Island penguin chicks die of starvation

Posted Fri Dec 4, 2009 8:11am

Adult penguins are remaining at sea for weeks at a time, leaving their chicks to starve. [file] (AFP: David Hancock)

Scientists say early predictions that Phillip Island would have a record number of penguin chicks this season, have proven tragically wrong. Indications in October suggested more chicks would be born than ever before, significantly boosting the species' population.

But penguin biologist, Andre Chiaradia, says half of all hatchlings have died of starvation in recent weeks.
He says the local fish population moved offshore, forcing the adult birds to remain at sea for weeks at a time.
"The season was going incredibly well, the birds were looking really heavy," he said. "But then in October, mid-October, til the end of November, we have a couple of weeks where the penguins were not returning to shore."

"All the chicks they have ashore were not getting fed, so the season just collapsed overnight." Mr Chiaradia says there was nothing anyone could do to save them. "It's a bit like working in a hospital, you see it over and over again and yeah, you do get upset."

"This in particular, because everything was looking OK, so there was a bit of optimistic feeling in the air, everyone was like, oh, this is going to be a bumper year," he said.

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