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Fiordland Crested Penguin Numbers Taking Off
Milford Sound visitors have been enjoying record sightings of rare Fiordland crested penguins this spring thanks to a boost in rat and stoat control work in the area.
Passengers on Real Journeys overnight cruises have spotted up to 15 penguins at a time preening and feeding at dusk and early morning along the rocky coastline - double the numbers seen in recent years.
Over the past two years Real Journeys nature cruise guides and crew have stepped up efforts to protect the threatened penguin, trapping almost 40 stoats and rats.
With just 2500 – 3000 breeding pairs left along the Fiordland and Stewart Island coastlines, the trapping work now seems to be playing a vital role in increasing penguin numbers in the Milford Sound area.
Real Journeys Nature Guide on the Milford Mariner, Richard Heyward said 28 stoat traps have been placed at key breeding sites around the Milford Sound coastline at Anita Bay, the Moraine, Penguin Cove, Harrison Cove and the Penguin Tree.
“The traps were installed 5 years ago but we are now emptying, re-baiting and setting them every month,” he said.
“The stoats will eat the eggs and kill young chicks so this year it has been amazing to see a significant increase in penguin numbers on the rocks and swimming around in groups,” Richard said.
The Fiordland crested Penguins arrive along the coastline and begin building nests in July before laying their eggs in August. At the end of August the young chicks hatch and are at their most vulnerable until about November when they get their adult feathers and start to venture out further into the water. By Mid December the penguins usually head out to sea returning in January to moult.
Trapping records are reported to the Department of Conservation.
For more information contact
Gabby Lake
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Real Journeys
DDI 03 442 4830
