Penguins
About the yellow-eyed penguin
The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust is a long established non-governmental organisation with a specific focus on the conservation of hoiho across its range.
We ensure the survival of hoiho by managing birds and their habitat, and addressing impacts in the marine and terrestrial environments.
The yellow-eyed penguin / hoiho Megadyptes antipodes
Status: nationally endangered (NZ classification 2021)
We are seeking a General Manager to lead our team in the delivery of our hoiho conservation program. Reporting to the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust Board, this role is the critical link between the Trust Board and the Trust’s operations and requires proactive management, prioritisation and delivery of our work according to the strategic direction. This...Continue
We are seeking a talented writer to join our team and work alongside us in securing sustainable resources to maintain the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust’s ongoing hoiho conservation program. With strong writing and communication skills we are looking for someone who can tell the hoiho story, engage potential funders and build collaborative relationships. You will also...Continue
Join us for the highly anticipated Yellow-eyed Penguin Symposium 2024, an annual event dedicated to the conservation of this remarkable species. Event Details: Date: Saturday 3 August 2024 Time: 9 am – 4 pm Venue: University of Otago, Dunedin. Presentations: We encourage presenters to indicate how their talk aligns with one or more actions within Te...Continue
Hosted by Wild Dunedin – NZ Festival of Nature Date and time Sat 27th Apr 2024, 7:00 pm – Sun 28th Apr 2024, 12:00 am NZST Get your tickets now! Embark on an enchanted evening at Larnach Castle’s Wild Night Masquerade brought to you by Wild Dunedin Festival. From 7pm to midnight, immerse yourself in the...Continue
We are pleased to announce details for the 2024 Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust Annual Meeting. Held via Microsoft Teams: Tuesday 26 March 2024 at 5:30pm Level 1, John Wickliffe House 265 Princes Street, Dunedin All welcome – we invite you...Continue
Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a penguin lover in your life? Look no further. This year we will again be offering short, custom poems for your special someone. Make a donation online before midday on February 14th (NZ time please) and send an email to admin@yeptrust.org.nz to order your poem. Donations can...Continue
Of the yellow-eyed penguin
Two greenish-white eggs, about 75×55 mm in size, are laid. Both parents share the incubation, which takes about 43 days.
Two greenish-white eggs, about 75×55 mm in size, are laid. Both parents share the incubation, which takes about 43 days.
The eggs hatch and the guard stage begins. This is a 40-50 day period when one parent stays at the nest while the other fishes. Although guarded constantly during this stage, the chicks are still vulnerable to predators.
The guard stage is a 40-50 day period when one parent stays at the nest while the other fishes. Although guarded constantly during this stage, the chicks are still vulnerable to predators.
By the time chicks are 6-7 weeks old, both parents must fish each day to satisfy the voracious appetites of their demanding young. This is the post-guard stage and towards the end the chicks will start to lose their soft brown down.
The chicks fledge into their waterproof plumage and go to sea, an extremely hazardous time, with fewer than 20% surviving to maturity.
The parents have just a few weeks to recover and put on weight before beginning the annual moult. They are confined to land whilst they wait for their old feather coat to be replaced.
The parents have just a few weeks to recover and put on weight before beginning the annual moult. They are confined to land whilst they wait for their old feather coat to be replaced.
The penguins head out to sea but return every night to sleep, preen and socialise. Soon it will be August and the busy breeding season will begin again. About 50% of surviving juveniles will return to breed at the place where they were hatched.
The penguins head out to sea but return every night to sleep, preen and socialise. Soon it will be August and the busy breeding season will begin again. About 50% of surviving juveniles will return to breed at the place where they were hatched.
The penguins head out to sea but return every night to sleep, preen and socialise. Soon it will be August and the busy breeding season will begin again. About 50% of surviving juveniles will return to breed at the place where they were hatched.
The 28-week breeding season begins when partnerships are formed or renewed, and nest sites selected. A suitable nest site must be hidden from other breeding pairs, have a solid back such as a log, rock or flax plant, and provide shelter from harsh weather and the heat of the sun.
You’re now officially signed up as a yellow-eyed penguin supporter!