By "Out Shooting" photos :) Eric de Leeuw (Flickr)

Why little penguins mate early a mystery

AARON COOK

July 10, 2010

SYDNEY'S recent cold weather has not dulled the passions of Manly's little penguin population, some of whom mated early this year.
The birds usually spend July to February in Manly, but some individuals, including local favourites Sticky Beak and Mr and Mrs Silverwing, arrived six weeks early this winter and were already nesting.
Penguin warden Angelika Treichler said no one knows why the penguins were back early.
''My guess is it's because the water is warmer this year,'' she said.
Marine ecologist Iain Field, from Macquarie University, said that without long-term data it was hard to know why the penguins were back early, but that natural variation in the environment would affect the breeding cycle.
''Weather systems that pass over Australia affect changes in the ocean currents and eddies and these vary from year to year, even between months. This can change the availability of food and impact when the penguins start breeding and how successful they are,'' Dr Field said.
Manly's volunteer penguin wardens will patrol and protect the penguins' habitat again this season and will hand out a free postcard advising visitors not to photograph the animals.
"Flashes startle the birds and can hurt their eyes so the volunteer wardens came up with these postcards for people wanting to take home a photograph of these little animals," said the head of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sally Barnes.
The penguins may also face danger again this year from dogs and foxes. Ten penguins were mauled to death last year by an unidentified dog. Trained shooters were hired, without success, to kill whatever was responsible.
The service had already used sniffer dogs and baited for foxes this season, said Ms Barnes.
''If we need to, we'll bring in a sniper,'' she said.
In addition, wardens will be reminding people it is illegal to let dogs off their leashes in a critical habitat area that runs roughly from Oyama Avenue, around Manly Point, to Addison Road, and from Collins Beach around to Cannae Point.
It is also illegal to fish in the protected area between sunset and sunrise, or approach or disturb the penguins in any way.
The service expects at least 60 breeding pairs this season, which will last until February. That is enough time for some penguin couples to hatch two batches of two eggs each, but Ms Treichler said the survival rate for baby penguins was only 2 to 3 per cent per year.

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