Little penguin wardens thanked for their six month vigil

AUSTRALIA - The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) were joined by environmentalist Ian Kiernan AO at a special ceremony to thank the Manly little penguin wardens for their incredible dedication to protecting the little penguin colony at North Head through a tough breeding season.

Acting Head of NPWS Tom Bagnat said, despite the losses by fox attack early on, NPWS and the community successfully kept the remaining colony of little penguins safe for the rest of the breeding season.

“The community has been invaluable in helping parks’ staff to protect the little penguin colony over the past six months including assisting in the nightly vigil to keep the breeding birds safe from fox predation at their most vulnerable times,” Mr Bagnat said.

Two very important little penguins released back into the wild

Libby Hall and Commanding Officer HMAS Penguin,
Commander Paul Gall, releasing penguins off Fairlight Beach.
Credit: Madeleine Smitham

AUSTRALIA - Two little penguins from the famous Manly colony in New South Wales were released back into the wild this week after being looked after at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital while they underwent their yearly moult.

One penguin, Bernie, was found at Dee Why Point in December weighing just 500 grams, half the normal body weight for a little penguin.

After spending quite a while in the intensive care, she finally put on enough weight to go into her yearly moult. She now has a brand new set of feathers, weighs a kilogram and is ready to rejoin her colony.

Little penguin Bella released back to her mate Lucky

Bella having a final swim at Taronga Wildlife Hospital before
being released. Photo credit: Madeleine Smitham

AUSTRALIA - Little penguin Bella was released back into the wild to her waiting mate Lucky earlier this week after being treated at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

Bella was released off Manly's Store Beach by Taronga Wildlife Hospital Manager Libby Hall, Sydney Harbour National Park Ranger Melanie Tyas and volunteer penguin wardens.

Lucky had been seen swimming in the area nearby at twilight, looking for her. Little penguins usually mate for life and as it is breeding season it was important to get the two love-birds back together.

Missing little penguin's sad fate discovered

Little penguins at Taronga Zoo.
Photo credit: L A Warden

AUSTRALIA – A call from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for information about a little penguin taken from Sydney’s Manly Wharf last week had a sad ending when it was revealed the bird had succumbed to its injuries over the weekend.

The distressed and injured little penguin was seen being put in a cardboard box on the east side of the wharf last Thursday, prompting NPWS to put out an appeal on Friday for information about where the troubled little bird had gone.

Eco the dog: penguin protection weapon

AUSTRALIA - The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is unleashing a new secret weapon that will assist in monitoring and protecting the last remaining little penguin colony on mainland NSW: an English springer spaniel named Eco.

NPWS Regional Manager Gary Dunnett said Eco is the first dedicated penguin, fox and cat sniffer dog in Australia. At the end of October she started working at Sydney’s North Head.

“One of the challenging things about monitoring the little penguin population is determining the exact size of the colony and most importantly the breeding pairs,” Mr Dunnett explained.

He said Eco will be helping NPWS Rangers to search out hidden and remote penguin burrows so they can monitor the colony’s breeding population and where they are nesting.

“This will allow us to monitor the chicks, get a better handle on whether the population is stable and help us plan the most effective pest programs like fox and dog controls.

“Little penguins are notoriously secretive - leaving for their fishing expeditions on night fall and returning in the pre-dawn light."

Mr Dunnett said that Eco will be used to try to find nests not previously known about, allowing the NPWS to monitor any adults and chicks and also to map where they are nesting against where the currently protected areas are.

One of the greatest threats facing Manly's little penguin colony are foxes and domestic dogs. Eco has been given hours of rigorous testing to ensure she will not harm the penguins once she locates them.

“All dogs have certain natural instincts that make them dangerous to wildlife and it takes long and arduous training to ensure they are suitable for this type of work in just the same way that guide dogs or police dogs are meticulously trained,” Mr Dunnett said.

“When Eco is working in national parks she wears a high-visibility coat that identifies her as having special permission to be there and that she is working for conservation purposes,” he said.

Monitoring the Manly colony is only possible during the breeding season and at the site of their nests, as once in the water outside of the breeding season the penguins can travel incredible distances.

Eco is also a trained fox and cat detection dog so with a word from her owner and handler Lisa O’Neill, she can swap from sniffing out penguins to tracking down one of their main predators.

Eco was trained by Steve Austin, whose detection dogs have been used with great success in the past couple of years to detect foxes at North Head to protect the little penguins and the long-nosed bandicoots.

“Eco is happiest when she is working – the hardest part is getting her to rest,” Mr Austin said.

“She can cover a stretch of a kilometre in about 40 minutes when looking for penguins, and about 500m² an hour when looking for foxes. This is, of course, governed by the terrain.

Mr Austin rates Eco as one of the best dogs he has ever trained in terms of her ability and enthusiasm.

“In one hour, she can cover an area that would take 10 people four hours to cover,” he said.


Source
Secret weapon unleashed at North Head for penguin protection, NPWS, 31 October 2011

Little penguin colony very little indeed

AUSTRALIA - Manly's penguin wardens say that only one breeding pair of little penguins remain in Manly Cove West from the colony that moved there 20 years ago. The good news is that Mr Stickybeak and his partner do have a nest of eggs.

Dogs and boats have taken their toll, say the penguin wardens. Conservationists tried to get dogs banned from the area but a lobby by dog walkers meant they could still use the area with leashes.  

The Stickybeaks are believed to be among some 60 pairs in the wider Manly area, the only mainland population in NSW. 

Source
Unhappy feet: is the harbour a fairytale ending? by Tim Barlass, Launceston Times, 25 September 2011

One of Manly's penguins killed by dog

AUSTRALIA - Hidden cameras will be placed at North Head in Manly, New South Wales, after a dog killed a little penguin in late August. A Taronga Zoo autopsy showed a small dog killed the penguin. The tagged 13-year-old male was was part of a breeding pair at North Head.

Source
Penguin killed by a dog at North Head, Manly Dail, 2 September 2011 

Little penguins put Manly Wharf work on hold

AUSTRALIA - Little penguins nesting under Manly Wharf have put on hold Manly Council's excavation work there. A council spokesman said that work will not resume again until the penguin breeding season ends in February.

The Manly Daily reported that council staff and contractors had removed sand and begun stormwater works near the wharf, but the work was called off after volunteer penguin protectors alerted the council about the nests they had spotted.

Stephen Clements, the council’s deputy general manager, said its staff were educated in identifying penguin nests and had not found any in the area.

But penguin protector Angelika Treichler told the The Manly Daily that she had seen two penguins nesting under the wharf the night before. She was not sure how many penguins used the wharf as their nesting area.

Anne McGloghry, another penguin protector, also asked the council to fill in a trench that had been dug as a little penguin had fallen in earlier that week and needed the penguin protectors' assistance to get out.

Source
Penguins halt flood mitigation at Manly Wharf by John Morcombe, 31 August 2011, The Manly Daily

Dog ban overturned in Manly

AUSTRALIA - The ban on dogs using the steps up to Federation Point has been overturned at a Manly Council meeting on Monday night, The Manly Daily reported.

The new regulation was one of several measures put in place in order to protect the little penguins' breeding area at Federation Point. It caused intense debate in Manly, with local dog owners saying that there had been no community consultation before the regulations were introduced.

The Manly Daily reported that Manly's penguin wardens had wanted dogs banned from the steps, which are near the birds’ breeding area at Federation Point, because the dogs' presence could scare the birds. The wardens said the penguins would smell dogs and this would change their behaviour, possibly even stop them from coming ashore.

Read previous posts:

• Manly's dog owners fight new bans
• "Intensive" program to protect Manly's penguins

Sources
Victory for dog owners: ban overturned by Peter Bodkin, 10 May 2011, The Manly Daily
Dog owners v wardens, round two by Peter Bodkin, 6 May 2011, The Manly Daily

Manly's dog owners fight new bans

AUSTRALIA - Manly Council's new rules on walking dogs in Manly Cove have drawn heavy criticism from dog owners, who say the controversial decision was made without consultation and that their rights have been infringed.

The rules were introduced in March in an effort to provide better protection for the area's little penguins. The council had voted unanimously in December to enforce a "zero-tolerance approach" for any dog owners caught with their pets off-leash in on-leash areas, and for dogs to be banned from the steps up to Federation Point. It was also decided that other penguin protection measures, such as the installation of CCTV cameras, would be put in place.

Local dog owners say that they want the penguins protected as much as anyone, but that the council introduced the "draconian" rules without consultation.

Manly resident and dog owner Lloyd Keen told The Manly Daily that the group of dog owners was asking for the plans to be revoked until the wider community had the chance to comment.

"We understand the need to look after the penguins but no one’s really thought this through," he said.

"Most people with dogs do all the right things. Once Manly Council gets (the rules) right, then it needs to enforce them because at the moment it doesn’t."

The Manly Daily reported that the dog owners want leashed dogs to be allowed back on Federation Steps, and unleased dogs to be allowed on the Manly Scenic Walkway near Federation Point.

Manly Mayor Jean Hay has indicated that some of the dog bans may be overturned, telling The Manly Daily that leashed dogs should again be allowed onto Federation Steps. She said banning dogs from the steps "is taking away people’s rights".

"Let’s face it, the area belongs to everyone," she said.

Read previous post: "Intensive" program to protect Manly's penguins


Sources
Dog walkers fight bans by Peter Bodkin, 22 April 2011, The Manly Daily
Penguin protectors clash with dog lovers by Peter Bodkin, 13 April 2011, The Manly Daily
Dog owners growl over penguins by Peter Bodkin, 11 April 2011, The Manly Daily
Dog ban leads to outraged dog owners by Peter Bodkin, 5 April 2011, The Manly Daily

Assault conviction for penguin warden pusher

AUSTRALIA - In a victory for penguin conservationists, James Oatley has been convicted of assaulting penguin warden Johnyth Burton while she was carrying out her volunteer duties on Manly Cove in NSW on New Years Day.

Mr Oatley, 28, pleaded guilty in Manly Local Court on 7 March to pushing the 73-year-old warden, reported The Manly Daily.

According to an agreed statement tendered in court, Mr Oatley came to shore near Manly Cove on a boat, and a dog that was also onboard jumped out and ran towards one of the little penguins. Ms Burton ran to the penguin's defence. When another penguin warden tried to take photos of the dog, Mr Oatley became aggressive and pushed Ms Burton as she tried to intervene.

Mr Oatley was fined AU$1,500 plus court costs.

Read related posts:

• Manly penguin wardens quit after alleged assault
• Penguin warden allegedly assaulted while on duty

Source
Man convicted of penguin warden assault by Peter Bodkin, 8 April 2011, The Manly Daily

"Intensive" program to protect Manly's penguins

AUSTRALIA - Following a devastating dog attack on Manly's little penguin colony in December last year, the NSW Department of Environment Climate Change and Water (DECCW) and Manly Council have announced a new action plan to protect the endangered birds in the upcoming breeding season.

"Manly's little penguin population is the subject of one of the most intensive threatened species programs in the country," DECCW Deputy Director and National Parks head Sally Barnes said.

The new action plan aims to reduce the chance of dog attacks - the biggest threat to birds in the area - by introducing a policy of zero tolerance for people ignoring leash-only areas at Manly Cove, including Federation Point where the December attack occurred.

The plan, which is to be in place before the beginning of the breeding season in July, also includes expanding Manly Council’s existing Wildlife Protection Area, upgrading fencing on the Federation Point boardwalk, using CCTV to monitor the Federation Point nesting area, research and tailored education campaigns to improve community education, and discussions with fisheries and maritime authorities about boating strategies that may reduce disturbance to the penguins.

"A key part of the plan is an investigation into extending declared critical habitat to Federation Point. This process is well underway, with a formal request having been made to the NSW Scientific Committee seeking their advice on the matter," Ms Barnes said.

Manly's endangered population is estimated at about 60 breeding pairs, most of whom nest within critical habitat areas in Sydney Harbour National Park. About five pairs breed either under Manly Wharf or at Federation Point.

"The population does appear to be fragile but stable, with our monitoring showing a trend upwards since 2002 and evidence the birds are looking at areas outside their core breeding habitat," Ms Barnes said.

While DECCW and the Little Penguin Recovery Team are still finalising a monitoring report for the 2010/11 breeding season, Ms Barnes said preliminary monitoring data showed the population had experienced a strong breeding success (76%) this season.

"However there were fewer breeding pairs and therefore fewer eggs and fewer fledglings, which seabird scientists suggest was due to the poor shape the birds were in when they arrived," she said.

"Our threatened species team believes this is most likely due to oceanic conditions and a lack of small fish for adult breeding birds."

Source
Zero tolerance for dog owners next penguin breeding season, 4 March 2011, Department of Environment Climate Change and Water

Manly penguin wardens quit after alleged assault

AUSTRALIA - Two of Manly Cove's penguin wardens have left the volunteer patrol programme, fearing for their safety after one of their number was allegedly assaulted on duty.

Johnyth Burton resigned after she was allegedly splashed and pushed over by James Oatley on New Year's Day. She and head warden Angela Treichler were protecting the little penguins from a dog which had arrived on a boat with group of people that included Mr Oatley.

The incident has understandably affected the volunteers, and a second warden has now resigned. Head warden Angela Treichler, who started the patrols six years ago, told The Manly Daily, "They are just scared." And who can blame them?

Ms Treichler said that they had excellent support from the local police, but would like two extra council rangers to back up their nightly patrols and "to be there for the protection of people and animals".

Henry Wong, Manly Council general manager, said the council would do "whatever it takes" to protect the penguin colony, which as risen from one to five pairs since Ms Treichler started the patrols.

I have great admiration for Mrs Burton who, despite the alleged assault, has not given up on trying to protecting the endangered birds. Ms Treichler told The Sydney Morning Herald that the 72-year-old will continue helping with "the penguin politics".

"We have to fight developers and do all sorts of things and she is great at that," she said. 

Read related post: Penguin warden allegedly assaulted while on duty

Sources
Manly penguin wardens quit by Peter Bodkin, 11 January 2011, The Manly Daily
Warden quits the front line after beach dramas by Tim Barlass, 9 January 2011, The Sydney Morning Herald

Penguin warden allegedly assaulted while on duty

Little penguins at Manly Beach.
Photo by meltingnoise.
Some rights reserved.

AUSTRALIA - When Johnyth Burton signed up as a volunteer to protect little penguins she may have expected to cop some verbal abuse from beachgoers caught disobeying the rules. But it's unlikely she would have expected to be assaulted.

Yet 27-year-old James Oatley will appear in Manly Local Court on a charge of common assault after he allegedly pushed the 72-year-old volunteer as she tried to protect the endangered penguins at Manly Cove in NSW from a dog.

Mr Oatley was one of group of people who, along with the dog, arrived by boat at Manly Cove at 9pm. It is claimed the dog jumped from the boat and ran towards the penguins.

Head penguin warden Angelika Treichler was also on duty that night. She told The Daily Telegraph, "We just tried to set up a barrier between the penguins and the dog, because the dog was running towards the penguin."

The wardens said they told Mr Oatley and the dog's owner that they could be fined for letting the dog run on the beach and asked them to put it on a leash.

Once the dog was under control, the wardens started taking photos of the men and scene. It was then that Mr Oatley allegedly got into an argument with Mrs Burton, splashing water on her and pushing her into the sand.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested Mr Oatley.

Ms Treichler said her friend had been left "quite frail" after the incident and had told her she "never wants to do the penguin duty ever again".

It's outrageous that anyone would behave like that towards someone who is kind enough to devote their own time to protecting an endangered species. The rules are there to protect the penguins, and the volunteers are there to try to make sure those rules are followed. How many people will become volunteers if they think they will be pushed around like that?

Sources
Penguin protector assault charge laid on James Oatley by Amy Dale, 3 January 2011, The Daily Telegraph
Push and a shove floors a guardian of penguins by Geesche Jacobsen, 3 January 2011, Sydney Morning Herald