Penguin Rescue Update

Dan and I rescued this juvenile on Tuesday evening

​This week began away from home and ended back at the lighthouse at Moeraki, with the familiar rhythm of sanctuary life waiting at the end of the journey. After time in Papamoa house-sitting for family, it was time to return south, flying from Tauranga to Christchurch before making the final leg back towards North Otago, on the bus.

mischief in triplicate!

​Pauline kindly picked me up from Christchurch airport, and we had time for breakfast together before I joined her at the vet clinic. Later, Dan met me in Oamaru, and we went out for dinner before heading home to the lighthouse. It is always good to come back, even when the week ahead is already shaping up to be a busy one.

Another glorious sunset

​There was also time for our regular community routine at the Resource Recovery Centre on Wednesday morning, helping to give pre-loved items a second life. It is a lovely contrast to the sanctuary work: practical, local, and full of small reminders that conservation is not only about wildlife, but also about how we value and reuse what we already have.

The camera is down at the moment, but the penguins are keeping their routine

​By midweek, however, our attention shifted sharply. On Wednesday afternoon, the news came through that highly pathogenic avian influenza had been found in New Zealand. For those of us caring for vulnerable seabirds, this was the kind of announcement we had been hoping would not come but preparing for all the same.
At our team meeting on Thursday morning, we discussed stepping up to Level 1 biosecurity. This means being even more vigilant about hygiene, movement around the sanctuary, and anything that could increase risk to the penguins in our care. We have been checking our supplies, including disinfectant, and thinking carefully about how best to protect the birds while continuing the essential work of rehabilitation.

The night sky is so accessible in winter, and beautiful too

One of the most important messages for the public is simple: if you find dead seabirds, please do not touch or move them. Report them to MPI so the right people can respond safely. This protects people, domestic birds, and wildlife, and it gives authorities the information they need to track what is happening.
For now, we are watching closely, preparing carefully, and continuing to do what we can for the penguins.
Have a great week!
Rosalie