Codfish Island survey

2009:

The resurvey of Codfish/Whenua Hou has been completed by Sandy King (Projects Officer Southern Islands) with assistance from DOC staff Dave Houston (Auckland) and Dean Nelson (Twizel), both very experienced yellow-eyed penguin people in their previous roles with DOC.

The 2001 survey found 61 breeding pairs; the 2009 survey found 46 breeding pairs.

If you add on a 15% margin of error for ‘missed nests’, that is still only 53 breedng pairs, down 15% from the 2001 survey.

We still need to find out WHY.

Comment from Dave: “Codfish, with the removal of pest species and the addition of a few new birds, is even better than I remember from my first amazing trip there 28 years ago, although the hills have apparently got steeper. Thanks to Sandy King and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust for the opportunity to take part in this fantastic trip, and to Dean for bringing the scotch.”

(Thanks Dave for the awesome photos!)

2001:

The Trust-sponsored yellow-eyed penguin census of Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) found off the north-west coast of Stewart Island) commenced mid-November 2001.

It was important the Trust conduct this survey of this predator-free island. When results are compared to those of the neighbouring Stewart Island, it may assist us in finding out whether feral cat predation is a significant factor in the low numbers of yellow-eyed penguins on Stewart Island.

The Trust’s projects officer, David Blair, and other experienced volunteers carried out a nest search to find 61 productive nests in three main breeding areas. Following the nest search, a series of beach counts was completed. The results for Whenua Hou were very positive this year, as the numbers of juveniles and non-breeding adult penguins give promise of a secure future for this breeding location.

Otago University survey

Three marketing students from the University of Otago will look at the major issues facing the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust as part of their MART 355 Business Project.

Collectively known to the Trust as ‘Visionary Consultants’, they have identified the key issues of securing a strong financial base through sponsorship, gaining new members, retaining existing members and raising the profile of the Trust. Under each of these issues they will consider the impact on the organization, future trends, possible causes and the supporting evidence.

The research will include in-depth interviews, personal surveys, telephone surveys, discussions with board members and research of secondary sources.

Penguin predation study

Pauline Williamson, 2001, Lincoln University

Pauline, from Lincoln University, is doing her Masters project on the white-flippered penguin. She is evaluating the existing predator control at Flea Bay and Stony Bay (on Banks Peninsula) which is in place for the benefit of the white-flippered penguins living in the area. Her overall objective is to provide the two landowners with recommendations, which are easily implemented, to increase predator catches and, in turn, increase penguin survivorship.

The Trust believes the results of her work on predation could benefit their predation control work in yellow-eyed penguin habitats.