The resurvey of Codfish/Whenua Hou has been completed by Sandy King (Projects Officer Southern Islands) with assistance from DOC staff Dave Houston (Auckland) and Dean Nelson (Twizel), both very experienced yellow-eyed penguin people in their previous roles with DOC. The 2001 survey found 61 breeding pairs; the 2009 survey found 46 breeding pairs. If you add on…

Three marketing students from the University of Otago will look at the major issues facing the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust as part of their MART 355 Business Project. Collectively known to the Trust as ‘Visionary Consultants’, they have identified the key issues of securing a strong financial base through sponsorship, gaining new members, retaining existing members…

Pauline Williamson, 2001, Lincoln University Pauline, from Lincoln University, is doing her Masters project on the white-flippered penguin. She is evaluating the existing predator control at Flea Bay and Stony Bay (on Banks Peninsula) which is in place for the benefit of the white-flippered penguins living in the area. Her overall objective is to provide…

Melanie Massaro and Alvin Setiawan, research students from Otago University, 2000-2001 This year the Trust has sponsored two PhD students to study reproductive success in yellow-eyed penguins. Both students will be based on the Otago Peninsula, studying the resident penguin population there. Melanie Massaro will investigate biological and behavioural factors related to reproductive success, while…

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust has completed the first comprehensive baseline survey of yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers on Rakiura/Stewart Island. The Trust’s aim was to have a complete up-to-date survey of the whole island. Survey results show a decreased population of yellow-eyed penguins on Stewart Island, with results totalling only an estimated 200 breeding pairs. In…