The blue penguin has a fighting chance of reversing its population decline in urban Wellington if effective pest control and habitat restoration is put in place.
Blue Penguin, Craig McKenzie
Blue penguins are at risk of attack by rats & mustelids, domestic cats & dogs, vehicle-strike, habitat loss and marine pollution.
Places for Penguins was launched in Sea Week 2007, and works on coastal restoration, nest-box building and pest control around the Miramar peninsula in Wellington with the help of Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Wellington Zoo.
Nesting sites
Little blue penguins like to nest in areas that provide good cover, so we’ve planted over 3000 plants along the coastline to give them prime nesting sites.
A keen volunteer helps to penguin sanctuary at Wellington's Tarakena bay. Photo Jenny Lynch.
On top of this, we’ve dotted the coastline with 125 nest-boxes 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.
Pest control
Places for Penguins volunteers monitor 95 traps along the coast to trap rats and mustelids, and refresh bait stations further inland to control rats.
Not only does this benefit the penguin population, but also coastal lizard, bird, invertebrate and plant communities.
Public awareness initiatives
As well as creating safe havens for penguins, Forest & Bird’s educates the public about blue penguins and encourages more responsible dog control in the areas where penguins live.
In 2010, Places for Penguins 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. 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.
Keep up to date with what Places for Penguins by joining us on Facebook or joining our email list by emailing j.lynch@forestandbird.org.nz
