A rare tawaki or Fiordland crested penguin is thought to have been killed by a dog at a Haast wildlife refuge and DOC is asking pet owners to ensure their animals are under control and kept out of prohibited areas. A dog was seen running loose in the Okahu/Jackson Bay Wildlife Refuge and a short […]
End of spring update from the coastline Blue Penguin Breeding: Monitoring from Punaikaiki to Cape Foulwind is showing a good breeding season. Numbers of breeding pairs is similar to last year, with the exception of 2 pairs re-establishing at our Punakaiki monitored site, where the colony appeared to have been lost. Two chick nests are […]
An injured tawaki was reported to DOC, who picked it up and took it to the local West Coast vets in Hokitika. The penguin needed stitches for a wound to the abdomen and then he or she, was taken to rehabilitator, Tracy Johnston-Coates for care until well enough for release. The penguin was named Falcon […]
Tawaki Ranger, Robin Long, went searching for Fiordland crested penguins a couple of months ago and reports on her adventure. Our plan was to survey for Fiordland crested penguins or tawaki along a remote stretch of the Stewart Island coast by kayak. As for last year, I was assisted by Simon Litchwark and we were […]
Blue penguins, only as tall as a 30cm ruler that every student will have in their tool kit, have been killed on coast roads since the roads were built through their nesting areas but some are now helping biology students in their studies. When penguins have been found dead on West Coast roads, they will […]
Every year, the Trust compiles its achievements, hopes and thanks into an Annual Report from the Chair. This year, Trust Chair, Reuben Lane, looks back on his first year in the role. Highlights include a successful application to the Department of Conservation Community Fund, giving the Trust three years of security with around 56% of […]
The West Coast Penguin Trust has been successful in its applications for funding from the Birds New Zealand Research Fund (BNZRF) this year. The fund mainly supports logistic costs and equipment and we sought support for our blue or little penguin foraging study based in Charleston, and our study of tawaki or Fiordland crested penguins […]
New signs alerting beach goers to the possible presence of wildlife are going up across the West Coast region. Led by the West Coast Penguin Trust, this initiative has the support of every District Council and local Department of Conservation teams. The wording and design of the new signs were developed collaboratively, and Westland Milk […]
We have been asked for a way to be a member, a supporter or an annual donor, and we have now come up with a means of joining us to ensure that penguins survive and thrive on the West Coast. For a minimum donation of just $50 a year you’ll become a Supporter, or, for […]
After six years of exciting and evolving research, The Tawaki Project has released a summary report noting varied foraging ecology and population dynamics across the breeding range. The project’s research revealed that the penguins show highly adaptable at-sea behaviour allowing them to forage successfully in open pelagic (West coast), constricted fjord ecosystems (Milford Sound/Piopiotahi), as […]
