 The Snares crested penguin is beginning to look better Hello friends and family Sunday was very busy and unfortunately the SKYPE meeting failed due to technical issues and was re-scheduled for Tuesday but by then I had lost internet connectivity! On Monday we fed the penguins and spent the rest of the day inside as it was raining. It continued to rain through Tuesday so after our meeting at the Moeraki Marae we checked this colony and found an emaciated White Flippered penguin trying to stay alive on the beach.  the new friend - an Erect Crested penguin It continued to rain on Wednesday, and the storm brought us over 100 mm of rain. The ocean was very rough so not suitable for releasing penguins! I got a call from DOC and went and collected a dead penguin from Katiki Beach. There was extensive flooding on SH1 and a car stuck in the flood waters. Our road has small streams in it!  2 moulters checking out the accomodation The rain eased on Thursday, so I was able to get some cleaning done and catch up a little – I even phoned Spark and ordered a technician to repair my internet and phone. He came on Friday and fixed it – thank goodness for that! The fish also arrived on Friday, so I was feeling blessed.  And then the storm was gone Chris and Hiltrun came up on Friday night and we checked on some penguins at the south end. They were all underweight. This is a pattern that I have seen often – penguins that are compromised perch at the edges of colonies – they seek company but are not assertive enough to use the main landings. One of them was raised as a chick here so it is a treat to see it come back a year later.  The moulters that like to hang out with the sheep Yesterday we found another dead chick in the colony – quite degraded but off to Massey for a post-mortem. We would suspect another Malaria case, given the events of the last fortnight.
This coming week I will be able to move more chicks to soft release and feed up some skinny moulters. Have a great week! Rosalie  The Fiordland Crested penguin in soft release Hello friends and family I am safely home after a great break away visiting the family. Everything went to plan until I was sitting in the plane at Wellington airport, waiting for take-off to Christchurch when they made an announcement that there was a baggage discrepancy and so we sat there for 45 minutes which meant that I missed my bus home.  Olivia with cousins and Kickass waiting for her first movie Luckily, I decided to contact Graeme and Wendy and was able to stay the night with them in Christchurch and got home at mid-day on Friday. Their hospitality was amazing, and I really enjoyed my visit. I returned home to Chris and grand-son Hamish, 14 YEP chicks, a juvenile YEP, a Fiordland Crested, an Erect Crested and a Snares crested. By mid afternoon we had rescued an adult YEP from Shag point and then were able to have dinner after Hiltrun arrived.  Leaving the Mount Yesterday Hamish left for his new academic year at Canterbury University in the morning and we had a film crew in the afternoon. The chicks in the colony are leaving and the juveniles and unemployed adults are arriving to moult. Every day is different from the last and having a week’s gap is amazing!  Mt Taranaki beyond Mt Ruapehu The garden is producing at full speed and last night we ate the first beetroot harvest. I cooked it and diced it and sprinkled it with Balsamic vinegar – delicious!  A fat chick ready to fledge Today we will keep filming and this afternoon I have a video conference - busy times!
Have a great week Rosalie  The Snares Crested feeling better Hello friends and family Last Sunday Elaine, Chris Hiltrun and I did the 90-day weigh and measure for the bulk of the chicks in the colony. We brought in 4 that had lost weight, two from each colony and were pleased to find that many of them now weigh over 6 Kg.  A new Moeraki boulder about to drop The challenge came where the chicks were crèched – up to 8 chicks in one gathering and we didn’t want to handle the younger ones yet. We only missed one that will be weighed next week.  A flock of blackbirds enjoying the view By Wednesday the oldest of the chicks had fledged and I found the first adult moulter. It looked just fine. I did see a juvenile that looked a bit light, but it may have just been taking the day off and be out to sea tomorrow. This was the day that I harvested the early pears so that they ripen in a cool spot and don’t rot from the inside out.  Chicks on the landing - eyeing up the ocean Chris arrived on Thursday to take the reigns of the hospital as I headed off for a week to visit the family early on Friday morning. This is a first on several levels. Firstly, I used public transport from the Moeraki turnoff and secondly, I had time away in the summer. There is lots to be done at this time of the year, so Chris will be busy!
Have a great week! Rosalie  growing nicely on a diet of salmon Hello friends and family The week began with a hiss and a roar with penguins getting sick and a new Fiordland Crested penguin coming into care with damaged feet. The new fish was too small and the dishwasher broke down (again) Oh for a simple life!  Playing on the beach before the storm The upside was that I saw a pod of at least 10 Hector’s dolphins in the bay. They were playing and flipping and generally lolling about so that cheered me up no end. Dolphins  A Shy Mollymawk cast off to die By Tuesday we had another chick die in the reserve and a Snares Crested penguin come in from Waikouaiti. Robbie visited on Wednesday and generously offered to help with our work. While he was here we came across a dead Mollymawk that had taken a bait. Instead of removing the hook, the fisherperson just cut the line about a meter from the bird – it died.  The Snares Crested - too exhausted to stand We got 60 mm of rain on Thursday which was certainly needed and has not done any damage that I have found yet. I saw every chick here on Friday morning and on my way home I saw Orcas swimming in very close. I was able to point them out to Patrick too – somehow these awesome experiences are even better shared.  spoonbills on the wing Chris and Hiltrun arrived last night and today we will check most of the chicks for their 90-day weight. That is the last we will have to do with them before they fledge.
Have a great week! Rosalie |
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