Timing of the Breeding Season and Survey of the blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) between the Taramakau and Mokihinui Rivers, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand Technical Report
- Author
- Blyth, R., Mazzagetti, D., Sutton P., Wilson, Kerry-Jayne, Molles, Laura, Chambers, H., Cotton, J.
- Year
- 2006
- Journal / Source
- Lincoln University Wildlife Management Report
- Publisher / Organisation
- West Coast Blue Penguin Project
- Number
- 36
- Month
- April
- Pages
- 38
- ISBN / ISSN
- 978-0-86476-181-1
- Species
- Eudyptula minor, blue penguin
- Keywords
- blue penguin, West Coast, Taramakau, Mokihinui, breeding, survey, bird management, Westland
- Summary
- A survey of the Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) was conducted between the Taramakau River and the Mokihinui River on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand from 1 October 2005 until 24 January 2006. The primary aim was to map the distribution of penguins within the study area, estimate population size, document the timing of the breeding season and identify threats. There is a discontinuous population of penguins scattered within the study area and colony size varies from large colonies (of around 50 burrows) to isolated birds. These preliminary findings suggest that threats (especially dogs and mustelids) are the major influences on the population size and distribution of the penguins. Most chicks hatched in late November and fledged in early January. Adults began moulting in early December and some were still moulting when fieldwork finished on 24 January 2006. Insufficient information was gathered on the times at which eggs were laid, but additional data shows that early eggs were present in early September.