Trustee Jill Cotton reports about blue penguins nesting close to her home:
“My birds had 100% breeding success this season.”
She noted:
“There’s been a change in the visitor pattern to the beach here.
Two things:
International visitors had this beach north of Greymouth targeted on a website for several years bringing unwanted numbers looking for penguins during the day and letting dogs run around. Then the pandemic put paid to international visitors and erosion of the lane down to the beach and large shingle pile up made it more difficult for locals. We mainly have keen fishermen and their families now.
We had observed a reduction in visitor numbers of about 75% over the past five seasons. I feel the penguins have more confidence in continued breeding here now …..definitely less interference.
With growing interest in our local wildlife in recent years, I was pleased to learn about a unique situation in the sale of my neighbour’s property. The house is on the same lane with three penguin nest boxes being used each season in the bush close by. My neighbour sadly passed away last year … he was a great friend to the penguins and asked his family to respect his wishes that the property be passed on to a similar person. The new owner is keen to look after and monitor the birds, which is great news.
I also have new tenants in my cottage …… penguin-friendly of course! We are off to a good start to the year.”
While materials were chosen that would stand up to the harsh coastal conditions, those same coastal conditions are conducive to plant growth! Occasional checks of the fences have been carried out by volunteers and rangers so that any maintenance needs can be identified and remedied. The never-ending need for maintenance is managing the vegetation that can grow through the fence, for example gorse, blackberry and hydrangea, pushing it to breaking point in places, or flop over causing damage from the weight of rank grass, rushes and weeds such as montbretia.
Volunteers recently spent a few hours tidying up the main fence along Woodpecker Bay north of Punakaiki so a big shout out to them - thank you Fiona, Jony, Reef, Katrina, Mandy, Marty, Teresa and Deb! Flax had been pressing down on the fence, but now the fence has been freed up by these wonderful volunteers - and they picked up a fair bit of rubbish too.
Volunteer Natassja Savidge has offered to check and help maintain the Hokitika penguin protection fence and joined Ranger Lucy Waller and Manager Inger Perkins in May to inspect the length of the fence. Some minor issues were found but the main finding was the extent of the vegetation growth that was damaging the fence in places. Big thanks to Natassja!
