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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz 
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She was out in the open on this day but her mate was around there somewhere. She certainly looked appropriately fat for the start of the moult.  She was almost done with her moult on this day and was busy sleeping when we walked past - yes, standing up. They don't sleep that deeply so we tiptoe around them trying not the wake and alarm them. Her new feathers certainly looked very nice!  and her mate moulted in their favourite spot out in the open where they can catch the breeze overlooking the ocean. Didn't move much from there but they were together and that mattered the most.  These two bred in Spitefire Rise box but moulted elsewhere. They are now claiming it back since they finished their moult and hang out with each other.  And her mate often moult near this contraption. We built it one year on top of a cliff because it looked like they might have wanted to build their nest there and we were worried about the drop to the beach next to it and the clumsy chicks they might have. We called it the McLedge box (like McMansion....). It would do the trick to keep the chicks safe, but they usually move back into the forest - it's Bitty, the female obviously that has the last say as she lays the eggs and they can't be moved once laid (well, not by them anyway)!  Like many pairs this season these two had overlap but Hollie was way ahead. She was slightly skinny and he might have looked fat but not quite enough. We keep them together in the pen in rehab so they have company and the pair bond is not interrupted.  She is sleeping in the forest, nice and fat waiting for those feathers to come through. She was on her own and we have not been able to identify her mate, but hopefully he will be one of those that also looked fab. He probably moulted after her some time but pair usually find each other again once this stage is past.  These two are quite predictable where they moult, and they were in their usual spot. They were eyeing us suspiciously and so we moved on assuming these two penguins are the usual two that moult there.  After raising Lallo Waddle these two timed the start to their moult rather well. They decided to hang out in the neighbouring box to the one where they bred - this happens a bit and most pairs have more than one box that they claim in their territory: it gives more choices to the females when breeding time comes around again!  These two did so well raising Sam and Sim and even timed their moulting well. Well done you two!  |
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