shore plovers used to be widespread around NZ coastlines but introduced predators reduced them to a relict population on the Chatham Islands to the east. A reintroduction programme is attempting to get them established on Mana Island off Wellington. In June 2011 almost forty shore plovers left Mana Island and appeared on the mainland coast at Plimmerton. This is over 20% of the total world population.
The second-known emperor penguin to visit New Zealand shores has turned up on the Kapiti Coast.
Kapiti resident Christine Wilton was walking her dog on Monday afternoon at Peka Peka Beach when she saw a "glistening white thing standing up" on the sand.
"I thought I was seeing things," Wilton said.
She contacted the Department of Conservation's Waikanae office, who discovered the strange visitor was an Antarctic emperor penguin - only the second ever sighted on New Zealand shores.
The one other recording of an emperor penguin in New Zealand was at Southland's Oreti Beach in 1967.
DOC is advising that people should not disturb the penguin and that dogs are to be kept on leads in the area.
Penguins can give vicious pecks if they feel threatened. If left alone it is expected that the bird will eventually swim back out to sea.
"It's amazing to see one of these penguins on the Kapiti Coast," said DOC biodiversity spokesperson Peter Simpson. "Unusual animals from the Antarctic sometimes visit our shores, but we really don't know why."
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins, with adults reaching more than a metre tall and weighing up to 30kg. They feed on fish, krill, squid and a wide range of marine invertebrates and hold the diving record at 450 metres deep and 11 minutes underwater.
the shore plovers are still there, but they're moving around quite a bit (there's someone keeping track of their band combinations so they know where everyone is). Fantastic little birds. And a cat has actually be seen on the beach recently, which is not good!
I just got back from Pekapeka visiting the emperor penguin. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'll probably never see another. Have to feel sorry for the poor thing though, all lost and alone as he is
the shore plovers are still there, but they're moving around quite a bit (there's someone keeping track of their band combinations so they know where everyone is). Fantastic little birds. And a cat has actually be seen on the beach recently, which is not good!
I just got back from Pekapeka visiting the emperor penguin. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'll probably never see another. Have to feel sorry for the poor thing though, all lost and alone as he is
But I have ticked another species off my to see list, made a very quick trip to Palmy last last weekend, and saw two Takahe recuperating at the Massey wildlife ward! No photos though. I found an email about the shore plovers in my inbox as soon as I got back up north, bit gutted cos I would definitely made the trip down from Palmy if I had known
No. Stupid exhibit. Obviously excellent for its inhabitants, but not so good for visitors. I spent ages in there looking for them, and re-visited on the way back out, but saw nuffin. We went in the afternoon, probably from 12.30-3.30, after the zoo, so maybe that wasn't the best time.
that's a shame. Apparently they did take a little while to settle down after being introduced there. When I visited both takahe were out being very friendly. I put a photo in the gallery back then - http://www.zoochat.com/680/takahe-porphyrio-hochstetteri-212550/. Next time you're back down in Wellington you "should" be able to see them.
the Mana Island / Plimmerton shore plovers are no more
I don't know the exact details, but a while ago -- last year I think -- rats got onto Mana Island and decimated the breeding birds, and at Plimmerton where they liked to hang out when they weren't on Mana the birds were being regularly harrassed by dogs and cats (the spot they occupied was literally right beside the footpath).
The surviving birds have been captured and taken to Mt. Bruce.
