The project which will see public viewing of Blue Penguins and Sooty Shearwaters at Cape Foulwind has taken its first step.
Last month Solid Energy committed to funding the project for the next two years. Trust chair woman Kerry-Jayne Wilson and temporary ranger Helene Roehl have now put the first penguin nesting boxes and new predator traps in.
There are already a small number of penguins and sooty shearwaters, also know at Titi or muttonbirds, nesting near the flyover section of the Cape Foulwind walkway. The plan is to increase these populations over the next three to five years so the public can view both species returning to their nests after dusk.
A sound system will arrive soon and will broadcast Penguin and Shearwater calls to attract more birds to join the small colony already nesting above the walkway. Predator control will be undertaken to help the birds breed successfully.
“Working with wild animals success is never guaranteed however as both of the target species already breed at Cape Foulwind and the methods used have worked elsewhere the chance of success is high,” says Kerry Jayne Wilson.
Once a nucleus of nesting penguins has established yellow lights will be installed beneath the walkway with a timer switch to allow visitors to observe the birds as they make their way from the sea to their nests in the hour after dark.
The sooty shearwater is almost extinct on the mainland of New Zealand. In the hours following dusk visitors would be able to see them circle over the colony before crashing to the ground close to their nests.
“It’s an amazing site seeing them and then hearing the thud as they crash down to land,” says Kerry Jayne.
“The beauty of this site is the public can’t access the actual nest sites but they can view both birds”.
The project has the support of DOC and the Buller Council.
