Webcam puts penguin life on internet
A ‘Penguin Cam’ along the Taranaki coastline is now sharing the hidden life of the world’s smallest penguin with the world.
An infrared camera has been set up in a little blue penguin burrow at Nga¯ motu Beach in New Plymouth, with the action live streamed online via the Taranaki Mounga project website.
An egg is currently being incubated in the burrow and a baby penguin is expected to hatch some time in November, Taranaki Mounga team member Emily King said.
‘‘Incubation takes around 40 days, with both parents doing their share, so we would expect this chick to hatch before the end of November. It is an amazing opportunity to watch a newborn penguin’s start at life.’’
The Nga¯ Motu Marine Reserve Society, Chaddy’s Charters, PrimoWireless, George Mason Charitable Trust and True Sense of Security Ltd have all been involved in getting the camera up and running.
Elise Smith, of the Nga¯ Motu Marine Reserve Society, said the camera provided viewers with a unique view of a penguin’s life.
‘‘The birds have no idea they are being watched and now we are live streaming we get to see their normal behaviour in the low light of the burrow.’’
The wireless internet connection has been provided by PrimoWireless.
‘‘A lot of Taranaki locals probably don’t even realise we have penguins on our back doorstep and now the public can follow their progress from home or the office,’’ PrimoWireless’ Kelly Ellis said.
After blue penguin chicks hatch parents take it in turns to guard them and go fishing for the first few weeks, returning each night to their burrow to feed the chicks, she said.
Leaving the nest usually happened when chicks were about four to eight weeks old.