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.”
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!
