The Leigh Penguin Project is working to create a safe habitat for penguins and other seabirds along the coast from Ti Point Wharf to Goat Island, with a focus on the little blue penguins who come ashore every year. 

The little blue penguins come to shore each year during their moulting period, when they take two to three weeks to replace their feathers. During the moult, they cannot swim and are very vulnerable to dogs, cats and stoats. 

They also come ashore to nest around June and July.

The little blue penguin species has been deemed at risk by the Department of Conservation; their population has been declining in areas not protected from predators. Where predator control is in place, populations have been stable or increasing.

Over 50 penguin nesting boxes offering these little guys some more substantial shelter from predators, mostly made by members of Forest and Bird NZ, have been placed around the Ti Point, Leigh and Goat Island coast. Auckland Council organised a sniffer dog to explore the Ti Point coast. The dog identified 16 places where penguins had been nesting and that is where the boxes have been placed.

To further protect little blue penguins and other birdlife, theLeigh Penguin Project has begun a predator control programme targeting rats, stoats, weasels and possums around the coast. If you live locally and would be keen to help with predator controls, please contact Jenny on [email protected].