Penguins colonise dorpie
Patios and gardens in Betty's Bay have become breeding areas
for a colony of African penguins. While the birds are enjoying the home
comforts, their cacophonic noise - 'like donkeys braying' - is leaving
residents sleepless Picture: SHELLEY CHRISTIANS
They are everywhere: in the bushes, on the lawn, the patio, the driveway - they've even been caught breaking and entering homes.
The African penguin might be endangered, but homeowners in Stony Point in Betty's Bay believe the breeding birds are "endangering" the lives of residents.Thousands of African penguins are driving people in the Western Cape town crazy. While many have holiday homes there, "79 and a quarter-year-old" Barbara Wallers has lived in the area since 1947, and said she gets little sleep because the birds make too much noise.
"Just a month ago, I found one in my kitchen that s**t all over the floor. I tried to get it out with a swatter, but it wouldn't go. Eventually someone caught it," said Wallers, as she tried to chase dozens of penguins from her friend's property.
"Listen to them. They grunt and bellow and squeak all night. I can't sleep," she said.
"When I call the authorities to complain, they say I am rude. Who wouldn't be?
"I can't use earplugs at night because we have burglaries."
Wallers said they have always had the occasional penguin in the garden, but in the last two years things have got out of hand.
Johannes Klopper, a retired medical doctor from Durbanville, said the penguins have kept him away from his holiday home.
"On my property I have between 30 to 50 nests. They cause such a big mess that it really has become a health hazard. My wife doesn't want to go there now because we cannot sleep at night," said Klopper.
He said it is difficult for him, at his age, to clean up the guano that smells terrible and kills plants.
Klopper and Wallers claim the municipality promised to erect a fence large enough to keep the waddling birds away from the homes, but it has been an empty promise.
The existing fence has not been maintained and is riddled with holes.
The African penguin colony in Stony Point is one of two land-based breeding colonies. According to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, African penguins mainly nest on offshore islands.
They are also called Jackass penguins because of their "donkey-like bray", which keeps Stony Point residents wide awake at night.
However, Mike Oosthuyzen, who has a holiday house there, said he did not mind the penguins and liked having them in his garden.
But things may quieten down soon. Fanie Krige, spokesman for the Overstrand Municipality, said problems with the fence will "hopefully" be resolved in a few months' time, as they recently received authorisation to extend it.
He said the fence can only be put up after the breeding season is over, as the nesting penguins would otherwise have no access to the sea.
"The management of the area is done in close collaboration with Cape Nature," said Krige.
"One method to try to reduce the problem with the stench of guano is to make use of sprinkler systems."
Krige said while penguin numbers are decreasing everywhere else, the contrary is true for Stony Point. There are between 4500 and 5000 penguins and 1988 active nests.
"It may have to do with the availability of food resources. There is also a theory that some of the penguins have moved from nearby islands to Stony Point."
According to Sanccob, the African penguin:
- Is one of 17 penguin species;
- Can swim up to 20km/h;
- Can breed all year;
- Was reclassified from vulnerable to endangered in 2010;
- In the last 100 years has seen its numbers decreased by 90%; and
- Is mainly threatened by human settlements, commercial over-fishing and pollution.
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African penguins
October 3, 2012
African penguin.
This is one of a series presented by the National Aviary, which
works to inspire respect for nature through an appreciation of birds.
On
a cool crisp fall afternoon in Pittsburgh, a crowd gathers to peek at
Sidney and the rest of the penguins. It's not an unofficial NHL-lockout
workout at Southpointe, but feeding time at the National Aviary. Sidney,
Stanley, Elvis and 13 other African Penguins jostle to be first in
line.
At just shorter than 2 feet and weighing between 6-10 pounds, African penguins are quite different from the recognizable Emperor penguin, seen in movies such as "Happy Feet" and "March of the Penguins." Emperor penguins live in a frozen Antarctic climate, but African penguins do not. They live in large flocks, called rookeries, on the temperate beaches along the southern tip of Africa and its surrounding islands. Here, the flightless birds dine on a variety of cold water fish such as anchovies and sardines. A penguin can eat 15 percent of its own body weight in fish, every day. That's the equivalent of a 100-pound human eating 60 quarter-pound hamburgers.
An African penguin may hunt up to 16-18 hours in the water. Using their paddle-like wings, they can "fly" underwater at speeds of 15-20 mph. Webbed feet act like rudders on a boat to steer them toward their next meal.
Despite the beachfront property and daily all-you-can-eat seafood buffets, African penguins, like all penguins, are seeing their numbers decrease in the wild. In 1920, there were more than 1 million African penguins in the wild. Today, there are fewer than 40,000 -- a 96 percent drop. Habitat loss, oil spills, climate change and over-fishing are dramatically affecting the African penguin population. This past month, the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of seabirds and other sea life, has been working to save 219 oiled African penguins and 33 chicks whose parents were caught in the SELI 1 oil slick off Robben Island in Africa.
But all is not lost. Zoos such as the National Aviary are working to save the species.
Through a Species Survival Plan, the National Aviary partners with other zoos across the country to breed and raise a genetically diverse population of penguins. In February, the Aviary welcomed the first penguins to hatch in its 60-year history. Two new rookie prospects joined our team: Sid's kids, Tribby and Kaden.
We all can work together to support African penguins. Join the National Aviary's "Share the Care" program to help us feed, nurture and support the African penguins in our care. And visit the National Aviary as we host African Penguin Awareness Day on Oct. 13. A special fun-filled day of penguin-related events is planned: daily feedings, Penguin Connections, Family Penguin Paintings and more. You can learn more about the South African foundation's oil spill rehabilitation, chick rearing and education efforts and how you can help African penguins in the wild.
Even if there isn't hockey this winter, the penguins will always be in season at the National Aviary. For more information, visit our website at www.aviary.org.
source
At just shorter than 2 feet and weighing between 6-10 pounds, African penguins are quite different from the recognizable Emperor penguin, seen in movies such as "Happy Feet" and "March of the Penguins." Emperor penguins live in a frozen Antarctic climate, but African penguins do not. They live in large flocks, called rookeries, on the temperate beaches along the southern tip of Africa and its surrounding islands. Here, the flightless birds dine on a variety of cold water fish such as anchovies and sardines. A penguin can eat 15 percent of its own body weight in fish, every day. That's the equivalent of a 100-pound human eating 60 quarter-pound hamburgers.
An African penguin may hunt up to 16-18 hours in the water. Using their paddle-like wings, they can "fly" underwater at speeds of 15-20 mph. Webbed feet act like rudders on a boat to steer them toward their next meal.
Despite the beachfront property and daily all-you-can-eat seafood buffets, African penguins, like all penguins, are seeing their numbers decrease in the wild. In 1920, there were more than 1 million African penguins in the wild. Today, there are fewer than 40,000 -- a 96 percent drop. Habitat loss, oil spills, climate change and over-fishing are dramatically affecting the African penguin population. This past month, the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of seabirds and other sea life, has been working to save 219 oiled African penguins and 33 chicks whose parents were caught in the SELI 1 oil slick off Robben Island in Africa.
But all is not lost. Zoos such as the National Aviary are working to save the species.
Through a Species Survival Plan, the National Aviary partners with other zoos across the country to breed and raise a genetically diverse population of penguins. In February, the Aviary welcomed the first penguins to hatch in its 60-year history. Two new rookie prospects joined our team: Sid's kids, Tribby and Kaden.
We all can work together to support African penguins. Join the National Aviary's "Share the Care" program to help us feed, nurture and support the African penguins in our care. And visit the National Aviary as we host African Penguin Awareness Day on Oct. 13. A special fun-filled day of penguin-related events is planned: daily feedings, Penguin Connections, Family Penguin Paintings and more. You can learn more about the South African foundation's oil spill rehabilitation, chick rearing and education efforts and how you can help African penguins in the wild.
Even if there isn't hockey this winter, the penguins will always be in season at the National Aviary. For more information, visit our website at www.aviary.org.
source
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