Hello
Even though it's November, we are starting to think about Christmas, as we start to enjoy the warmer, longer days and the feel of Summer in the air. This also means we are well into our penguin season now. Penguin adults have been busy raising their chicks and chicks have been taking that risky first step as they leave the nest and head out to sea. You may have been lucky to have seen or heard penguins on your local beach in the last couple of months, or at least seen some good tracks, whilst out walking early in the morning. Please do tell others so that we continue to raise awareness of our busy breeding penguins on our local beaches.
For those of you that took part in our Great Annual Blue Penguin Count this year, thank you very much. We appreciate all your efforts and the results provide us with a good insight into the numbers and locations of our blue penguins. We will let you know our findings, once we have analysed the data.
As you saw from our last newsletter, we have had some changes in the Trust. We welcomed Robin Long as new Chair, elected at our recent AGM, and we said a temporary farewell to Reuben Lane while he takes some time for other projects and adventures. We also recruited a fantastic new Ranger, Linden Brown, to take over from Matt Charteris, as he also leaves to focus on other projects.
Our new updated education resource has finally been printed and is almost ready to be distributed to schools and educators and anyone that would like one. We will let you know when it is available on facebook and our website. Watch this space!
Kerry-Jayne Wilson's long awaited book New Zealand Seabirds, A Natural History is available to buy along with some interesting articles on seabirds to read.
Read more about all these stories below.
I realise it feels a bit strange to talk about Christmas in November, but it is the time to be thinking about Christmas presents, so we have some festive suggestions, as usual, in this edition in case you were looking for ideas.
And finally, our usual reminder to dog owners, possibly the most important item on the newsletter for our local penguins, to please take care on our beaches and coastal areas. Keep dogs under control at the beach, and on a lead when in or passing through the coastal vegetation or on the beach after dark. Please encourage other dog owners to do the same.
Also just a quick reminder that if you do see an injured penguin or any wildlife that seems to be struggling, please call DOC for assistance on the hotline, 0800 DOCHOT (362 468) and do all you can to ensure it is safe from dogs. If you see or hear about a dead penguin, please let us know, ideally with a photograph, so that we can add it to our database - which informs conservation actions.
Read on for all our news, thank you for your interest and support, and please feel free to forward this newsletter or any stories to a friend or someone you meet when out and about on the beaches spotting tracks.
Get outside and enjoy the start of Summer coming and stay safe everyone!
Lucy Waller
Education and Awareness Ranger