Sunday 21st May 2023

Mr chunky was able to attract his partner home for much needed help

​Hello friends and family,
We all know what they say about the best laid plans – I never got to the WReNNZ conference in Auckland – I got COVID instead. I suspect I caught it at the Oamaru penguin symposium and tested positive on the following Tuesday. I am surrounded by caring people so by Wednesday I had started the antivirals and by Friday was feeling much better. 

my chief spider catcher

​Hiltrun came up on Saturday and rescued Flipper bird, leaving only one breeding female missing from the Moeraki colony. She also brought up our young penguin from the Dunedin Wildlife hospital. We are very grateful for their fine care of our penguins that need extra help. We are also very grateful for all our sponsorship, and it was a buzz to get support from Geistlich Pharma, Australia, as it was unexpected.

2 pied shags take a break

​I was out of isolation by Tuesday, so Jan, Murray and Bronwyn joined me for the rounds. We had rain so it was a wet adventure but all quiet on the penguin front. Jan and I did a repeat on Thursday. Friday was the end of season meeting at DOC in Dunedin. Jan and I went down and kept to the script which is always a good thing. After the meeting we went to the organic shop for lunch and then did the errands and I was home by 3pm.

the early Kowhai that attracts Bellbirds through the winter

​Yesterday Hiltrun came up and we did the rounds – no needy penguins, but Murray found one at the Bluffs which is now in the Dunedin Wildlife hospital with an eye injury. We released Mrs 121 so are now down to 7 Hoiho in care plus one little penguin.

prospecting a new nest box

Have a great week!
Rosalie