#39 - The Little White Flippered Penguin

Geesh, just when I think I’ve seen THE most amazing wildlife, yet another encounter comes along.  Still in Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula (amazing place) we had the opportunity to go see the Pohatu Penguins.  These white flippered penguins are one of the smallest in the world at only 12 inches tall,  and weigh about 3 pounds.  This particular species of penguin is found only on the Banks Peninsula and nearby Motunau Island in New Zealand.

Francis and Shireen Helps bought a farm about 30 years ago and found out very quickly that they bought more than just a farm.  It turns out they also bought a colony of penguins.  Learning that this type of penguin is endangered and their populations dwindling, they dedicated themselves to trying to save them.  They’ve done a remarkable job, rehabilitating them, sheltering them, and protecting them from predators.  Turns out that stoats, ferrets and feral cats like penguin eggs just as much as they like kiwi eggs.  But their method of protection is working.  The number of breeding pairs has almost doubled.

So we set out to see the penguins by first jumping in a 4-wheel drive vehicle which was fortunately driven by someone other than Jeff.  Not that he couldn’t have gotten us there, but the road was extremely narrow (room for only one vehicle), made of rocks, gravel, and dirt, and populated by the occasional cow standing fast in the road as we rounded a sharp bend.  Our driver had a way of coaxing the cows to move just enough so we could eek by.  Oh, and did I mention that this road went over the mountain with sharp drop offs and of course, no guard rails.

So after a 20+ minute white knuckle drive we finally arrived and I started to breathe again.  After all this time driving on winding roads in NZ I still can’t relax knowing that one false move means greeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

We were greeted by Shireen Helps herself who handed us some pellets to feed to her pet sheep.  Seems no matter where you go in NZ you are either feeding or eating lambs.

Next we were shown where the penguins nest.  They lay their eggs in burrows on vegetal slopes or under bushes or rocks.  Or wherever they feel safe from predators.  But their favorite spot seems to be the wooden boxes that people put out for them.  The male penguin is responsible for making and finding a nest for his mate.  The females seem to be impressed when offered a sturdy box which keeps them safe and dry and out of the elements.  A male who can provide this type of accommodation is considered a “real catch”.

They say timing is everything.  Well, we happened to arrive on the evening that the Helps were releasing one of the young chicks that they had been rehabilitating.  So first we watched her feed the chick a tasty meal of sardines.  She explained the signs they look for in the penguin to be sure that it is ready to survive on its own.  Then she placed the baby bird into a bucket and we all went down to the beach to observe the release.

Once out of the bucket the penguin just stood there for a couple of minutes looking around.  We thought it was looking at us and maybe we appeared intimidating.  But Shireen explained that it is normal behavior for the bird to take in the sights of the territory around it.  Penguins always return to nest to the place of their origin.  So in order to find this beach again, the chick needed to get its bearings.  They rely on sight much more so than any other sense.  So it was looking at the hills, the layout of the rocks, the curvature of the beach and other “visuals” that would make it possible for it to come back and nest here later.

Finally, it was ready to take the plunge.  It waddled slowly toward the water, took another good look around and then plunged into the sea and began to swim.  While they appear awkward and clumsy on land, in the water they are amazing swimmers.  Michael Phelps move over.

After witnesssing this incredible event, we were then led up the hill and into a blind from where we could see the return of the colony to their nests for the night.  Unfortunately we only saw one penguin emerge from the water before it got dark and we needed to walk back to the farm.

I’m still in awe of our timing and the opportunity to see this release.  You can find more information about the Helps on YouTube along with some video at this site:  https://m.Youtube.com/watch?v=RV7uWsEvRzQ

We got a few good shots of the release and also some wonderful video.

Chick’s last hand-fed meal before being released into the sea

Ready to be carried to the beach

Where am I? 

I’m off on my own!