Little blue penguin

Injured Little Blue Penguin returned fit and healthy to Nga Motu Marine Reserve

A small group of supporters of the Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society gathered to release 'Little Blue Penguin Taranaki' back into the wild.
A small group of supporters of the Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society gathered to release ‘Little Blue Penguin Taranaki’ back into the wild. Photo by : Smart shots by Sharyn

‘Little blue penguin Taranaki’ was reunited with her rescuer at Port Taranaki.

“It’s awesome to see her again!  When I got the phone call this morning to come back down and be a part of her release there was no way I was turning that down,” said Ayla Adlam.

“To see her where she is meant to be is just awesome.  Everyone’s efforts and time has all paid off.

“She is really cute and quite chubby now.”

Ayla spotted the little blue penguin as she neared the boat ramp after a day of fishing with her partner and another friend on January 6.

“As we were coming back into the boat ramp I noticed a little penguin just kind of swimming around in circles just looking distressed and really close to the boats.

“My partner suggested that we ring DOC as I was a little bit upset about seeing an injured penguin out there.”

Ayla got out her smart phone, googled DOC’s website and gave them a call.  Her call was answered by Gemma Green who located the penguin and organised for her to be sent to Massey University’s Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North.

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Penguin Hotel at Chaddy Charters fills fast

New arrivals: Little blue penguins are already booking into the "penguin hotel" at Chaddy Charters at Breakwater Bay in New Plymouth. Photo: Cameron Burnell /Fairfax NZ
New arrivals: Little blue penguins are already booking into the “penguin hotel” at Chaddy Charters at Breakwater Bay in New Plymouth.
Photo: Cameron Burnell /Fairfax NZ

A mild winter and early spring has little blue penguins heading to New Plymouth’s shores earlier than normal this year.

Warmer days and a plentiful food supply have seen bookings at the “penguin hotel” at Chaddy Charters at Breakwater Bay filling fast, and the number of new chicks points to a successful breeding season.

“At the same time last year we only had one penguin sitting on eggs whereas this year we already have four,” David “Chaddy” Chadfield said.

Penguins incubate their eggs for about four weeks and then care for the chicks for about another month before they venture into the world.

“You can tell if there are still babies in the nest by reading the pads (prints) when they go to the beach,” Mr Chadfield said.

Once outside the nest chicks are easy prey for domestic pets.

“What we worry about is cats and dogs in the area. That’s a biggy,” Mr Chadfield said.

He asked that people keep an eye on their pets during the penguins’ breeding season.

He said he had once seen a cat attempt to attack an adult penguin only to come off second best as the bird easily knocked it to the ground.

People are advised not to get too close to little blue penguins as they are big on attitude and have a sharp beak.

“I’ve seen one of these kill a rat. Hit it right point blank between the eyes,” he said.

Visitors to Chaddy Charters are able to view one of the nests at the penguin hotel through a closed circuit TV setup, paid for by the George Mason Charitable Trust.

This article was published in the Taranaki Daily News on September 17, 2013.