Sunday 25th August 2020

Our first chick of 2020

​Hello friends and family
The week started out busy and never let up! On Sunday we got a call out about a Leopard Seal stranded on the boat ramp in Moeraki. Off we went and soon saw that it had an abscess that had burst, and the seal needed to stay out of the water until it had stopped oozing. Dom stayed beside it to let the locals know that it was a natural event and I picked him up a few hours later when the decision was made that it was best left to sort itself out. By Monday afternoon it had gone back to sea. 

Miserable but safe - the Leopard seal rests on the boat ramp

​The team came on Tuesday, as did Hiltrun and John, to put trackers on the single male penguins. They got 5 of the 6 trackers out and John came back on Wednesday evening to deploy the last one. Dom has been kept busy doing data entry and planting trees. 

The Shags have big chicks and little chicks

​We did the rounds again on Thursday and got pipped at the post by Penguin Place who reported their first egg pipping! Lindsay joined the team and did some watering. Trii joined the team yesterday and did some watering. We completed the candling and found 2 chicks and 3 pips all up It  is so wonderful to see the season begin with such bounty.

The young penguins can explore while the adults are on the nest

Have a great week!
Rosalie
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