NEW ZEALAND – Recent yellow-eyed/hoiho penguin nest counts on mainland New Zealand indicate a continued decline in numbers in some areas for this rare species, said Department of Conservation (DOC) Threatened Species Ambassador Nicola Toki.
DOC carries out monitoring, research, and intensive management for yellow-eyed penguins alongside Treaty Partner Ngāi Tahu, key programme partner the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, University of Otago, important local associates such as Penguin Place and Penguin Rescue, community groups and volunteers.
"Our work with yellow-eyed penguins stretches from sites on Banks Peninsula down to the subantarctic islands," said Ms Toki.
"While nest numbers are similar to last year from Dunedin northwards, there are declines further south. The estimate for the total southern east coast based on current counts is around 250 nests, down from 261 a year ago. This number is of concern given historically there were between 400–600 breeding pairs and the current number is the lowest for 27 years."
The decline is steepest on Codfish Island off the coast of Stewart Island, where only 14 nests were found, down from 24 the previous year. Nest counts of yellow-eyed penguins on Codfish Island have been steadily declining with a sharp decrease in the number of nests over the past couple of years. Codfish Island is a predator-free island with limited human access, so land-based influences are unlikely to be the cause.
Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust General Manager Sue Murray said, "The Trust has huge concerns for the future of hoiho on Whenua Hou [Codfish Island] given their rapid decline. Our focus must be the marine environment where hoiho spend at least half of their life as it is unlikely that terrestrial impacts are a major factor in the decline here. The Trust, DOC and Ngāi Tahu are working with urgency to address this situation."
Yellow-eyed penguins face wide-ranging threats from climate change to disease. Avian diphtheria remains a serious ongoing issue for the birds and can affect a large proportion the newly-hatched chicks.
More research is needed on the factors affecting the yellow-eyed penguin population, particularly on Codfish Island, and DOC is working with Ngāi Tahu and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust to develop a new recovery plan and strategy. This will refocus strategic priorities for yellow-eyed penguin conservation, incorporate Ngāi Tahu perspectives to provide guidance for management, update management coordination and enhance conservation efforts.
Priorities in responding to this decline in yellow-eyed penguin numbers include:
"We ask that people help us to protect these vulnerable birds this summer by giving the birds plenty of space and quiet, respecting barriers and encouraging the same behaviour from others," said Ms Toki.
"Please call DOC's Hotline on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) if you come across yellow-eyed penguins and are concerned about their condition, describing as accurately as possible when and where the bird was found."
Source
Yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers down [media release], 24 November 2017, Department of Conservation
DOC carries out monitoring, research, and intensive management for yellow-eyed penguins alongside Treaty Partner Ngāi Tahu, key programme partner the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, University of Otago, important local associates such as Penguin Place and Penguin Rescue, community groups and volunteers.
"Our work with yellow-eyed penguins stretches from sites on Banks Peninsula down to the subantarctic islands," said Ms Toki.
"While nest numbers are similar to last year from Dunedin northwards, there are declines further south. The estimate for the total southern east coast based on current counts is around 250 nests, down from 261 a year ago. This number is of concern given historically there were between 400–600 breeding pairs and the current number is the lowest for 27 years."
The decline is steepest on Codfish Island off the coast of Stewart Island, where only 14 nests were found, down from 24 the previous year. Nest counts of yellow-eyed penguins on Codfish Island have been steadily declining with a sharp decrease in the number of nests over the past couple of years. Codfish Island is a predator-free island with limited human access, so land-based influences are unlikely to be the cause.
Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust General Manager Sue Murray said, "The Trust has huge concerns for the future of hoiho on Whenua Hou [Codfish Island] given their rapid decline. Our focus must be the marine environment where hoiho spend at least half of their life as it is unlikely that terrestrial impacts are a major factor in the decline here. The Trust, DOC and Ngāi Tahu are working with urgency to address this situation."
Yellow-eyed penguins face wide-ranging threats from climate change to disease. Avian diphtheria remains a serious ongoing issue for the birds and can affect a large proportion the newly-hatched chicks.
More research is needed on the factors affecting the yellow-eyed penguin population, particularly on Codfish Island, and DOC is working with Ngāi Tahu and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust to develop a new recovery plan and strategy. This will refocus strategic priorities for yellow-eyed penguin conservation, incorporate Ngāi Tahu perspectives to provide guidance for management, update management coordination and enhance conservation efforts.
Priorities in responding to this decline in yellow-eyed penguin numbers include:
- ensuring penguin habitat and terrestrial predator control are maintained at priority mainland sites, including working with site managers to see that trapping follows current best practice
- monitoring penguin health during the breeding season at priority habitats
- supporting the Ministry of Primary Industries' work to improve inshore set net fishery practices through observer coverage
- responding to unwell or injured birds
- supporting research, particularly investigations into penguin foraging in the marine environment.
"We ask that people help us to protect these vulnerable birds this summer by giving the birds plenty of space and quiet, respecting barriers and encouraging the same behaviour from others," said Ms Toki.
"Please call DOC's Hotline on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) if you come across yellow-eyed penguins and are concerned about their condition, describing as accurately as possible when and where the bird was found."
Source
Yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers down [media release], 24 November 2017, Department of Conservation
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