Feral cats pose a new threat to blue penguins
6th August, 2015
An injured penguin found beside the highway at Awatuna in late July was found to have been attacked by a cat.
Penguin breeding season gets underway
23rd August, 2015
Spring is springing all around us and penguins up and down the coast are likely to be incubating eggs.
Successful DOC funding bid
20th September, 2015
We’re delighted to report that the Trust has been successful in its bid for funding from DOC’s Community Conservation Partnerships Fund! Read more
Annual blue penguin count 9-12 October
24th September, 2015
The annual blue penguin census, where Coasters get out onto their local beach and look for penguin tracks, will take place a little later this year, around 9-12 October.
A few days in the life of a tawaki family
10th March, 2016
The Trust’s ‘pre-predator control’ monitoring project in South Westland is producing a fascinating insight into the day to day existence of our rare Fiordland crested penguins.
Book launch at Granity School
31st August, 2022
Granity School welcomed ex-local and author, Juliet Cooper for a very special visit in July.
Juliet used to live in Granity, and during her time here, was inspired by the whanau of kororā (Blue Penguins) who lived under her cottage. She wrote a children’s book about them and decided to launch it back in the place it all began.
“Due to the story being based in Granity, I thought it would be special to launch it there” she said.
Granity School Principal Gemma Rout said it was a privilege to have Juliet at the school. “Juliet has written a wonderful picture book, and we were very privileged for her to be releasing her book right here at Granity School” she said. Juliet donated four books as a gift to the school. She asked for two of them to be used as awards to children who show consideration and kindness. “There’s a message in the story about the fledgling chicks rafting up and looking after each other” she said. The other two books are now pride of place at the school’s library. Beautifully illustrated by Mike Howell, “Penguins Under the Floor” is retailing for $25 from commercial outlets. Juliet’s book is also available through Granity School for the special price of $22, with $2 from each sale to be donated to the school.
An extract from the Juliet Cooper’s book “Penguins Under the Floor”… Pa had done all he could do to build two beautiful brick burrows. They were warm, dry, and dark but still, Peter and Pippa preferred to live under the Little old cottage with the red roof and the green door. What else could he do?? Would the next generation of Little blue penguins at Granity, find them attractive and use them to raise their family, out of the clutches of Guts-ache the cat?…
We will be paying a visit to Granity School in September with Mena the penguin detection dog and everyone is excited!
New Zealand recorded most impactful marine heatwave in history in 2022 – and this is just the beginning
31st August, 2022
Looking to the future, Moana Project research shows that average sea temperatures could increase by 1.4 degrees by 2060, and by almost 3 degrees by the end of the century. This has wide implications for marine life, including fisheries and aquaculture. This means that by mid-century we may be facing 260 days of marine heatwaves per year, increasing to 350 days by 2100.
Read more here.
Dogs can ‘see’ with their noses, studies suggest
2nd September, 2022
“Dogs are renowned for their ability to identify and track objects by scent. Now it’s been revealed they enhance this talent with special brain structures that link it to how they see.
A study published this month in the Journal of Neuroscience revealed that vision and the sense of smell are connected in the brains of dogs, something not yet found in any other species.”
We wonder what this means for penguins’ safety on our beaches?
Avian bird flu expected to hit Southern Hemisphere soon
2nd September, 2022
A new, highly pathogenic form of avian flu has been sweeping through wild bird populations across the Northern hemisphere. The unprecedented levels of mortality seen in some species of seabirds have left conservationists extremely concerned about the disease’s long-term impacts.
As we emerge from the most devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, another pandemic has been wreaking havoc on wild bird populations throughout the northern hemisphere. A new, deadly and highly pathogenic form of avian influenza (bird flu) is rapidly circulating across a wide range of species, devastating populations and leaving conservationists significantly concerned about its long-term ramifications. Over 400,000 dead wild birds have been recorded over the last year – a vast underestimate given only a fraction of birds are tested – from over 2,600 outbreaks in non-poultry birds, over twice the amount as the previous large waves of avian influenza in 2016-2017 and 2021.
First penguin in New Zealand to undergo cataract surgery makes full recovery
2nd September, 2022
“A penguin from Auckland’s Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium has become the first of its kind to undergo cataract surgery in New Zealand. Cardi, a seven-year-old gentoo penguin, underwent the surgery on April 29, after developing vision-blocking cataracts in both eyes…..
Since her recovery, the sea life team have noticed a change in Cardi’s confidence. “She no longer displays a hunched posture and is much more interactive with other penguins, keepers and enrichment items,” said Wardrop.”
