Sunday 8th September 2024

Little Penguins on the island

​Hello friends and family
Despite the forecasts, the weather has been great. On Sunday and Monday, I cut wire and planted trees.

The native bloom is blooming

​The team came out on Tuesday morning and we were treated to seeing a lot of penguins at home. Down the hill here, 26 nests had at least one occupant and at Okahau, the number was 18. Murray has seen 3 nests occupied at the Bluffs. These numbers are indicative only, but quite reassuring with the constant year on year decline that we have become used to.

Claiming his nest box

​On Wednesday I went down to Dunedin for the follow-up meeting with the surgeon who will do some remedial work on my face when she can. I then took the opportunity to catch up with Trudi who has done so much valuable work for Hoiho, I wanted to tell her in person that Penguin Rescue appreciated the difference she has made. 

This new box was snapped up within hours of being placed

​The team came out on Thursday morning and we did the rounds – the numbers of penguins at home were down at both colonies, but some different penguins were home than those we had seen on Tuesday, going from their location. Murray found a penguin nesting well inland from sites we have seen used before. We checked out the island and found 6 Little penguin nests. The seals have destroyed all the vegetation and most of the little penguin nesting boxes.

Shags in breeding plumage but not active.

​We did get 2 mm of rain yesterday, along with a lot of wind. I spent the afternoon gaming with a clear conscience.

The gulls are arriving back on the island

Have a great week!
Rosalie