Species
Thirteen of the world’s 18 penguin species have been recorded in the New Zealand region (including the Ross Dependency). Nine of these species breed here.
Three penguin species breed on the New Zealand mainland, they breed alone or in small groups:
Their Antarctic relatives gather in large colonies:
Small population sizes, restricted geographical ranges, predators and habitat degradation all contribute to the vulnerability of mainland New Zealand penguin species.
Predators
Unlike flying birds, which moult and replace their feathers gradually so that they can continue to fly, penguins moult all of their feathers at once. This enables them to go back out to sea without ‘leaks’ in their waterproof insulation. Moulting is a stressful time for penguins, and during this two to five week period in late summer birds may look sick and ragged. They are also highly vulnerable to predators at this time.
The main land-based predators are stoats, ferrets, rats, dogs, and feral cats.
Sharks, seals, sea lions and occasionally orca prey on penguins while at sea. Leopard seals, usually residents of the Antarctic region, are specialist penguin predators and NZ sea lions occasionally dine on penguins. Fur seals rarely do.
Skua (a large gull-like bird) and giant petrels are the penguin’s only avian predators and will both take poorly guarded eggs and chicks. Skua are also capable of killing adult blue penguins.
Habitat loss and change in climate
The yellow-eyed penguin is the New Zealand species most affected by habitat loss. A forest or shrubland nesting species, the yellow-eyed has come under pressure as forest has been replaced with pasture.
A slight warming of sea temperatures in the past 50 years is thought to have forced vital food species such as krill further south, with a subsequent impact on several penguin species.
Fishing and human disturbance
Fisheries by-catch of penguins, and entanglement in discarded nylon fishing lines are also threats to penguins.
Spills of light fuel oil from fishing boats and the emptying of engine-room bilges. The oil coats penguins’ feathers and prevents them from insulating properly. Fortunately, these incidences are rare around New Zealand.
Penguins are also highly susceptible to human disturbance when nesting.
Keep our penguins safe
- Leave penguins alone. Usually scruffy birds are simply moulting.
- Put your dog on a leash around penguin areas.
- Keep your dog away from nests, and warn others nearby of the location.
- Donate your time or money to help penguin protection groups, such as the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and Forest & Bird.
H5 bird flu and penguins
Risk from H5 bird flu
We don’t know exactly how H5 bird flu will affect New Zealand’s native species. Birds that breed in dense colonies, such as red and black-billed gulls, gannets and terns, may be especially vulnerable. This includes penguins that nest in colonies. H5 bird flu can affect little penguins, as well as other wild birds.
Work to protect penguins
Work to manage the risk of H5 bird flu focuses on increasing the resilience of wildlife populations and minimising its effects on vulnerable native wildlife.
For penguins, the best protection is good biosecurity, close monitoring, protecting breeding areas, reducing disturbance and continuing other conservation work like trapping that supports penguin populations.
If H5 bird flu becomes established in New Zealand wildlife, eradication will not be possible. Support to help native species survive and adapt to live with this virus in the long term will be important.
Reducing other pressures on native species can help their populations withstand losses from disease.
Vaccination
Vaccination may be considered for highly threatened native birds when the loss of individuals to H5 bird flu puts them at risk of extinction. Vaccinating wild birds requires significant intervention and handling. More than one dose is needed, and the protection only lasts about six months.
Kororā are not a priority for vaccination because they are not at risk of extinction from H5 bird flu. This may be disappointing for groups that care for local kororā colonies.
Kororā are not classified as threatened in New Zealand, but they face pressures from predators, habitat loss, and disturbance by people and dogs. H5 bird flu may cause losses, but the population is considered large enough to withstand this.
Management plans will be adapted if the disease risk for kororā changes significantly.
You can help
Keep a watch out for signs of H5 bird flu:
- Report any sick or dead wildlife in a group of three or more to MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
- Do not touch or collect sick or dead wildlife to avoid spread of the virus and protect yourself. Keep your dogs and cats away from wildlife.
- If a penguin is injured or in immediate danger, contact DOC’s wildlife emergency hotline – 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).