Sunday 21 January 2024

Feeding time

​Hello friends and family
The promised rain has eluded us and so watering the plant nursery is always on the list of things to do. On Monday we parked the list and went to Oamaru for lunch at Scotts Brewery. They make pizzas for vegans, so it is an enjoyable option. We purchased tee shirts for penguin branding and so Dan has yet another creative task to do.

the k44 chicks staying where their parents put them.

On Tuesday we began the blood sampling of the chicks. Thank goodness they are identified as finding them is a challenge. It is a big job, so we have split it into 3. We did the first 29 on Tuesday then the next 18 on Thursday. That leaves us a few in each colony to find and test next Tuesday.

What the chicks are usually doing

​Wednesday was Toptip day and in the afternoon, Dan went to the T20 international cricket game in Dunedin. We took a blow on Thursday when one of our chicks at Okahau died on its way to the Wildlife hospital. We picked up its sibling and a chick from Bluffs that was not thriving too. Down to 59 chicks.

When your baby is sick, and you don't know what to do

Yesterday Dan and I picked up 4 more chicks who have plasmodium in their blood. We did this to reduce the malaria threat to the other 8 penguin chicks living close by. In the afternoon, Dan drove down to the airport and picked up Dave, our new volunteer from North England. Dave is a retired policeman who volunteers as a way of life. The weather has been glorious, and we are making the most of it.
Have a great week!
Rosalie