Penguin/korora Fledglings Starve
They washed up on our beaches and were plucked out of the sea, dead and dying, cold, wet, exhausted and starving. Dozens of them.
It started early November when a little penguin/korora fledgling was observed high on the beach at Dummy Bay “not looking so good” according to the Council contractor who saw it. It was shivering with cold, still had some fluffy down and so weak it couldn’t stand up. Our rescue uber service immediately delivered it to the rehab vet where it weighed in at just 654g, half the weight it should have been. It was named Ted.
From then on, every few days, another call would come in, sometimes twice a day. It was soon apparent that something was very wrong for this season’s little blue fledglings right across Tasman Bay - Abel Tasman National Park, Split Apple, Towers Bay, Breaker Bay, Kaiteriteri, Little Kaiteriteri, Dummy Bay, Stephens Bay, Tapu Bay, Motueka Quay, Kina, Best Island, Ruby Bay, Tahuna Back Beach, Boulder Bay…the tragedy was widespread and these were only the reported ones. There would have been many more.
As well as starving fledglings washing up on the beaches, the monitoring team also observed burrows and nest boxes being abandoned by adults unable to support their chicks.
The DOC marine science team called it a “local starvation event”. From Boulder Bank to the Abel Tasman National Park, little penguin/Korora fledglings were starving. Tragically most had perished or died soon after rescue. They were found by beach walkers, private boaties and commercial water taxi operators; all made the call either direct to the Penguin Trust or to DOC seeking assistance for these helpless little blues.
The rehab team worked tirelessly trying to save as many as possible of those found still alive. It was a heartbreaking task with many dying while being transferred or on arrival at the rehab clinic, simply too far gone with starvation to survive. But a few won their battle. They gradually increased in weight over many weeks, grew their waterproof feathers and developed their swim skills, thanks to the patience and support of the rehab team. Ted was one of the lucky few, along with Peng, Hudson, Scooby Doo and Cotton Tail. Just 5 survived and were successfully released. Ted, Peng and Hudson were fledglings. Scooby Doo and Cotton Tail were moulting adults, severely underweight, that wouldn’t have survived their moult without intervention and support.
Massive thanks go to:
The amazing rehabbers, Dr Mana Stratton and Frances Stratton for their expertise, care and dedication… 24/7 for 3 months
The volunteers who kept the clinic and pool clean (little blues are VERY messy!!)
DOC for taking the calls and setting rescues in motion
King Salmon who provided salmon smolt (a little blue’s fave!)
Kmart for discounted floor tiles
All the beach goers and boaties who cared and made the call for help – your actions saved a lucky few but also meant those that didn’t survive weren’t left to suffer predation and scavenging.
The “why” is that the adult penguins struggled to provide sufficient fish for their chicks and abandoned their burrow, forcing the chicks to leave in search of food. Underweight, still with fluffy down so not waterproof, the fledglings’ survival chances on the beaches and at sea were near impossible.
Little penguins/korora are regarded as “sentinels of the sea”. What happens to little penguins reflects the health of the ocean. If the ocean is in good health, the penguin flourish. If not, they struggle and die.
So what is this starvation event telling us? All is not good at sea. There has been a marine heatwave in Tasman Bay since October which will continue to April, according to NIWA. The warming of the ocean surface forces the penguins’ prey species to deeper, colder water out of range for foraging adults in poor body condition, impossible for starving, underweight fledglings still learning the ropes of how to survive at sea.
Will this tragedy happen again? Most likely. With climate change inducing marine heat waves and over-fishing by commercial fleets, the little blues will struggle in a marine environment that is simply not supporting them.
Furthermore, on land they will fall prey to uncontrolled dogs, cats, mustelids, rats and car strike, all 100% preventable unless we humans take better care of the coastal habitat we share with our native species.
The fate of little penguins/korora, the sentinels of the sea, tells us a lot about our environment and ourselves.
But are we listening? And do we care enough to do something about it?
The conservation status of little penguins/korora is “at risk/declining”. Every single one saved counts. So if you see a little penguin in trouble, please make the call.
DOC hotline 0800 362 468 or the
Tasman Bay Blue Penguin Trust 021 797 267.
