Notes of a Yellow-eyed Penguin Consultative Group Meeting
18 November 2009 – Conservation House, Dunedin
Attendees:Monica Fry Hoani Langsbury
Cheryl Pullar Eric Shelton
Mel Young (chair) Ken Botting
Graeme Boyes Carol Botting
Kevin Thompson Francie Beggs
David McFarlane Elaine Burgess
Hildegard Lubcke
Apologies:Chris Lalas David Agnew
Phil Seddon David Mules
Bruce McKinlay Steve Broni
Mike Legge
Matters arising:Hoani has replaced Ross Allan as the representative from the Otago Conservation Board.
Correspondence:A letter from Coastal Otago Area office was received asking for support for the closure of Boulder Beach Conservation Area from 1 December 2009 to 28 February 2010. A show of hands confirmed that the consultative group were in support of the closure.
Graeme commented that he felt that three months was not long enough for the penguins to have relief from disturbance at Boulder Beach. Mel remarked that some discussion had occurred at the commencement of the closure period in 2006 regarding the timing and length of the closure period, and that the closure was targeted for the time when chicks were at their maximum growth period and when adults frequented the nest.
Long Point Update:David noted that work on the fencing would commence in the next two weeks and is to be undertaken by Aaron Sutherland. The Long Point/Irihuka management strategy has also been started upon.
Cheryl commented that Roy Johnstone (South Otago Branch Forest and Bird) has acquired some traps from Te Anau which may be used at Long Point. Cheryl suggested that it may be wise to get some traps out at Long Point now in time for this season’s chick protection.
Symposium:Mel passed on Bruce’s comments that the 2010 YEP Symposium will be part of the International Year of Biodiversity which is being sponsored by the DCC. The symposium is usually held on the first Saturday of August each year. Bruce is hoping that the symposium will gain some profile from this affiliation and possibly attract some new participants. We will therefore need to consider an appropriate theme for the afternoon session. Eric suggested “The bigger picture: Yellow-eyed penguins and/in their environment”. Other suggestions are welcome and a theme will be decided upon at the next YEP CG meeting.
Season Report:Mel circulated a preliminary count of nests found during the October and November nest searches at all monitoring sites in Otago. Mel commented that Peninsula numbers were down slightly on last year’s figures. The nest counts had been undertaken twice at some sites by an Otago University study led by Danilo Hegg and Ursula Ellenberg, and that both counting teams were more or less even at most sites. Mel commented that Sandfly Bay had dropped on last year’s increase to eight nests this year, with considerably less sign throughout the breeding areas. Hildegard expressed her concern over this drop, indicating that it is difficult for commercial operators to expect to see penguins, and that tours have had to change focus as a result.
North Otago numbers were more or less the same as the previous few seasons with the majority of the population centred on the Moeraki Peninsula. Cheryl noted that the Catlin’s nest numbers were slightly lower than last season, though there were promising trends at sites such as Nugget Point and Penguin Bay.
General Business:Mel invited everyone to attend a presentation by Massey University pathology resident Kelly Buckle, who will be presenting the final results of the toxicological tests from the deformed chicks found at Okia earlier in the year. The presentation will be held in the conference room at the Coastal Otago Area Office, Conservation House, 77 Stuart Street at 9am on Wednesday 9 December. It is anticipated that the session will go for 1-2 hours depending on the Q&As arising from the presentation. Please RSVP to Mel Young by 30 November (
myoung@doc.govt.nz).
Ken commented that the Nugget Point toilets have been found in poor condition on a number of occasions. Cheryl suggested that any further complaints should be directed to DOC at the Owaka Field Base in the first instance so that they may be cleaned immediately.
David McFarlane invited everyone to the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust’s AGM held at the Barclay Theatre, Otago Museum on 24th November 2009 commencing at 7.30pm.
Next meeting:5:30 pm. Wednesday 17 February 2010 at Conservation House, Dunedin.
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