Penfold the Little Penguin was found wandering in Ulladulla. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
Penfold the Little Penguin is a curious chap.
He was found waddling disoriented, and a little bald, on an Ulladulla beach last week.
While
the discovery of a solo penguin on a South Coast beach might seem
surprising, Australian Seabird Rescue South Coast founder Julie Dunn
said it was common to find Little Penguins on our shores between
February and April as they sought shelter to shed their old feathers,
which took up to 14 days. "When the penguins do start to moult, they come up in funny little places and try to hide away. Sometimes
they'll wander in and out of places, which leaves them prone to being
attacked by other animals and predators," she said.
Ms Dunn said Penfold was doing well in the care of a rescue volunteer. "He's
a feisty little boy, eating away all the time and putting on some more
weight, so when he finishes his moult he'll be ready to be released."
The
Australian Seabird Rescue South Coast branch rescues hundreds of
pelicans and other seabirds each year, with the majority of injuries
caused by fishing hooks and entanglement with fishing lines.
Ms
Dunn said it was important people, particularly avid fishers, knew how
to handle injured and sick seabirds, with a workshop on the subject on
March 23. Phone 0431 282 238 for details.
The Penguin Camera is located on Torgersen Island (64°46’S, 64°04’W), off the coast of Anvers Island and less than a mile from Palmer Station. Torgersen Island is home to a colony of Adélie penguins numbering approximately 2,500. This camera is seasonal and operates primarily from October to February, the Adélie breeding season. The camera is solar-powered and may sometimes experience brief outages due to inclement weather. School classrooms and other educational demonstrations will often take control of the camera, moving it to gain better views of the colony.
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