Hello ,

The Great Annual West Coast Blue Penguin Count will take place this year between 17th and 22nd October, when tides are low in the early morning.

If you ever think you would like to make time to get out to the beach for an early morning walk, now's the time to do it with extra purpose!

It's a huge advantage for the Trust to have recent records of the presence of penguins.  For example, when contributing to regional council plans or other functions or district council operations, we can make sure penguins are avoided and protected – with your help.

And it's fun!  It will remind you why you love being on the Coast!

Be prepared by checking our web page here.

The October dates are chosen when blue penguins will be busy feeding chicks, and at least one parent will be going out pretty much every day to forage, leaving tracks on sandy beaches before dawn, and returning after dark with food.

The dates are narrowed down according to the tides so that an early morning walk will be well before high tide and any penguin tracks should be clearly visible on the freshly washed canvas of a sandy beach.

In addition to helping with protecting penguins, an early morning walk brings a variety of benefits:

• a dose of daylight – helps to reset melatonin levels for a better night's sleep

• fresh air and exercise

• connecting to nature and mental well-being, and 

• helping to determine where there may be penguins!

The more penguin trackers the better and we invite you to take an early morning walk on your beach during this year's Great Annual West Coast Blue Penguin Count, and record any tracks on the i-Naturalist app.

Young or old, a walk on the beach is always fun.  Check our webpage to find out all you need to know and put it in your diary now. 

Whether you go once or multiple times, walk 100 metres or 10 kilometres, or whether you go during, earlier or later than the count week (but make sure you check the tides), your help is invaluable - and you'll have fun!

All you need to know in terms of using the i-Naturalist app or what to look for is all on our website, so put it in your diary and get your phone ready!

A big thank you for getting involved and a special thank you to Micaela O'Leary and to Sakura Minato and her mum Elizabeth for allowing us to use photos of them from previous penguin counts.

Thank you, stay safe (check tides here), and have fun!