From: "Rohan Clarke" <>
Date: 25 February 2004 9:47:24 AM
Subject: Fw: Fiordland Penguin, Eaglehawk Neck Tasmania
Hi all,
A few further comments on the Fiordland Penguin in Tas at the moment.
It is a Fiordland Penguin (and not Snares) for the following
reasons:
1) It has no fleshy membrane around the base of the bill.
2) The bill is relatively compact for a crested penguin (i.e. not
large and
robust as in Snares).
3) The crest is particularly broad close to the bill (even allowing
for some
expansion of this character due to the puffy appearance typical of
penguins
in moult)
4) There is a trace of white cheek stripes on one side of the bird's
face.
5) As Mike Carter pointed out the 'crest' commences at the junction of
culminicorn and latericorn at the base of the upper mandible.
On Sunday it had commenced moult. However, only the feathers on the
rear of
the crown had been shed so I guess it should remain for at least
another
fortnight or so (HANZAB states 20-30 days from first shedding of
feathers to
replacement).
The bird is in a rocky gully not far from Pirates Bay Jetty
(Eaglehawk Neck) but would be difficult to find without specific
directions.
Because of the secluded location I would hope it will be left to
complete
its moult naturally and wont be moved by conservation agency staff.
If anyone is interested they can email me for directions.
Regards
Rohan
Dr Rohan Clarke
Threatened Mallee Bird Project
Zoology Department
La Trobe University
Bundoora 3086
Ph: 03 9479 1672 Mobile 0408 947001
