A sound-system broadcasting blue penguin and sooty shearwater calls has been erected near Cape Foulwind to attract more of the seabirds to the area.
The West Coast Blue Penguin Trust is behind a project to increase blue penguin and sooty shearwater numbers nesting near Cape Foulwind. It will take four to five years for a nucleus of both species to establish and then the public will be able to view the birds returning to their nests at dusk.
Solid Energy has committed to funding the first two years of the project. It is also supported by DOC and the Buller Council.
West Coast Blue Penguin Trust Chairwoman Kerry-Jayne Wilson says the sound system was erected this week, a year ahead of schedule.
“It is great to be this far ahead with the project already. By broadcasting calls more birds should be attracted to the small colonies that are already there. Already a couple of the nesting boxes we have located in the area have been used which is a really positive sign,” she says.
Sooty shearwaters are almost extinct on the mainland of New Zealand and there is no public penguin viewing on the West Coast of the South Island. It is hoped the area will become a tourist attraction in time.
