The Great Annual Blue Penguin Count, 10-15 October this year, is fun, hugely useful and a great way to get involved!
What could be better than an early morning walk on the beach on a glorious West Coast day! Combine that with discovering whether penguins are using your beach and adding valuable information for the Trust and you’re onto a winner!
We are encouraging the use of the iNaturalist app, as it’s easy, fun and it makes life a whole lot easier for us!
Once you’ve created a logon and got the hang of it, it really is easy. I have to admit it took me a little while, and we learned how to make it easier after the Annual Count last year, so we’ve ironed out some challenges and we’d love you to take part!
All the information you need to get involved is on our webpage here: http://www.bluepenguin.org.nz/blue-penguin-count/
We plan to be out on the beach close to Hokitika and you’d be welcome to join us – more details to follow soon.
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!
