Following on from last month's column about keeping dogs on a leash around penguin areas, Shani Peleg had a great idea, which we are going to trial. We are asking for any old dog leashes that could be donated and we will place them near the start of the Ti Point Walkway hanging down with a notice. Although most dog walkers have their dog on a leash, those who haven't are welcome to borrow one, and hopefully return it afterwards.

Penguins are now nesting and either sitting on eggs or have chicks. If we can avoid dogs disturbing their nesting sites the eggs and chicks are less likely to be abandoned.

As the chicks grow they will get more and more demanding for more food and the parents will need to go back and forth from the sea more often. Finally 7-8 weeks after hatching, the chicks will be big enough to fledge. At this time the adults will stop feeding them and when the chicks are hungry enough they will head out to sea as well.

Sometime after the adults go out to sea to feed and fatten up, they will return to land and begin to moult. All their feathers are replaced at this time and they will stay ashore for up to two weeks and cannot feed till moulting has finished. They are very vulnerable at this stage. Some may go back to their nesting sites and others may just come ashore somewhere else.

If you happen to see a scruffy looking penguin there is a good chance it is not sick but is moulting. We would be interested in any sightings of their feathers.

*Author: Jenny Enderby / [email protected] for Leigh Rag [email protected]

Reposted with permission.