Sunday 27th October 2024

Who am I? There are still stray penguins around that are not breeding.

​Hello friends and family,
We got off to a quiet start. On Sunday I went to the Bluffs for some weed control and on Monday to Oamaru for shopping. The team came out on Tuesday, and we were joined by Megan and Jason from Dunedin. We all enjoy having them visit because penguin talk is normal! After the rounds, we went off to Tavora to rescue trees downed in a giant slip. It felt like valuable work!

Kaka beak showing vivid colour

​On Wednesday, it was my turn at the Toptip. It was great to catch up with the locals and hear their news.

The gulls are settling on the island

​On Thursday we began candling the eggs. It was a great day. The high level of experience within the team was apparent. Only one infertile egg was found, and the penguins were very calm. For the new breeders, it was the first time they had been handled, so very stressful for them.

Narrow-leafed Olearia in full bloom

​It was also the first roll out of our new hygiene protocols. All towels, screens and overalls were sterilized before washing, and the system worked well. There is room for improvement, but it will become second nature and keep the penguins safer. Friday was the calm before the storm and in the last 24 hours we have had 65mm of rain. The trees are loving it. They are in full bloom with sweet perfume wafting around.

The first cabbage trees are blooming in the carpark.

Have a great week!
Rosalie