Blue Penguins
Blue penguins’ scientific name, Eudyptula minor, literally translates as “good little diver.”
Blue Penguin, Craig McKenzie
Weighing in at 1kg, and standing at just 25cm tall, blue penguins are the world’s smallest penguin, and are found in southern Australia and New Zealand.
Despite popular belief that penguins live only in icy climes, many penguin species are found in temperate climates.
In fact there are 6 species of penguins that live in New Zealand. While 3 species, the erect-crested, Snares crested and eastern rockhopper, are confined to our subantarctic islands the other 3 species, the yellow-eyed, Fiordland crested and blue penguins can live around the New Zealand mainland. The blue penguin in particular is wide spread, living near, and sometimes amongst, the urban areas of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Living in close proximity to humans and rodents puts these penguins at risk. In the latest review of their conservation status the mainland subspecies of blue penguin were described as declining at best. The distinctive white-flippered variety of Canterbury was listed as nationally vulnerable.
Blue penguins are at risk of attack by mustelids, domestic cats and dogs, being hit by vehicles, habitat loss and marine pollution.
Nesting boxes & coastal restoration
The blue penguin has a fighting chance of reversing its population decline if effective pest control and habitat restoration is put in place.
A keen volunteer helps to penguin sanctuary at Wellington's Tarakena bay. Photo Jenny Lynch.
Places for Penguins was launched in Sea Week 2007, and works on coastal restoration & nest-box building around the Miramar peninsula in Wellington with the help of Seatoun and Strathmore schools and the Wellington City Council.
This year our penguin project was recognised in the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards by winning not only the environment and heritage honours but also the Supreme Award in the Wellington City section. Congratulations everyone.
So far, 2000 plants to recreate penguin habitat and 25 nest boxes have been put in place to be enjoyed by the local penguin residents! Initially tested by our Waitaki branch in Oamaru, artificial wooden boxes are favoured by blue penguins over natural sites, and have shown to increase reproductive success. More than 300 wooden nest boxes are being used by blue penguins in the Oamaru area.
As well creating as creating safe havens for penguins, Forest & Birds Wellington branch educates the public about blue penguins and encourages more responsible dog control in the areas where penguins live.
Forest & Bird is also working in Waitakere to bolster the population of blue penguins using initiatives such as predator control, habitat restoration and artificial nest distribution.
In the future, it is hoped Places for Penguins will be rolled out in other regions populated by blue penguins such as Hawke's Bay and Taranaki.
