News

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.

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 well as shallow coastal marine habitat (Whenua Hou/ Codfish Island). Satellite tracking of tawaki during the nonbreeding period showed that birds from different breeding regions all travel southwards to forage along the Subantarctic Front. Hence, outside the breeding season, odds are even for penguins from all regions. Any regional differences in population developments, therefore, are likely tied to breeding and reproductive success. The next phase of the Tawaki Project will investigate how the penguins fit into the marine ecosystem of New Zealand’s fjords, and whether Fiordland provides a safe haven for tawaki in an era of substantial global changes. Last season, the team again deployed trackers on tawaki in Fiordland and from birds found on the East Coast moulting and or in need of assistance and found that their movements varied according to starting point or whether they had received rehabilitation. More work is required to draw meaningful conclusions. Read the full report here and enjoy the wonderful photographs too.

Our experience from the West Coast tawaki nest sites in recent years is that, if tawaki chicks survive, only one chick is usually raised to fledging, but in these photos, from cameras at Gorge River, one tawaki pair has raised two chicks!

Our experience from our monitoring of West Coast tawaki nest sites in recent years is that, if tawaki chicks survive, only one chick is usually raised to fledging, but in these photos, from cameras at Gorge River, one tawaki pair has raised two chicks! Fiordland crested penguins or tawaki follow the crested penguin approach to breeding, that is laying one egg first and a larger one a couple of days later - which then hatches first (B chick). The larger chick then gets fed first and the second, back up chick if you like, only gets fed if the first one is full, being pushed out of the way by the first one. This almost always means that the chick from the first egg (A chick) dies within a few days of hatching. But not for this nest and in fact not in other areas where food is more abundant.  The Tawaki Project has found that some of the pairs monitored at Harrison Cove in Milford Sound were raising two chicks with plentiful food right on their doorstep and had foraging ranges of only 3km. In 2015, during the second year of camera monitoring by the West Coast Penguin Trust in South Westland, it seems that most if not all nests failed at Jackson Head due to chick starvation.  The Tawaki Project were tracking some tawaki from Jackson Head and found that they were going significantly further to forage to feed chicks than in other years, for example they averaged a 12km range in 2014 but a 100km range in 2015 during very strong El Niño conditions. (Read their 2016 season report here including reports for Jackson Head 2015 and Milford Sound 2016.) The Trust is fortunate to have Catherine Stewart at Gorge River to maintain cameras in the tawaki colony and has continued this valuable work each season since it began in 2014.  This year, for the first time in the six years of our camera monitoring, she has seen two chicks grow up in one nest. She reported: "Nest GR15 raised two chicks, at least to the end of October. Lots of video of B chick being preferentially fed and A chick much smaller during the guard phase, but later they were pretty equal." Catherine has now reviewed all the recordings from 10 cameras and Robin Long, Tawaki Ranger, is compiling a report for the season, collating the Gorge River Data along with breeding success monitoring at two other South Westland sites. The report will be available soon.

Robin Long - Ranger and Trustee with the West Coast Penguin Trust and volunteer with The Tawaki Project - speaks about the tawaki, or Fiordland crested penguin, sharing the results of work she has carried out or been involved in over the past 10 years, especially in the 2019 breeding season. Tawaki are the third rarest of the penguins, breed only on the New Zealand mainland and, until recently, have remained largely un-researched and unknown.

Robin Long - Tawaki Ranger and Trustee with the West Coast Penguin Trust and volunteer with The Tawaki Project - speaks about the tawaki, or Fiordland crested penguin, in this talk published on Vimeo this week, sharing the results of work she has carried out or been involved in over the past 10 years, especially in the 2019 breeding season. The Department of Conservation in Franz Josef hosted their second 'Te Wahipounamu TED talks' event in October 2019, inviting speakers to share stories about South Westland in 15 minute slots.  This was a great opportunity for Robin to share her extensive knowledge of these, the third rarest of the penguins.  Tawaki breed only on the New Zealand mainland and, until recently, have remained largely un-researched and unknown. Watch it here.

                    Big thanks to DOC for putting on the talks and to Vaughan Bradley for recording and then collating the video for sharing.

Every year New Zealand Post releases a coin commemorating one of Aotearoa's extinct animals. This vivid coin recalls the recently discovered Chatham Island crested penguin, a unique species that existed on this remote archipelago until only a few hundred years ago.

Every year New Zealand Post releases a coin commemorating one of Aotearoa's extinct animals. This vivid coin recalls the recently discovered Chatham Island crested penguin, a unique species that existed on this remote archipelago until only a few hundred years ago. Read more from NZ Post here. Trust Scientist, Kerry-Jayne Wilson, reported that this penguin was named in honour of John Warham, once the world authority on crested penguins and her mentor when she was a student, and added that both the Chatham species were only discovered recently when ancient DNA could be extracted from sub-fossil bones. Ms Wilson is currently working on a new seabird book and provided these fascinating extracts:

While many terrestrial and freshwater birds became extinct the only known extinctions of marine birds are Scarlett's shearwater from the mainland, Inber’s Petrel, Warham’s Penguin and Richdale’s Penguin from the Chatham Islands (Worthy et al 2017, Cole et al 2019) and the Waitaha Penguin from the south east of the South Island (Boessenkool et al 2009). Other seabirds have survived the arrival of people and predators thanks to populations on islands that remained predator free despite the local losses of vast colonies of many species from the mainland and some islands. Hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of petrels nested on the North and South Island mainlands prior to the coming of people and predators; the pugnacious Westland Petrels, the alpine breeding Hutton’s Shearwaters and the tiny remnant colonies of Sooty Shearwaters, Grey-faced petrels and Fairy Prions are all that remain. Prior to the arrival of people three other species or sub-species were endemic to New Zealand. The Waitaha Penguin occurred along the eastern coast of the South Island until hunted to extinction during the last 750 years. It was replaced by the closely related Yellow-eyed Penguin which colonised Southland and Otago from its Auckland and Campbell Islands homeland. Richdale’s Penguin, a sub-species of the Yellow-eyed, and Warham’s Penguin, a crested penguin, were both apparently restricted to the Chatham Islands (Cole et al 2019). They too became extinct, presumably through hunting after Polynesian settlement of those islands.

Click on the reconstruction below for a link to the NZbirdsonline entry for the Chatham Island Crested Penguin:

   

We are delighted to be working with Golden Bay based sustainable jeweller Stone Arrow to raise funds for penguin conservation projects!

We are delighted to be working with Golden Bay based sustainable jeweller Stone Arrow to raise funds for penguin conservation projects! Stone Arrow create ethical and handcrafted jewellery you will love!  Not only beautiful earrings and necklaces based on penguins but much more NZ flora and fauna based jewellery using a variety of recycled materials including silver, copper and glass. And now, when you buy through their website, you simply put 'bluepenguin' in the discount code box and a donation will wing its way to the West Coast Penguin Trust! This is a beautiful way to collaborate, enjoy gorgeous sustainable NZ made jewellery, and support our projects! Have a look at the stunning collection here and, when you order, use 'bluepenguin' to donate as you shop! Thank you! PS They also have some beautiful garden art among other things and you can sign up for their newsletter to receive news of discounts and be in to win!  A few examples are shown below, but go to the website for the whole collection.    

Westland Milk Products is moving mountains to ensure Hokitika’s blue penguin population not only survives but thrives over the course of its ocean outfall project and beyond.

Westland Milk Products is moving mountains to ensure Hokitika’s blue penguin population not only survives but thrives over the course of its ocean outfall project and beyond. Westland CEO Toni Brendish said Westland hoped its project, which has now commenced oceanside work south of the Westland District Council’s Hokitika treatment ponds, would lead to penguin population protection. She said the development of a detailed 30-page management plan to ensure the wellbeing of Eudyptula minor had created passionate penguin advocates among the project’s contractors and Westland staff. “Working with the West Coast Penguin Trust in the planning and now delivery of our proposal has been a very rewarding experience,’’ Ms Brendish said. “We’re hoping this will lead to a very long relationship with the West Coast Penguin Trust to support the work they do to protect our local populations. We want the work that we do to create a better environment for the blue penguin.’’ Environmental Manager for Westland Chris Pullen said the company’s partnership with the Penguin Trust had extended well beyond the ocean outfall project. “We’re now working with the Trust on a number of measures to help protect the birds,’’ Mr Pullen said. “Free roaming dogs, vehicles, and habitat loss or disturbance are some of the threats but creating public awareness about the penguins’ activity, what their habits and breeding cycles are, is part of the answer.’’ Before work near penguin habitat could begin, a penguin-proof fence had to be constructed. Representatives from the main contractors, sub-contractors, Westland, the Department of Conservation and the West Coast Regional Council were also taken through an induction event to ensure the penguins do well during and after construction. The Penguin Trust will train staff members from each company working on the project on how to handle and relocate penguins should rangers from either the Trust or the Department of Conservation be unable to help. “However, the best advice is to leave the handling and relocation to the experts,’’ Mr Pullen said. “To put this into effect, a hot line to the Department and the Trust has been established.’’ West Coast Penguin Trust Manager Inger Perkins said she had been part of discussions since the project was first proposed a decade ago. “Westland identified the fact that the pipeline would be going through penguin nesting and foraging areas and have been at pains to work with the Trust to ensure no harm will come to the penguins,’’ she said. “Not only have we been involved every step of the way to ensure penguins will be safe during the construction project, but we have also built an excellent relationship and we’re delighted the relationship is much broader than the pipeline project. “As a region-wide business, WMP are finding ways to support our region wide penguin conservation projects, both locally in Hokitika, and across the coast.” Mr Pullen said land-based pipe-laying is currently progressing as planned and expected to reach the ocean site work by mid-2020. Two teams are working on land-based pipe-laying, one team from the factory, and the other from the ocean site. Work to construct a hard-stand from which heavy equipment will operate on the district council-owned paddock south of council’s treatment ponds began in mid-February following construction of the penguin-proof fence. Ms Perkins said the new fence would define the work area, protect the public from danger but also keep silt from washing off the site and prevent curious penguins from getting into the site and becoming stuck there or in danger from machinery or trenches. Under seabed drilling and pipelaying to a point 800m offshore is expected to begin around the middle of the year, depending on availability of equipment. The ocean outfall project is the culmination of 10 years of planning to replace the Hokitika plant’s current system of distributing treated wastewater into the Hokitika River.  

The NZ Penguin Initiative is all about penguin conservation action and has just released its fourth quarter report after a busy year.

The NZ Penguin Initiative is all about penguin conservation action and has just released its fourth quarter report after a busy year. On top of work with tawaki and Erect-crested penguins, the NZPI has worked with the West Coast Penguin Trust to learn more about the foraging of blue penguins and to learn more about the Trust itself.  The NZPI aims to establish a national kororā monitoring programme and is starting to pave the way to work with community groups around the country. Read the latest report here. Visit the NZ Penguin Initiative website here.

Monday (20th January 2020) was World Penguin Awareness Day and what better day for a blue penguin in need of some TLC to move into a new penguin rehabilitation enclosure in Hokitika.

Monday was World Penguin Awareness Day and what better day for a blue penguin in need of some TLC to move into a new penguin rehabilitation enclosure in Hokitika. The juvenile penguin was picked up by visitors close to town and dropped off at the Hokitika vets on Friday. The vets kindly checked him over, gave him or her a clean bill of health and he was transferred to the care of the West Coast Penguin Trust. Advice from experienced penguin rehabber in Westport, Julie Leighton, was that penguins that have only recently left the nest need to have achieved a weight of at least 800g. This little penguin was just 725g and, although with the beautiful bright blue and white feathers of a first-year penguin, still had some of his grey chick fluff. “With the help of fish, generously kept on hand for just such an occasion by New World Hokitika, the little penguin has put on a bit of weight, but a few more days will get her up to a sturdy weight for release” said West Coast Penguin Trust Manager, Inger Perkins. And that extra weight gain is going to be managed by Tracy Johnston-Coates who has recently seen the completion of the construction and fitting out of a penguin rehabilitation enclosure. Tracy completed her training and achieved her wildlife permit last year and was delighted to welcome her first penguin to the enclosure. “Nearly two years ago, I first approached the Penguin Trust to see if I could help. I helped with some penguins that needed care last year before I did my training and now, with materials supplied by DOC and some wonderful neighbours who built it, I’m all ready to look after penguins that need a helping hand in this purpose built enclosure. “This young one will have the benefit of safe shelter within earshot of the waves, somewhere I can feed him until he’s ready to be released. “It’s wonderful having fish kept for us by New World, but if we can get small fish as well, like smelt and yellow-eyed mullet, that would really help too as the penguins then get all the extra nutrients from fish bone and skin. The penguin trust would love to hear from fishers who could help us out.” Inger added: “It’s been a tough year for blue penguins in parts of the coast. In the Charleston area we were finding chicks that had starved and, just north of Hokitika, significant erosion has made access to nesting areas very challenging. “It’s a privilege to be able to give this little one a helping hand and then send him on his way with a better chance of survival with the advantage of this wonderful penguin enclosure and Tracy’s tender care. Others can help with donations through the Trust to cover things like supplements and medications for sick penguins.”

Join us for an update on the work of the Trust and 'World of Penguins' - an entertaining and informative talk from Trust Scientist, Kerry-Jayne Wilson MNZM

Join us for an update on the work of the Trust and 'World of Penguins' - an entertaining and informative talk from Trust Scientist, Kerry-Jayne Wilson MNZM We'll be at the Greymouth Baptist Church, rear of 76-78 High Street, Greymouth and the talks start at 5.30pm, Friday 20th March. Join us for a cuppa from 5.15pm and afterwards. Free (but donations always welcome!) Poster: 2020 03 20 Greymouth talk - The World of Penguins  

With the help of the NZ Penguin Initiative, the West Coast Penguin Trust has expanded its blue penguin marine foraging study to learn about depth as well as direction.

With the help of the NZ Penguin Initiative, the West Coast Penguin Trust has expanded its blue penguin marine foraging study to learn about depth as well as direction and this is a first for blue penguins on the West Coast. Although only one of the six depth and GPS loggers was recovered, it provided some interesting information covering two foraging trips and we're looking forward to learning more during the 2020 breeding season. Penguin Scientist, Dr Thomas Mattern, recently analysed the data and, for the first trip, he reported that the penguin, known as Rahui#38, is "quite a versatile bird with concentrated foraging on trip one [red line on the map], mostly foraging in the upper 10m of the water column."  The record also shows an anomaly with a dive to 36.2m.  Dr Mattern suggests that "it looks like the bird was startled by something and tried to gain depth to get away from whatever (it thought) it saw". "The second trip is an overnight foray to the South. Very little in terms of actual foraging a lot of travelling (very shallow dives). It drifted almost all the way to Punakaiki overnight!" In previous years, the Trust has used GPS loggers only and has been gathering data as to the areas that blue penguins are foraging.  A measure of depth adds a very interesting and useful third dimension to the study.  It's not yet clear whether the other penguins lost the loggers or whether the penguins have died as they have foraged.  Our limited data does suggest that the penguins were struggling to find sufficient food for chicks as some chicks sadly starved in the Charleston colonies.   The illustration below shows the map of the two tracks plus the depth charts for those trips.

Two more maps for comparison from 2016 and 2017 showing that the penguins are travelling similar distances but in variable directions.