Katiki Penguin Trust Annual report June 2011
Rehabilitation
Of the 81 penguins in care, 74 were Yellow eyed penguins. There was 1 White Flippered penguin, 2 Fiordland Crested penguins and 4 Little Blues. The average stay was 34 days.
One Yellow eyed penguin died from its injuries on arrival, 3 Yellow eyed penguins and 1 Fiordland Crested penguin died from unknown causes (autopsied at Massey University) and 1 Yellow eyed penguin died of fungal growths in its air sacs. The overall release rate was 92.5%.
45% of the Yellow eyed penguins in care were juveniles, 23% were adults and 32% were unfledged chicks. 87% of them were identified as female.
This work is covered by the supervision of Dr Sue Robb, the vet who visits and provides support through video conferencing and digital photography free of charge. The Oamaru vets also inspect the facilities twice a season and provide support.
Barracouta Bay
2 cats and 2 ferrets were trapped at Barracouta Bay this year. The capture of 96 ferrets in the area by the Animal Health Board certainly had a desirable impact.
In 23 nests there were 46 eggs. 8 eggs did not hatch, 4 chicks died, and 34 chicks fledged. The fledging ratio was 1.48
Katiki Point
7 cats and 7 ferrets were trapped at Katiki Point this year.
In 27 nests there were 51 eggs. 12 eggs did not hatch and 9 chicks died. 30 chicks fledged and the fledging ratio was 1.1.
Volunteers
Our February volunteer was Natasha Scott, a trainee vet from Oamaru. In March we had the help of Tamara Encina a vet from Chile and Louis Graf from Paris helped out in April. Lisbeth Lobsiger a vet from Switzerland came for a few days in May. Thank you very much to you all.
Tourists
Tourists continue to ignore signs with information about the behaviour required to protect the penguins and in 2010 there were tourists in the reserve 86% of the evenings after the light came on. This demonstrated that the signage is not working so I asked Ngai Tahu for permission to specify times for reserve closure and they agreed to that. This approval has not yet been actioned.
Rosalie Goldsworthy
30 June 2011.
Monthly gallery: July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
Submitted by Rosalie Goldsworthy on Sun, 07/10/2011 - 14:57