Yelloweyed penguin nest numbers down

THE bad news keeps coming for the world’s rarest penguin with ‘‘severe declines’’ of nest numbers in some areas.

The Department of Conservation this week released initial counts for yelloweyed penguins (hoiho) this season.

In the Catlins, at Long Point, five nests were counted, down from 16 last season, at Nugget Point there were also five, down from 11, and on Bravo Island, off Stewart Island, the count was eight, down from 18.

There were more results to come, but other mainland sites had not shown the same decline, the department said.

Yelloweyed Penguin Trust general manager Sue Murray said the results were ‘‘devastating’’.

‘‘It just makes us more determined to increase our conservation efforts.’’

The declines were linked partly to mass starvation events last year, during which many of the affected birds were breeding females.

Last season more than 400 hoiho across the mainland received additional care and rehabilitation at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, Penguin Place and Penguin Rescue.

These events were linked to periods of heavy rain.

‘‘We know that they are visual feeders and won’t be able to see prey, but most of those sites are quite far south of the river mouth, so it’s really complex.’’

A recovery strategy for the birds is being finalised after public submissions, but the work on the ground ‘‘never stopped’’, she said.

For most other sites numbers were ‘‘roughly’’ the same as the previous season.

The trust was hopeful it would find a few more nests in the coming months.

‘‘The birds also could be having a year off from breeding. They often have years off for different reasons.’’

Department of Conservation southern South Island operations director Aaron Fleming said its management of hoiho with the trust this season was the ‘‘most intensive to date’’.

This included additional rangers on the ground monitoring birds and responding to management needs.

‘‘Despite the huge effort from rangers checking daily, and massive support from rehabilitators and veterinary services treating the underweight birds, the impact of the starvation events resulted in this low nest count.’’