February 07th, 2021

​Hello friends and family
Summer arrived this week – beautiful days and mild nights. The garden is in full swing and the penguins are getting on with business. On Monday we picked up 40 boxes of fish from NZ King Salmon who are generously sponsoring us again this year. This time it involved a trip to Hampden as we collected it straight off a big, 20 m Big Chill truck. On Tuesday we continued with our 90-day health check for the chicks and for the first time, saw some pre-fledglings on the beach. Robbie and Lindsey erected the soft release tent and by the next day, it had its first occupant.

​On Thursday we took the first hospital chick to soft release. It needed to go on its own as it is very aggressive towards the other chicks. It was a single chick and had Malaria early on and was treated in the field. On Friday I went to town and bought a new dishwasher. I have been without one for months and the problem was the motor controller, and it would cost $250 for the parts alone so after 6 years of trouble with it, I have now purchased a Bosch single one.

​Yesterday when I went to feed the chick, I saw another moulting juvenile and Mrs Flipper bird who should have been out fishing. The chicks on the beach had gone. We have 25 YEPs in care and one White Flippered. Happy days

Have a great week!
Rosalie
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