Penguin Update

Our first Crested penguin for the season

​Hello friends and family
On Sunday evening, Katherine, the new volunteer arrived and settled in. 

The Spoonbills are back nesting at Moeraki

​We set off on beach searches the next morning, after feeding the penguins in care. As we crossed the fence at the south end, I almost stepped on a sleeping sealion. That woke me up big time! The morning walk was also improved by a call from DOC Auckland to suggest that when people phone me about a stranded penguin from their area, I should encourage them to phone the DOC 0800 number as they now have a network of volunteers to help at all hours!

the sealion

​On Tuesday, the team arrived. Our plan was to measure the heads of the chicks here and we did so for 13 of the 14. Maybe the other one has already fledged. My pick would be 6 females and 8 males, counting the one that has fledged. In the process we came across 2 injured adult Hoiho and one Snares Crested penguin. They are all in care.

The Snares crested penguin

​Katherine left on her next adventure on Wednesday morning, thank you Katherine for you help, and I spent the day on domestic tasks until the phone went at about 5pm and the call was about another stranded Erect Crested penguin.

The second Erect crested penguin

​By the time I had collected it, got it home and settled, it was about 8:30pm.
On Thursday, the team came out and we weighed the 6 chicks at Okahau – one male and 5 females! We expect that they will all be gone by the end of next week! I got another call about a stranded Erect crested penguin, but this time it was nearer Christchurch, so I called the Christchurch team, and they uplifted it successfully. 

The wild chicks are creching with their neighbour and looking fabulous.

Thankfully, Friday and Saturday were quiet as I have already rescued an Erect crested penguin this morning!
Have a great week!
Rosalie