11 Jan, 2011
This happens when their parents leave the barrow to search for food and cannot get back in time to feed the chicks.
So the young ones go out to feed themselves but are often not ready yet. When people find these little penguins they are often very dehydrated and starving.
It is of the utmost importance that ASR gets these birds into care as soon as possible to give them the best chance of survival.
The volunteers rehydrate them, put them on a special diet and feed them up until they are ready to venture out for themselves.
If you find a penguin on the beach in the day time please try and put it in a safe place and ring 0406 692 179.
The best way to pick up these little birds is to put them in a towel or t-shirt and then in a box of some kind.
Don’t leave them on the beach as foxes and dogs will get them. Make sure to keep people away from them as stress is another big killer for these birds. ASR will send a rescue person as soon as they get the call.
Some other organisations will tell you to leave the bird in its natural environment to let nature take its course, but ASR has specially trained people that specialise in penguins.
Many respond well to a rehabilitation regime that has been devised at the Philip Island penguin rehabilitation hospital, where some of ASR members have been trained.
Remember too: a penguin on a beach in the day time is not a well penguin. These birds feed during the day in the ocean and come out of the water at night to return to their burrows. They are very vulnerable on the beach to foxes and dogs during this transition period and they do not usually put themselves in danger like that unless there is a reason for it.
ASR far south coast looks after any injured sea and shore birds, so if you come across any of those please call 0406 692 179.
ASR is volunteer organisation and donations are always appreciated.
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