Penguin Update

A Snares crested penguin in care

​Hello friends and family
The chicks are beginning to fledge. This is great timing as the seas are calm and the forecast is good.

still being fed by their parents

​4 had gone from down the hill when we did the rounds on Tuesday, and so I took the first 4 to soft release. They will stay there for about a week. In the afternoon, we went to a council hosted gathering at the Hampden hall of local conservationists which was rather inspiring! 

abundance

​I went to town on Wednesday morning and in the afternoon, shifted all the penguins out of the isolation ward and did a big clean up.

​Robbie and I did the rounds on Thursday and were very pleased to find another juvenile Hoiho. It weighed in at 7kg which is a great effort for a juvenile, and it takes the return rate up to 5%. We were now left with 7 chicks to fledge here and 5 at Okahau.

nearly ready to go

​Friday was the Hui at the Moeraki Marae. Robbie and I attended, trying to keep the lines of communication open, but well reminded that we are an inconvenience. Added to that stress was finding one of our Juvenile Hoiho in care dead on Saturday morning.

An Erect crested penguin getting a helping hand

I have had penguin calls from all over the east coast (Wenderholme to Curio Bay) and one from New Plymouth this week. There is an unprecedented number of Erect Crested penguins stranding on our coast at present. It has also been a week of ferret invasion. Never a dull moment!
Have a great week
Rosalie.