Hi all,
A few comments relating to the SA King Penguin.
On Macquarie the species was 'harvested' (read rendered for it's oil)
to a
point where it was near local extinction in 1890. Since then the
population
has recovered so that there were about 1000 pairs in 1930, 218000 pairs
in
1980 and possibly 500000+ pairs in 2002. The population looks like it's
continueing to expand. With traditional breeding sites full new satelite
breeding colonies are appearing with some regularity. It's possible that
there are now more King Penguins on Macquarie than there were before
they
were harvested. With this growing population of King Penguins at the
closest
breeding site to SE Australia the probibility of Kings hauling out to
moult
in Tasmania and the Australian mainland is increasing. This hypothesis
is
supported by the growing number of King Penguins hauling out in
Tasmania.
For example, I understand that in the summer of 02-03 there were at
least 4
King Penguins reported around Tasmania alone.
On Macquarie (where I spent six months in 02-03) they generally don't
seem
perturbed by people. In fact if one sits down on the beach, often they
approach the observer to peck shoes, clothing, fingers etc as if
checking
you out. That being said, there is good evidence (from rigerous
scientific
study) that penguins approached by people can show markedly elevated
heart
rates and breathing rates without showing many (or any) of the more
classic
signs of disturbance such as alertness, calling, flipper waving, fleeing
etc. A 5-10 m minimum buffer around penguins is from memory about the
standard that Antarctic tourist vessels set (but would have to check the
latest) so the treatment of the SA King Penguin with a baricade and
birders
watching from a cliff top sounds more than reasonable.
Penguins on Macquarie often moult near freshwater creeks and readily
drink
freshwater. This is however not essential as they also drink sea water
and
many (probably most) successfully moult at sites without freshwater.
My feeling is that penguins that haul out on Australian beaches should
whereever possible be left to their own devices (no extra water, no
food, no
handling and no close approaches). Where necessary a baricade closing
part
of a beach and an information sign should be the first step. The
occasional
approach by a human (even closer than minimum recommended distances for
Antarctic tourists) must surely be less intrusive and stressful to the
bird
than being handled, removed from the beach and confined in a cage (and
then
presumably regularly approached by keepers and occasionally physically
examined). Exceptions obviously apply, especially when the bird is
injured
or appears to be falling gravely ill (as is the case with the SA King
Penguin) or where attack by dogs is likely.
Although I've heard no negative stories specifically about birders (most
seem to relate to the general public), perhaps birders need to be
proactive
in devising a set of approach distance guidelines for vagrant penguins
ashore around the Australian coastline? I imagine it wouldn't be too
hard to
develop given good models and loads of data exist for Antarctic and
Sub-Antarctic penguin colonies. That way when one turns up and many
people
go and see it they can do so in an informed way that minimizes their
impact
on the bird. The same guidelines might also prove useful as a starting
point
for Conservation Agency Staff addressing potential conflicts between
vagrant
penguins and the general public.
Oh... and the Fiordland penguin is still moulting in a secluded cove
near
Eaglehawk Neck Tas. It appears to be doing fine. Last report I have was
on
Monday when it was still in heavy moult.
Rohan
Dr Rohan Clarke
Threatened Mallee Bird Project
Zoology Department
La Trobe University
Bundoora 3086
Ph: 03 9479 1672 Mobile 0408 947001
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