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Transponder training for Ranger Linden at the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony Scientist, Dr Philippa Agnew, reports on transponder training with Trust Ranger Linden Brown back in November.

“We’ve had a very big week this week, inserting 197 microchips into little penguin chicks and adults! We couldn’t have done it without help from a fantastic crew! Thanks to Rachel from the University of Otago, Deleece from Forest & Bird – Places for Penguins, Henry who used to work for us and came back to Oamaru give us a hand, Linden from West Coast Penguin Trust and our team, Nia, Kelsey & Philippa.”

This was a fabulous opportunity for new Trust Ranger, Linden Brown. The West Coast Penguin Trust has been gradually using chips (just like those used for cats and dogs) to identify penguins and inserting the chips, known as Passive Integrated Transponders or PIT tags, and Linden will be tagging blue penguins at our Charleston study site this coming breeding season. Joining the team at Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony as they chipped their latest penguin chicks meant that he gained both the hands on experience and the necessary ‘Level 2’ wildlife banding qualification to inject the tiny chips under a penguin’s skin.

The Trust is expecting to take delivery of a fixed PIT tag reader in time for the next breeding season. It will be installed at a pinch point where blue penguins come ashore and every time a chipped penguin passes the reader, it will be logged and a great deal more will be learned about the comings and goings of these penguins.

Ranger Linden joins Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony for transponder training

It’s breeding time, but not for this penguin

July 9, 2024

It’s breeding time, but not for this penguin

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With blood in its mouth and dog tracks all around it, the Department of Conservation (DOC) assumes that this little blue penguin or kororā was killed by a dog last week at Serpentine beach.

With blood in its mouth and dog tracks all around it, the Department of Conservation (DOC) assumes that this little blue penguin or kororā was killed by a dog last week at Serpentine beach. This should be a season of good news as penguins are starting their breeding season. Instead, DOC and the West Coast Penguin Trust are asking all dog owners to keep dogs under close control at the beach at all times and always out of the vegetated areas. Close control means that there is absolutely no doubt that they will return to you immediately that they are called, leaving anything of interest whether another dog, human, curious smell, food (perhaps toxic) or wildlife. In fact, that request goes to all beach users. West Coast Penguin Trust Manager, Inger Perkins, says everyone can help. “It may be that dog owners are visiting the area and have no idea that there may be penguins present. It can’t hurt to say hello and just note that there may be penguins present so keeping dogs under close control and out of the dunes is important. Also, from dusk to dawn, dogs should be on a lead as penguins could be coming and going across the beach. “Kororā are the smallest of all penguins, standing just 30cm tall. They are vulnerable to a variety of threats. Your darling dog might just want to play, with no malice at all, but unfortunately the necks of penguins cannot withstand the jaws or a playful shake of a dog of any size.” With assistance from DOC, the West Coast Penguin Trust has been recording reports of dead penguins since 2006. The location and, where possible, the cause of death is added to a database. The results are clear: 56% of the penguin deaths were due to vehicles on our coastal roads while 19% were killed by dogs. Penguin protection fences along the Coast Road north of Punakaiki and north of Hokitika, are keeping penguins safe on the sea side of roads and the proportion of penguins killed on the roads has reduced significantly since the fences were installed. However, there are other places where penguins will venture onto roads. If you’re travelling at night, it will be safer for you and give penguins more of a chance if you drive a little slower and allow a bigger gap when following another vehicle. When it comes to dogs, the proportion of penguins killed by dogs has remained at around 19-20% of all reported penguin deaths. You will probably have seen signs at beach access points reminding us that penguins, as well as seals and other native wildlife, nest, rest and feed in the beach area. The shared advice from district councils, DOC and the Penguin Trust is to stay at least 20m, or four car lengths away, from any wildlife. Dog owners are encouraged to keep dogs on leads after dark and before dawn, and at all times in the dunes and coastal scrub where penguins could be nesting. Ms Perkins, says: “Sadly, encouragement is not always enough and if we have shared this message once, we have shared it a thousand times, and yet sadly here we are again.” Senior Biodiversity Ranger at DOC in Greymouth, Darrell Haworth, explained: “It is an offence if you’re the owner, or person in charge of a dog that attacks protected wildlife and that dog kills wildlife or injures them so badly they have to be destroyed to end suffering. Anyone convicted of such a charge can be sentenced to prison for up to 12 months, be fined up to $10,000, or both. “But before looking at compliance options, why not think of the dog? A dog that is allowed to roam is not only a risk to wildlife but also to itself and road users if it wanders on to a road. Keeping your dog safe and secure at home, and under effective and close control when out walking or hunting, just makes sense.” Ms Perkins added that penguins could be around at any time of year. “We are approaching the breeding season for kororā as they sort out nests in anticipation of egg laying later this month. However, penguins could be using the beach you share with them at any time of year. You might see their tracks heading out to sea before the next tide washes footprints away.” As the breeding season begins, DOC staff are likely to visit areas where penguins and other wildlife might be at risk from dogs, Darrell Haworth says. “We’re keen to ensure the message is clear before we do so, to avoid having to potentially issue any infringement notices. “Don’t take dogs where they are prohibited and ensure that you always have effective control of your dog - effective control means that your dog will immediately return to you when called.” DOC has some advice to help dog owners be more responsible when exercising dogs at the beach:

Walk on the wet sand: you’ll be more likely to avoid wildlife
Feet on sand, lead in hand: always have your lead handy in case you need to keep your dog close)
Keep your dog on a lead near wildlife and stay four car lengths (20m) away, and
Help ’em out, give a shout (let other beach goers know when wildlife is present).

DOC has more information on its website.: www.doc.govt.nz/dogs-on-beaches

keep your dog on a lead — *Keeping your dog on a lead more often, especially between dusk and dawn and in vegetated coastal areas, will help keep your dog and wildlife safe*

The Penguin Protection Fence – a Success Story

June 13, 2024

The Penguin Protection Fence – a Success Story

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A simple plastic mesh fence is saving penguin lives on the West Coast, keeping little penguins, kororā, safely on the sea side of the Great West Coast Road near Punakaiki.

A simple plastic mesh fence is saving penguin lives on the West Coast, keeping little penguins, kororā, safely on the sea side of the Great West Coast Road near Punakaiki. The conservation status of these smallest of penguins is At Risk – Declining. When the West Coast Penguin Trust started out life in 2006, their first goal was to find out whether, and if so why, little penguin numbers were declining in this region. Stoats were believed to pose a threat, as they do for most native birds, so the Trust’s first project was to monitor breeding success in colonies with and without stoat trapping. At the same time, the Trust established a little penguin mortality database, and that, created and maintained in collaboration with the Department of Conservation ever since, has proved critical in understanding and then managing threats to these penguins. From both the breeding success monitoring and the mortality database, it quickly became clear that stoats were not a major threat at all. Perhaps plague proportions were not seen in little penguin colonies or perhaps the feisty penguins were better able to protect themselves and their chicks than other birds; that part of the picture remains unclear. The mortality database, where every reported death of a little penguin was recorded with location and likely cause of death if known, provided the answer. Many penguins were being killed by vehicles on coast roads. In fact, in the first eight years of record keeping, up to 68% of all reported penguin deaths were on the road, the highest proportion being in the Buller District and on the Coast Road – the state highway. The second biggest killer, at around 19%, was dogs, generally loose dogs that had been allowed to roam freely in coastal areas. That’s another story and one which, after years of awareness and education effort, may be improving. Within a couple of years of its inception, the Trust team started talking about a fence. Should it be both sides with tunnels underneath so that penguins could safely nest on the inland side of the highway, where they would have nested for thousands of years? Or could they be fenced off the road and nest sites restricted to the seaside of the fence? There was plenty of room for penguins to nest on the seaside, so the cheaper option of a single fence was chosen. The Trust talked and talked – to DOC and to Waka Kotahi, NZ Transport Agency then – in the hope of gaining their support and funding for the project to build a fence along the highway. Support was forthcoming but not the funding, so, with more penguins being killed every year, the Trust decided it had to make a start. In March 2012, with the help of New Zealand Conservation Volunteers, the Trust erected a trial 100m fence just south of Punakaiki, where sadly the small little penguin colony has pretty much been erased due to deaths caused by vehicles and dogs. The new fence used a sturdy plastic geomesh manufactured for use under roads and chosen for its resistance to wear, salt and ultraviolet light. It proved successful and durable and plans and fundraising got under way for the 2.6km section of the Coast Road where the highest number of penguins were dying. Before the 2014 breeding season was underway in July, the new fence was completed and a ceremony to officially close it was held at the beach, led by the then Buller District Mayor, Garry Howard. A year later, a further 300m of penguin protection fence was installed over looking Seal Island, completing the protection of four colonies from vehicles and cutting road kills to zero. There are two more parts to this story, a review of the mortality data before and after the fences were erected, but also, as the penguins began to thrive again, they started exploring further afield, and, tragically, a penguin was killed on the road in the fenced – or more accurately mostly fenced – area during the 2021 season. Firstly to the data, and the graphs tell the success story. Before the fence was installed, 56% of all reported deaths were caused by vehicles (154 of a total of 273 dead penguins for eight years). 75% of those deaths on the roads were in Buller (116), largely on the Coast Road. When compared to the six years after the fence was installed, the proportion of penguins being killed on the roads dropped to 37% (49 of 131) and half of those were in the Buller confirming the assumption that the penguin protection fence was working.

penguin mortality graphs — *Pre and post penguin protection fence mortality graphs 2006-2019*

Looking at the numbers as opposed to percentages, it is clear that penguins are much better off. Without a fence and, based on the figures before the fence was installed, it is likely that around 87 penguins would have been killed on the roads in the Buller between 2014 and 2019 but the actual number is 25. 25 too many of course, but that’s as many as 60 penguins saved over that period.

Mortality data map snips pre and post fence 2006 - 2014 - 2022 — *Mortality data maps pre and post fence 2006 - 2014 - 2022, fence extent indicated*

We should pause at this point to thank those who made the fence possible, providing donations, grants and in kind support, including DOC, Waka Kotahi/NZTA, Maccaferri/Geofabric, Farmlands and many wonderful individuals. The value of the fence in 2014 money was in the region of $60,000, a massive project for the small Trust. And now to the next chapter. Sadly, the main 2.6km fence was built with three big gaps. Four bach owners occupying legal road managed by Waka Kotahi did not want the fence installed close to their baches. This was beyond the comprehension of the Trust team. If you enjoy living or holidaying in such a fabulous coastal location, surely the wildlife would be part of that experience. But at the time, the main colony areas were protected and the fence was doing its job. Until 2021. As the penguins thrived with the penguin protection fence behind them, numbers appeared to be growing. And as populations grow, they spread out. After the report of a penguin being killed on the road beside one of the gaps, the Trust knew that the time had come to fill the gaps in the fence. Two of the baches next door to each other had changed hands in the intervening years and the new owners were only too happy to support penguin protection. With annual support from Waka Kotahi NZTA to help maintain the fence, that funding was redirected in 2023 and WestReef were able to complete a new section of penguin fence near Limestone Creek before the 2023 little penguin season was underway. This was just as well as we subsequently heard that penguins had been rescued from the road in that area the previous year. Read about that 2023 section of fence here. The Trust then focussed on a gap towards the southern end of the main fence and that was completed, again with funding from Waka Kotahi NZTA and undertaken by WestReef, before the 2024 breeding seaseon. Read about the 2024 section of fence here. There is one more part of the picture to share. When the invaluable mortality database was established, locations of dead penguins were recorded as text and it was clear where most penguins were being killed. With assistance from a very courageous volunteer, making sense of often very confusing records – entries like ‘just past green shed’ or using local names that weren’t on topo maps was challenging! – the Trust has transposed the locations to grid references and from there to geographic information that can be displayed on digital maps. The data layer can be brought into any map system and the Trust is sharing it with council planners to inform all aspects of the planning process, whether for new plans or consent applications. Having a very visual data set, showing the locations of around 450 dead little penguins – and sadly growing, is also enabling the Trust to review the worst sections of roads and perhaps consider new fences. In sharing this success story and hope for the future, the Trust also needs to share a plea. Sadly, grants from DOC seem to be a thing of the past as their funding is reduced for a variety of reasons. The Trust has relied on DOC over most of its seventeen years for around 50% of its costs to operate, with the balance coming from grants and donations. An equivalent amount to the earlier DOC grants comes from volunteers and in kind support, so that every dollar from DOC resulted in $3 of penguin conservation. Without DOC support, new funding will need to be found to avoid reducing the Trust’s operation. We have an ongoing campaign to maintain the important work that we do, including research, practical conservation projects, education, awareness and advocacy. Our vision is that West Coast seabirds and their habitat are healthy and thriving. We need you to help us continue to work towards that vision. If you can help, please go to our ‘donate’ page to donate by credit card or bank payment. Thank you for your support.

Ten years on, a gap in the penguin protection fence has been filled

June 6, 2024

Ten years on, a gap in the penguin protection fence has been filled

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With penguins apparently thriving on the seaside of the penguin protection fence north of Punakaiki, they were exploring further afield and a gap in the fence urgently needed filling after a penguin was killed on the road there and others have been seen on the edge of the road. Funding and support from Waka Kotahi NZTA and support and action from Westreef enabled a new section of fence to be installed this week, in time to protect little penguins - kororā as we approach the new breeding season.

*Westreef team installing new section of penguin protection fence*

This only happened with a lot of work behind the scenes over a couple of years. The gap wasn't critical when the main fence was installed in 2014 but has become so and we are thrilled that the work started and should be completed this week. The penguin protection fence has saved the lives of dozens of little penguins since it was installed, with several penguins a year dying on that stretch of road before the fence went up.

*Left - penguin mortality records before fence installed in this area (2006-2013) and right, afterwards, with one penguin that sadly found its way onto the road through the gap (2014-2023)*

This was the second big gap to have been filled in as many years and we are very grateful to the team at Westreef for getting it done both times in the window between breeding seasons. Maintenance is always needed due to vegetation grown or slips for example. You can help by alerting us to any issues and also ensuring the self-closing sprung gates are not stuck open. Although a few escape hatches have been incorporated into the fence just in case a penguin finds itself on the wrong side, we'd rather they were kept safely on the sea side of the fence. Funding is also needed to maintain the fence and to work on projects like this that take up a lot of time - your donations are always welcome and help us to make projects like this work. Thank you for your support!

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Pension Insurance Corporation plc

The purpose of PIC is to pay the pensions of current and future policyholders. This focus delivers value for stakeholders.

Why the PIC penguins?

Emperor penguins have been central to PIC’s brand from the start. That’s because they’re memorable and intrinsically appealing, as well as striking to look at. Emperor penguins embody qualities that the PIC team works hard to emulate every day. They are:

Loyalty

They form lifelong partnerships, working together to protect and nurture their young and cooperating for the wellbeing of the group. Like them, our team invests time in building long-term relationships, showing ourselves to be dependable and dedicated.

Adaptability

Penguins have evolved to live successfully in water and on land, in many different climates. We too are adaptable, staying agile in a changing environment and evolving our business with innovative solutions to meet client needs.

Resilience

There are few animals on earth as tough as Emperor penguins, who withstand long Antarctic winters and endure months without food. PIC stays strong even in the harshest economic conditions and in the face of the most volatile markets.

The West Coast Penguin Trust is thrilled to share a love of penguins with PIC and to have received generous donations from them.

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Lion Foundation

Since 1985 we have returned over $1 billion back to the community, supporting thousands of good causes all around New Zealand.

Our Values

INTEGRITY – Do the Right Thing COMMUNITY – Stronger Together INNOVATION – Change for the Better ACHIEVEMENT – Strive for Success A grant was made by the Lion Foundation in 2023 for the Trust's education ranger to deliver our education programme to West Coast schools.

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Brian Mason Scientific & Technical Trust

The Brian Mason Scientific & Technical Trust was established in July 1991 to receive and allocate grants for the advancement of scientific and technical objectives in Canterbury and Westland We are fortunate to have had a grant from this Trust to research and publish information about threats to Westland petrels - tāiko, the information proving invaluable in our advocacy work. A second grant was awarded in 2022 for little penguin - kororā - foraging study taking place over 2023 and 2024 breeding seasons.

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The Sargood Bequest

The Sargood Bequest is a charitable trust founded in 1939 by Sir Percy Sargood of the firm Sargood Son & Ewen. Sargood Bequest actively supports community groups and individuals within New Zealand. The purpose of the fund is to make grants to projects and activities in the Children & Youth, Cultural, Sports & Outdoors, Educational and Environmental categories with a focus on Access, Participation and Inspiration. The majority of grants made by Sargood Bequest are under $5000. The Trustees favour projects to which funds are specifically targeted. From time to time the trust also makes larger grants or pledges over a number of years at the discretion of the trustees. The Trust has been fortunate to have been awarded grants principally for our Education work, but also for the Community Conservation Symposium.

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Westland Dairy Company

Westland Dairy Company - formerly Westland Milk Products, based in Hokitika. Westland. A place, a people, a brand and a spirit. It is this naturally determined, adaptive spirit that enables our customers to find their edge, to nourish life through our products we have made beautifully for generations. Westland Dairy Company have supported the Trust to print wildlife awareness signs for beach access points across the region and have been at pains to ensure penguins are protected at and around the pipeline drilling project site on the north edge of Hokitika. Following that project, they remained committed to protecting penguins and have installed a penguin protection fence in the area to prevent penguins being killed on the state highway. They have also generously assisted with the cutting of access ramps for penguins when erosion results in barriers between nest and sea. The Trust's relationship with Westland continues to grow and their support is hugely valued and valuable. https://www.westland.co.nz/en/company/purpose-and-values/

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Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, caring for animals since 1906. The Zoo is a not for profit charitable trust, and has been that way since 2003. The Trust runs the Zoo on behalf of Wellington City Council. They are proud to be the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo and they became the first zoo to win the Environmental Sustainability Award at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The zoo follows the WAZA commitments to excellence in animal welfare and conservation. They are also part of the Zoo and Aquarium Association - a regional organisation for zoos in the Australasian region. ZAA manages the coordination of breeding programmes and sets the level of professional standards and practice for members. They are proud to have been accredited under their Animal Welfare standards. The West Coast Penguin Trust is hugely proud to be a Conservation Partner, sharing an interest in improving the conservation management of Fiordland crested penguins and sharing information and resources that contribute to penguin conservation generally.

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Lottery Environment and Heritage

Lottery Environment and Heritage provides grants for plans, reports and one-off projects that will protect, conserve and promote New Zealand’s natural, cultural and physical heritage. The Trust has received grants for three major projects, namely developing an education resource (2015), presenting the Community Conservation Symposium (2018) and the little penguin - kororā - foraging study 2023-2024.

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Waka Kotahi NZTA

"Our value"

"A great journey is easy, safe and connected. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is focused on providing one integrated land transport system that helps people get the most out of life and supports business. "We look after the national transport system with our partners, today and for the future. We’re innovating to make sure the system is efficient and sustainable, unlocking opportunity and keeping New Zealand moving. "We’re working to deliver our customer promise – great journeys to keep New Zealand moving." Waka Kotahi NZTA recognised the risk posed to drivers on the Coast Road (state highway 6) at night, where penguins on the road could cause drivers to swerve off the road. Their focus on safety fitted with the Trust's aim to protect penguins and keep them off the road and the Trust was hugely grateful for the agency's support managing the safety of the fence construction project. Waka kotahi NZTA continue to support the penguin protection fence through an annual amount allocated to fence maintenance and extension, and used for this purpose by Westport based road contractor, WestReef, also very supportive of this project.

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Department of Conservation

The Department of Conservation has been the main sponsor of the Trust since its inception and continues to support our work with advice, collaboration and encouragement. We're very fortunate to work with such a passionate group of people throughout the West Coast region.

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West Coast Community Trust

The West Coast Community Trust manages its investments and apply income by way of grants for charitable, cultural, philanthropic, recreational and other purposes in Buller, Grey and Westland. The Trust has been fortunate to receive grants for its education and its awareness programmes.

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ANZ Staff Foundation

The West Coast Penguin Trust is thrilled to have support from the ANZ Staff Foundation. A grant in 2019 was followed with another in 2021, both supporting our growing education programme. Read about the ANZ Staff Foundation and their support here. And read about and watch the wonderful little film that ANZ made about our work here.

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The Tawaki Project

We know next to nothing about tawaki’s marine ecology, their foraging ranges, which prey species they consume and at which water depths they forage. Critical information is missing to assess how human activities might impact on tawaki, be it ongoing climate change, fisheries activities or pollution of the marine habitat with mining effluents or oil-leaks. This project will address the key aspects of tawaki’s marine ecology throughout the range from South Westland to Stewart Island. We will:

examine their foraging strategies across the different marine environments they inhabit
study the spatial distribution of their diving activities to determine whether there are specific hot spots at sea
investigate which marine and terrestrial aspects affect the species’ population dynamics

We also collaborate with the West Coast Penguin Trust to further knowledge and conservation management for tawaki through our collaboration as The Tawaki Coalition.

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Enviroschools

Enviroschools is a nationwide programme supported by Toimata Foundation, founding partner Te Mauri Tau, and a large network of regional partners. Early childhood centres and schools commit to a long-term sustainability journey, where tamariki/students connect with and explore the environment, then plan, design and take action in their local places in collaboration with their communities. We are fortunate to be able to use key structures from the Enviroschools programme in our education programme and we join forces with Enviroschools - coordinators and schools - where we can for even greater environmental education outcomes. The Trust has also worked with Enviroschools for the West Coast to establish a network of environmental educators in the region.

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