Penguin monitoring techniques

Finding this species during surveys can be challenging. Fortunately, a number of detection techniques exist to make life easier for suitably qualified and experienced ecologists monitoring and managing kororā.

New Zealand is a hotspot for penguins. Thirteen of the world’s 18 penguin species have been recorded in New Zealand and nine species breed here. The most commonly encountered penguin species in New Zealand is the little penguin / kororā (Eudyptula minor), which is classified as an At Risk – Declining species.

Kororā are widely distributed along New Zealand’s coastlines and generally nest close to the sea. They nest in burrows excavated by themselves or other seabirds, or in caves, rock crevices, under logs or in or under a variety of human-made structures such as nest boxes, pipes, stacks of wood or timber, rock revetments, and buildings. Given the weird and wonderful places kororā like to inhabit when on land, detecting this species during surveys can be challenging. Fortunately, a number of detection techniques exist to make life easier for suitability qualified and experienced ecologists monitoring and managing kororā.  

It is important to note that penguins are absolutely protected by the Wildlife Act, so it’s best to talk to a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist prior to survey work in case special permissions, such as a Wildlife Act Authority, are required.

The simplest way to detect penguins in potential areas of habitat is to look for penguin signs, such as moulted feathers and guano (penguin poo), and to have a ‘bit of a sniff’ as they are rather smelly creatures and the areas they inhabit often have a distinctive fishy odour! While doing this, it pays to have a torch on hand. A torch can be particularly useful in areas of rock revetment as it makes it easier to search nooks and crannies for any penguins lurking in the dark. However, the human body has its limitations and unfortunately cannot contort or fit into the small spaces a kororā can, and that’s when tools such as a burrowscope and / or trail camera can come in useful. 

A burrowscope is a small camera with a light source on the end of a flexible, extendable arm, which can be inserted into areas you want to search. The camera transmits an image of the burrow contents to a screen held by the observer outside the burrow. Trail cameras can also be installed in areas of potential penguin habitat and are a great way to detect any penguins coming to and from burrows, without disturbing them.

Another monitoring technique that has become more popular in the last decade, and which is arguably the ultimate tool for penguin monitoring, is using a DOC-certified penguin detection conservation dog and handler to search for penguins. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and can indicate the location of penguins, even those metres deep within rock revetment.

These monitoring techniques each have their pros and cons and time and place where they are of use. However, together, these penguin detection methods provide a great toolkit to use when monitoring penguins and have been very helpful to Boffa Miskell ecologists working with penguins in a range of coastal projects around New Zealand. 

For further information please contact Karin Sievwright.