, so he has lots of practice - and now the real thing!
We have our first chicks hatch in the weekend: Chicky had one, and one on the way, and Hollie also had a chick, second one still to hatch. Sorry, no photos, they are so tiny we don't want to linger too long by the nest while the chicks are fragile. This sponsored box has got the same pair in it again this season - and they have two eggs. Some pairs will change the box every year but not this pair: it's no. 8 every year!
She has a new mate - we are not sure what has happened to Manaia but we have seen a single bird kicking about near her nest but we have not been able to identify him. Poseidon and her new mate are now living in the Flintford box - not one has been used recently, but got sponsored a little while ago. They have two eggs.
Yes, they are reunited and they have two eggs.
This box was sponsored five years ago - and as you can see you can't read the name on it anymore. Over time the rules around box sponsorship were refined: the sponsorship is finished when the name is not longer readable or five years have passed - previous sponsors of the box have first dibs to renew. We only just started the box sponsorships back then, and the Uncle Chang box was one of the first, and this box has been occupied every year. So we hope that the kind sponsors got their money's worth - and it is available for renewal - and if you don't want to renew, it's open to others. Fair enough? The 5 year limit by the way does not apply to penguins: the penguin you sponsor is for the lifetime of the penguin - be it long or short. This sponsored box has a pair breeding in it again this year. It's Vivek's mate with a new mate, a two year old that has come all the way from the Catlins to breed at Moeraki. They have one egg.
She is back with Eire and they have two eggs, both fertile as far as we can tell. They have moved house and exchanged their rectangular box with a fashionable A-frame. It's a bit closer to the beach too!
She has stayed with Penguin TJ in a new box and they have two eggs. Hopefully they will do better this season!
To all our wonderful sponsors, here is a list of all birds and boxes in action this season: Pengainz and Leo Derek and Penelope in Nikita's nest 2 Collins Family box: same pair Bri and mate in Bri's Bach 310Mood box with pair Dorbne Kuka with pair Charlie (the older) Poseidon with new mate in Flintford box Chris and Lesley in Zac McNall box Poppy with new mate in new box Jackson and Vivek in Jonathan's Pengies box 10 Windsor St box Freddie in Nat and Kate 10 years box Eire and Noelyn in new box Stewie Junior and Anna in Uncle Chang's box Spencer and Ciara in Nikita's nest 1 Bruce and Charlie (the younger) in Charlie's Crib Charlie's Penguin Palace box Chicky with new mate in Flipper Palace Goldenstar and Honeydrop Logan Bear and mate in Wild 3 box Shaju and Janet in Trii Top box Mr Paddles and Meghan in Harris Family box Odd Simen and Butterbell in new box Barney Morgan Hollie with new mate in Noah and Helena Maas box Ewan and MamaPingu in Doreen Marjory box Peanut and Ming in fancy blue box Molly with new mate Bitty with old mate in Penny Hack box Jolie and Kev in Kev's Kabin Hotel Buenzli Bronn with her mate Not breeding this season: Rio, Holger, Nye, Jax (again), Eric, Gustl and Rocco. Also recorded Matty, Sam, Hooli and Lola. We will be posting updates about all sponsored penguins throughout the summer to let you know how they are getting on. Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors for your support! We feel very blessed. She is back - and lucky to be alive. She has Malaria and is now being treated. Taylor is Pompey and Harry's chick from last summer, and her parents have so far not been found. She will be fine with some anti-Malaria pills and some yummy salmon, and she'll be on her way again. Clearly, she knows how to catch a fish.
A special young man called Morgan was born today a few years ago and this yellow-eyed penguin was named after him. Our Morgan currently is sitting very proud on his eggs, and true to form they are likely to result in a couple of fluffballs in November.
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