Penguin Rescue Update

Mr. 172 has persuaded a female to visit his nest box

​Hello friends and family
The wet start to the week only produced 10mm of rain, but by Tuesday, it was nice again. Robbie came out in the morning and serviced the automatic traps. Many had run out of lure after 6 months, so it was very timely.
In the afternoon, I picked up Jordan, a young Canadian who is doing a thesis on the impact of seasonality on the work we do. She is interviewing many throughout the penguin community so that is great.

Jordan wanted a photo

​On Wednesday we went to Oamaru as I needed the stitches out of my ear, and took the opportunity to get the flu’ jab at the same time. We checked the reserves on Thursday – penguins at home here but none at Okahau. I took Jordan to the bus at lunchtime. It was lucky that she travelled then because an accident on the road just north of Hampden, closed the road for 7 hours. Both Elaine and Robbie were caught up in the delay. This is the second one in the last few weeks.

​The weather has turned very nice and I am enjoying working my way through the list of tasks at hand.
I finished the deep clean for the Hugo wing on Thursday and have filled all the buckets with rocks to go to the Bluffs.

​It was a big blow to find Mrs. 87 dead on the beach on Saturday morning. She has been an excellent mum, raising 2 chicks for the last 2 seasons and she was only 6 1/2 years old. The last autopsy showed Mr 171 died of Pasteurella, so I hope that is not the case with her.

Always time for a chat on the way to sea.

Have a great week!
Rosalie