Little penguin population grows a lot

AUSTRALIA - It's full steam ahead for the little penguin population on Middle Island in Warrnambool, Victoria as an estimated 190 birds have arrived for the annual breeding season - the biggest influx since the population was almost wiped out by predators six years ago.

The birds were easy prey for dogs and foxes until 2006 when the Warrnambool City Council and the local Coastcare Landcare group trialled the Maremma sheepdog project. Since then Maremma sheepdogs have returned every year to guard the penguins. This year Eudy and Tula, who graduated from the training programme in early 2011, are back on penguin patrol.

Read related posts

Source
Penguin numbers continue to climb at Warrnambool's Middle Island by Peter Collins, 27 December 2011, The Warrnambool Standard

Record-breaking breeding season for Middle Island penguins

AUSTRALIA - It's been another record-breaking breeding season for the little penguins on Warrnambool's Middle Island.

The latest surveys have recorded 180 adult penguins on the island, more than triple the 51 penguins recorded in 2008.

The colony's success has been credited to their canine bodyguards. The penguins have been under the protection of Maremma sheepdogs since 2006. The dogs' presence deters foxes and other dogs from the island.

"We can deduce from our data that the island is now providing a more secure breeding habitat for around 180 adult penguins - a substantial increase on the handful of birds recorded in 2005 before the Maremmas were in place," Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group leader Kristie King told The Standard.

"We recorded 104 birds in December during a second peak of breeding, which supports our suspicion that some pairs have laid two clutches of eggs this season, known as double-brooding.

"This phenomenon, which is uncommon in penguins, suggests that the colony is recovering well after many years of severe fox predation."

Ms King told The Standard that the survey deductions were backed up by results from the breeding monitoring program, which showed there had been an increase in numbers of chicks fledging from the island.

The monitoring team now has five years' worth of information about the colony, and will begin a detailed analysis of the data, Ms King said.

Read related post: Canine graduates ready to protect penguins

Source
Penguins hatch a record chick count by Tina Liptai, 21 March 2011, The Warrnambool Standard

Canine graduates ready to protect penguins

AUSTRALIA - Congratulations to Eula and Tula, the latest Maremma sheepdogs to graduate from the training programme that teaches them to protect the little penguins on Middle Island from stray dogs and foxes.

The two-year-old sheepdogs will now spend up to four nights on the island, which is off the coast of Warrnambool, Victoria, without a handler.

The penguins' breeding season is from July to March so right now the sheepdogs' presence on the island is vital;  their scent deters foxes and other dogs.

Middle Island's Maremma patrol programme has been running since 2005, when there were only 10 penguins on the island. Now there are 180.

Coastcare facilitator Marty Gent told the Herald Sun "they've saved the colony".

Guarding animals is in the Maremmas' blood. In Italy, where they originate from, the dogs were used to protect sheep and goats from wolves and bears. 

Source
Hands off my new penguin mate, says sheepdog Eudy by Kate Jones, 28 January 2011, Herald Sun