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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
This is one of our late yellow-eyed penguin breeding pairs that have started to moult about 3 weeks after their chicks left home. Their flippers haven't started to swell yet and their feather still look good but they are home now for 4 weeks and they will be spending that time together. It is an important part of the pair bond and pairs that can't find each other for the moult for whatever reason are much more likely to divorce. It looks like these two have timed it perfectly and have 4 weeks of quality time together ahead!
We are currently hosting a very special wee guy from the southern oceans: a Snares crested penguin all the way from the Snares Island. He was found emaciated and hadn't moulted. Initially he barely wanted to stand up and ate lying down - that is how weak he was. We gave him the company of the our fledglings - so young yellow-eyed penguins who have tried to go to sea but came back injured. He was happy then. Snares crested penguins are very, very social creatures and any penguin will do! In fact he bosses his pen-mate round a bit! He is beautiful fat now and has started to loose his tail feathers. He will be moulting presently!
Sometimes we find penguins in odd spots: here is a Little Penguin in a Yellow-eyed penguin box. They are usually found in burrows or boxes designed for them but this wee fella appears to be quite happy in his mansion.
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