18 Feb 12
by CHARIS CHANG
DURING peak periods more than 200 people crowd around Manly Wharf to catch a glimpse of its resident little penguins.
Photographer David Jenkins, a volunteer with the Manly Environment Centre, has taken photographs of the colony for the past four years and understands the fascination.
``It is quite awe-inspiring to look around at nature. To me, Manly is much more than just the beach or The Corso, there are also penguins, bandicoots and whales, to me that is what makes it such a magic place,’’ he said.
Mr Jenkins said ferry commuters as well as tourists often stopped to see the penguins. Crowds increased to more than 200 in peak periods such as Christmas.
But, Mr Jenkins also has a vital role to play, as many people fear this could be the last year Manly Cove is home to little penguins.
There is only one breeding pair left at Federation Point: Stickybeak and his mate Mrs Silverwing.
They are currently nursing one chick.
Have you spotted Stickybeak and Mrs Silverwing?
Many other penguins in the colony were killed due to dog attacks and boat incidents.
Volunteer penguin wardens reported four couples last season and five the previous year.
Mr Jenkins said Stickybeak might not survive another season and Mrs Silverwing could find another mate.
Only male penguins return to their original nesting sites and chicks have a low survival rate.
``Little penguins live about eight years and we think Stickybeak is about seven years old so he’s getting on.
``He may not survive the next breeding season and no chicks may return, so it may be the last season we see little penguins at Manly. That’s why I want to record them, to show people there were little penguins here.’’
source
Photographer David Jenkins, a volunteer with the Manly Environment Centre, has taken photographs of the colony for the past four years and understands the fascination.
``It is quite awe-inspiring to look around at nature. To me, Manly is much more than just the beach or The Corso, there are also penguins, bandicoots and whales, to me that is what makes it such a magic place,’’ he said.
Mr Jenkins said ferry commuters as well as tourists often stopped to see the penguins. Crowds increased to more than 200 in peak periods such as Christmas.
But, Mr Jenkins also has a vital role to play, as many people fear this could be the last year Manly Cove is home to little penguins.
There is only one breeding pair left at Federation Point: Stickybeak and his mate Mrs Silverwing.
They are currently nursing one chick.
Have you spotted Stickybeak and Mrs Silverwing?
Many other penguins in the colony were killed due to dog attacks and boat incidents.
Volunteer penguin wardens reported four couples last season and five the previous year.
Mr Jenkins said Stickybeak might not survive another season and Mrs Silverwing could find another mate.
Only male penguins return to their original nesting sites and chicks have a low survival rate.
``Little penguins live about eight years and we think Stickybeak is about seven years old so he’s getting on.
``He may not survive the next breeding season and no chicks may return, so it may be the last season we see little penguins at Manly. That’s why I want to record them, to show people there were little penguins here.’’
source
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