​Hello friends and family
Tuesday was one of those great winter days when the sun shone, and the grass was crispy. In the morning we did a nest box check and have a list of improvements to be done before September. In the afternoon we went to the Moeraki colony and planted more trees. We must re-think our management as the sheep have done serious damage to the trees this time.
At around 3 pm the penguins returned, and we watched them play in the water for about ½ hour and then we went home. I happened to glance out over the bay at 4 pm and saw a pod of dolphins also playing in the waves. It is heart-warming to see wildlife well enough fed that they can have time out to play.

​We picked up the Juvenile that did not want to leave and brought it in. On Thursday when we did the bloods, we found a bacterial infection and Malaria again. In the afternoon, I picked up an adult that was in for Malaria last time and may well have it again. 

​On Thursday morning we cleared the landing at Harry’s Bay and 3 of the obstructed nest boxes here. In the afternoon we rabbit proofed the new trees. Yesterday Hiltrun and Elaine created a new nest site at the Moeraki colony, and we watched the penguins come home.

Have a great week!
Rosalie
​

​Hello friends and family
Our focus this week was on a different project as the tree planting site is exposed and there has been a cold wind and the paddock is too soft to drive on. We have tried to relocate some Koura (freshwater crayfish) from hidden forest streams to a new pond that has been recently planted out with native trees. Patrick led the project and showed us how to make traps and what the issues are with catching Koura. So far, we have not caught any!

​The penguins are enjoying their winter holiday and the last one was released from care yesterday. After a course of Malarone, he tested clear for Malaria and was well pleased to be free again. I can unset my morning alarm for 7:30 and sleep in until the sun comes up!

​Yesterday the government announced a rescue fund for rehabbers and zoos. We will put in an application as funding at the gate has declined sharply and one of our sponsors has withdrawn because of Covid 19. DOC records the numbers of visitors so I will ask them for the information over the last 3 months. I don’t know if we exactly fit the criteria – it is hard to fit into boxes when you are working with endangered species.

Hiltrun and Elaine cleared yet another corner at the Moeraki colony yesterday, in glorious sunshine. A pleasant change from the cold wet week that we have had.
Have a great week!
Rosalie
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​Hello friends and family
A new season begins. Thank you so much for all of you that supported our work during the last season. Each of the last 5 seasons has been an uphill struggle for the penguins and we hope that this will be the year when the numbers begin to recover, and we can start to re-build the population.

​A special mention to my big brother Richard who has been our honorary accountant all these years and is now finally retiring. We need a new accountant please – not that onerous, we use Cashbook, so it is straight forward. Thank you, Richard for all the support over the years.

​The week began with a dire weather forecast which turned out to be not as bad as predicted. The rehab penguins were released, the pens and enclosures cleaned out and now the lawn can recover. Robbie and Patrick came on Tuesday and we did the rounds and planted a few plants. I was on the Top-tip on Wednesday morning and it was very cold – sleet but no snow.

On Thursday, Elaine, Robbie and I helped Patrick clean up some of the rubbish down the hill. The reward was seeing juvenile penguins socialising with the adults, but we did pick up one skinny one that later tested positive for Malaria.
Elaine joined me on my trip to town on Friday. It was glorious after a hard frost. The mountains were covered in snow and the air was fresh. Yesterday was better and the Saturday team worked in the forest, out of the wind.
Have a great week!
Rosalie
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​Hello friends and family.
This has been another great week. Hamish and I planted trees whenever we could, and for the first part of the week, the penguins were coming home and providing great entertainment as they porpoised through the water. 

​On Wednesday we went to Oamaru to stock up on fencing materials and then went to the Moeraki Tavern for dinner. They have a great range of gluten free meals so Hamish could enjoy his meal guilt free. As usual, I had a Fisherman’s basket – Yum!
Robbie came out on Thursday morning and got the roll of netting cut up before the rain. Stewart brought Helen and Roxie out for a visit in the afternoon and Hamish cooked Nachos for dinner.

​Hamish went home on Friday and I started the cleaning of Robbie’s rehab. I also got word from Ngai Tahu that they will waive the annual lease on the house which is a significant contribution to our conservation work. Thank you, Ngai Tahu!

The Saturday team came and did some more habitat work. The behaviour change with the penguins was very noticeable. Not a lot of flying penguins or beach politics!
Have a great week
Rosalie
​

​Hello friends and family
Sunday and Monday morning where spent planting trees. On Monday afternoon we went to the section to begin clearing the gorse. It will be mostly a chainsaw job, but not impossible!
The team turned up on Tuesday and more trees were planted. By Wednesday afternoon Hamish was wondering if we did anything else, so we went back to Hampden and got more done. 

​Thursday was bitter and so Hamish and I did the rounds on our own and Robbie came in the afternoon to help plant more trees! From the planting site, we can watch the penguins coming home. They porpoise through the waves and move at a great pace. The first ones are coming home at around 2:15 pm so there is great viewing from then on.

​To add a bit of variety, on Friday morning we finished off the clean-up in the Aviary. This involved throwing a lot of rocks, so it is great to have that job done. In the afternoon we planted more trees until the penguins came home and it was time for us to go home too.
Hamish and I are taking turns with the cooking, so we are living the high life at the moment. He is gluten free so that means I need to be a bit creative and he eats leftovers for lunch so that is easy.

Hiltrun, Elke and Elaine came on Saturday and we did more blood tests on the 2 YEPs in care. One still has Malaria and the other, a bacterial infection. They will both be here for another week!
We saw the first returned Juvenile of the season – not for long though as the adults chased it back into the sea – something I have not seen for about 10 years.
Have a great week!
Rosalie
​

​Hello friends and family
The weather was glorious for most of the week. I released the Christchurch chick on Monday and on Thursday we gave him a nudge and he swam off like a penguin should! I also released the Katiki Beach White-flippered penguin. He had sorted his feathers out and almost doubled his weight, so it was time to go!

​More trees have been planted – more circles made, and more Y posts banged in. Michelle and Charlie have done the watering. The Hugo wing is ready for next season. 

​Grandson Hamish arrived on Friday and so Saturday was the first planting session. We planted Kowhais and Kakabeaks. Wonderful! Hiltrun and Elaine came out and did some tree work. We all enjoyed watching the penguins come home fat and early.

Have a great week!
Rosalie
​

​Hello friends and family
There is something satisfying about planting trees. It is very fiddly as well because we put in 2 layers of protection. The first is a biodegradable rabbit / wind protector and then around that, we put wire netting, secured with a Y post. It all takes time and when we have nice weather, it is great. Then the tree gets watered. We planted 15 trees on Tuesday. 

​I was back at the Top-tip on Wednesday. There was lots of hand – sanitising, social distancing and I had Chrissie to help me, so it was very social. I asked her (about 6 times) to get Owen to chase the cow around the paddock so she calves, and I can start making cheese again.

​It rained on Thursday, so Jan and I did the rounds and there were lots of penguin pairs at home. They were very skittish, so we had to be careful to not spook them as we want them to be comfortable in their nest boxes. It seems that the pairs have several boxes that they swap between, and we just hope they pick one!

​On Friday I went to Oamaru to pick up more netting and see the doctor. I am of an age where I need maintenance and my left shoulder has been painful for some time. I damaged it carting fish around over the summer and it has not yet healed. Now, with only 6 penguins in care – all a delight to feed, it should be on the mend. I may need some physio.

Hiltrun and Elaine came out yesterday and we had a great catch up until the rain stopped and then got on with monitoring and track clearing.
Have a great week!
Rosalie
​

​Hello friends and family
It is now so dry that we have started intensive watering of our new trees. Last winter we waited for the rain and ended up not planting much at all, so this year we are planting regardless of rainfall and will just keep the tap on!

​On Saturday we opened the soft release pen and by Monday, one of the chicks had gone. The other was slower out of the colony and did not leave so we brought it back in on Thursday. A blood test revealed a bacterial infection.  I released a little penguin on Tuesday so was down to only 2 in care.

​On Thursday we picked up an adult female that was only 3.5 Kg. Blood tests showed both a bacterial infection and Malaria. She will be with us for a few weeks to get back up to a normal weight. Robbie arrived with some plants from the Yellow-eyed penguin Trust nursery – thank you so much YEPT! 

On Friday we got a new chick in. It weighs only 2.9 Kg, has Malaria and a bacterial infection. We will do our best for it. Yesterday Hiltrun and Elaine came to do some clearing in the Moeraki colony. Hiltrun brought up another trailer load of trees. The weather was glorious and the sea beautiful. It was the day that I completed a run of 1000 days playing a game on my phone called FLOW. I only play the daily free puzzle and this milestone reflects how dull things can be around here because I still enjoy it!
Have a great week!
Rosalie
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