Penguin Rescue Update

Mrs 18 looked good - not so, only 6.2kgs and doomed without help

​Hello friends and family
Things have not quietened down yet. On Tuesday morning we picked up 11 penguins that were either underweight or marginal. The lightest was only 3.7 kgs, still at home and in trouble.

the 131 pair moulted in the wild

​We released 2 more that have completed the moult, so we are making progress. I went to Oamaru on Wednesday and had planned to take some awesome autumn photos to share, but was so spoiled for choice, I did not take any. 

autumn has been warmer than summer

​The team came out on Thursday, and we rounded up the last of the breeders down the hill. I was mortified to find that they too were underweight – they took 5 weeks from their chicks fledging to coming in to moult, so I really thought they were all good – not so! 

Mr 212 moulted alone. His partner needed help

​We brought in 7 and released another 2. The penguins that need help make themselves known in several ways. Some crow as they hear us approach, some start to run and others just plonk themselves down on our path. Some head for the bush and try to make their capture interesting. 

All moulted - in holiday mode

​My goal now is to release at least 2 penguins that have completed the moult each day – slowly reducing the total of 38 down to single figures!

Checking out nest boxes for next season

Today we have 34 penguins in care. Each day they get fed a total of 240, 15cm salmon smolt. Their appetite varies with their stage of the moult and their personalities. They are demand fed, between a minimum of 2 fish and a maximum of 16 per day. They are released when they have completed the moult.
Have a great week!
Rosalie