It’s all happening at Leigh! After a slightly delayed start, the kororā have decided it is time to come ashore for nesting, and within a short time their numbers seem to have grown from almost none to many.

As with last year they seem to be favouring natural sites rather than the boxes, but that’s fine because it keeps things as ‘normal’ as possible. Some birds are just resident, some are nest building, and a couple already are in lying positions consistent with having eggs. Here’s hoping!

Some recent observations have been that they often still come ashore in very rough seas, but if the sea is cloudy (as it was after the August storms) one closely monitored nest remained unattended for a few days until the water cleared again. (Kororā are known to find food locating difficult in mirky water.)

Unfortunately dead kororā were found on Matheson and Crabb Beach mid August. What the birds had been attacked by was inconclusive.

On the positive side however, a huge shout out goes to all the trappers who are part of this project. They contribute so much to making the bird environment safe around Leigh, Ti Point, etc and given that the Little Penguin population is declining nationally, we need a community effort to grow their numbers. Thanks, you trappin’ gals and guys!!

DOG WALKERS please be mindful if you are walking your dog, to keep them controlled and please do not let them off leash on coastal walkways and reserves as Penguin are nesting at present around our coast.

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

Reposted with permission.