Penguin Rescue (Katiki Point Penguin Refuge Charitable Trust)

Annual Report

2015/16

Rosalie Goldsworthy, Hiltrun Ratz and Chris Lalas

July 2016

2

Contents

Overview 3

Monitoring methods 4

Yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers at Moeraki 4

Breeding success 6

Likely predation of chicks by rats 8

A major Diphtheria outbreak among chicks 8

Impact attributable to the presence of tourists at Katiki Point 10

Rehabilitation 11

Trapping for introduced predators and predation of seabirds 13

Habitat work 13

Yellow-eyed penguins at Shag Point 14

Inappropriate behaviour by visitors at Katiki Point 14

Advocacy work 18

Volunteer hours 19

Financials from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 19

Research on other species 21

Plans for the future 23

Acknowledgements 23

Appendices

Appendix 1: Plight of the yellow-eyed penguin Otago Daily Times, 19 December 2015

Appendix 2: Talk presented by Hiltrun Ratz at the Oamaru Penguin Symposium, 5 May 2016

Appendix 3: Penguin colony at mercy of visitors Otago Daily Times, 4 June 2016

Appendix 4: Job description for part-time employment for Penguin Rescue by Dr Hiltrun Ratz

Appendix 5: Audit for the 2014 calendar year—Richard A Burgess & Associates

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Overview

The Katiki Point Penguin Rehabilitation Trust was re-named Penguin Rescue in August 2014.

Our mission is to provide sanctuary for penguins by optimising penguin habitat, maximising

penguin survival and breeding success and minimising human disturbance of penguins. Our

vision is to create self-sustaining populations of yellow-eyed penguins on the South Island

with the goal of removing the species off the IUCN endangered list.

This report covers the 12 months from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

Yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers at Moeraki decreased by nine to 25 nests at Katiki Point

and decreased by four to 21 nests at Okahau Point (aka Barracouta Bay). The total 46 nests at

Moeraki represented a 21% annual decrease from the 58 nests in 2014/15. This decrease in

nest numbers reflected a decrease throughout South Island. Katiki Point remains the largest

yellow-eyed penguin colony on the South Island, and Moeraki now accounts for 92% of nests

at North Otago and about 22% of nests on South Island. Overall 55 chicks fledged from the 46

nests at Moeraki (average 1.20 chicks fledged per nest).

Moeraki experienced the worst Diphtheria outbreak since 2004: 46% of chicks were treated

for symptoms with daily doses of antibiotics for ≥5 days. Treatment was a success attributable

to the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The onslaught of uncontrolled tourism at Katiki Point described in last year’s Annual Report

continued unabated. Low penguin breeding success was attributed to unintentional human

disturbance caused by the proximity of tourists to nests. We were unable to control the activity

of tourists to reduce their impact. Instead, we successfully mitigated human disturbance with

the erection of a penguin-proof fence that confined nests to further away from tourists. Despite

a 26% decrease in nest numbers from 34 to 25 nests, the number of chicks fledged increased

33% from 24 to 32 (respective averages 1.28 and 0.71 chicks fledged per nest). A detrimental

outcome was that the area used by yellow-eyed penguins at Katiki Point was reduced by over

40%.

A total of 48 yellow-eyed penguins were rehabilitated with an 94% release rate. The total

number of admissions was 62 with eight individuals rehabilitated more than once.

Habitat work is ongoing to mitigate disturbance by tourists at Katiki Point and to maximise

nesting opportunities for penguins at Okahau Point. Moeraki is in drought conditions so we

are regularly watering small plants. A consequence of the drought has been a plague of

rabbits; rabbits have ringbarked a variety of mature trees and so vulnerable trees have been

protected with netting.

A total of 21 cats and 12 ferrets were trapped. For the first time in recent years yellow-eyed

penguin chicks have been depredated. Predation was suspected in the disappearance of seven

young chicks at Okahau Point with rats as the likely culprits.

Volunteer hours worked were recorded since 1 January 2016 and totalled the equivalent of 3.1

full-time positions.

Penguin Rescue received a total income of $28,000 and had a total expenditure of $19,500

through the 12 months, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

We applied for five grants and were successful in three totalling $8,000.

Sufficient income was received to employ Dr Hiltrun Ratz part time as a Rare Species

Conservation Analyst since 1 January 2016.

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Monitoring methods

All nest boxes and natural nest sites were given a number and their GPS coordinates and site

habitat were recorded. The two yellow-eyed penguin colonies at Moeraki, Katiki Point and

Okahau Point were searched for nests with eggs twice weekly from mid September to mid

October 2015 to record all lay dates. All nest contents, and band and/or transponder numbers

of breeding adults, were recorded. All adults without a transponder were fitted with one during

incubation. From mid October each nest was visited at least twice weekly to monitor

attendance by the adults, and to record hatch dates and chick survival. Each nest was

monitored every second day for three weeks after the hatching to check the health of chicks.

Nests with sick chicks were visited daily and the sick chicks were treated with antibiotics.

Chicks were captured, weighed and transpondered when they reached 70 days of age. If they

were under 5kg they were transferred to the rehabilitation facility. Chicks were recaptured and

weighed at 100 days and head measures were taken for sexing. If they were under 5.5kg or

had lost weight since their last weighing, they were transferred to the rehabilitation facility.

Rehabilitation records were collated for the year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. From

February to June the coastline between Katiki Point and Okahau Point was walked twice

weekly to locate injured and/or starving moulting penguins. Several volunteers monitored the

20km coastline from Hampden Beach to Shag Point once or twice weekly to search for

penguins that needed rehabilitation. Penguins were visually assessed and where appropriate

transferred to the rehabilitation facility. Penguins in rehabilitation were fed salmon smelt. A

veterinarian from the Oamaru Veterinary Centre visited regularly to treat and check the

progress of penguins in the rehabilitation facility.

Traps targeting cats, mustelids (stoats and ferrets) and rats were deployed in both colonies

throughout the year. Live traps were checked daily and kill traps were checked weekly.

The transponder gate and scales mentioned in last year’s Annual Report failed to operate

properly. Advice is being sought to make this gear fit for purpose.

Results

Yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers at Moeraki

Nest numbers at Moeraki have shown a long-term increase; in the simplest analysis numbers

increased at an average annual rate of 6% from six nests in 1982 to 46 nests in 2015. The first

comprehensive annual searches of penguin nests in North Otago began in 1984 when 41 nests

were found with 17% (7) at Moeraki. This proportion has increased steadily through the years

to 2015 when a total of 50 nests were found in North Otago with 92% (46) at Moeraki.

Compared to 2014, nest numbers in 2015 at Okahau Point decreased by three to 21 nests, and

at Katiki Point decreased by nine to 25 nests. Overall there has been a decrease of 12 nest to

46 nests at Moeraki, a 21% decrease from the 58 nests in the previous breeding season.

There were three nesting events of particular interest:

One female breeder at Okahau Point had two partners and two nests and she laid one egg

in each nest; neither egg hatched—Okahau Point had 20 female breeders but 21 nests.

There was a nest at Matiaha Head (0.5km north of Okahau Point) for the first time in 22

years—Matiaha Head had 2-3 nests annually through the 1980s with last nesting in

1993. (The one nest this season was entered into data for Okahau Point.)

Breeders very rarely change colonies—in an exception this season one Katiki Point female

breeder move about 1km north and nested at Okahau Point.

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Graph of yellow-eyed penguin nests at Okahau Point and Katiki Point from 1982 to 2015.

Graph of yellow-eyed penguin nests at Moeraki as a proportion of all North Otago nests from

1984 (the first year when all nests were counted) to 2015.

6

At Katiki Point in the 2015/16 season 22 yellow-eyed penguin breeding pairs nested in the

Wildlife Management Reserve and three pairs nested in the Historic Reserve.

After the high disturbance of uncontrolled tourists at Katiki Point in the 2014/15 season when

no chicks fledged naturally from the Historic Reserve (reported in the Penguin Rescue Annual

Report 2014/15), we installed a penguin-proof fence following the advice of David Agnew,

Department of Conservation (DOC) Dunedin. This fence prevented three breeding pairs from

crossing the tourist path to reach their 2014/15 nest sites. Two breeding pairs subsequently

moved and nested in the Wildlife Reserve, three remained and nested on the Historic Reserve

and one or both adults of the remaining pairs have not been recorded again and are presumed

dead.

The graph below shows that installation of the penguin-proof fence reversed the trend of

increase in nest numbers in the Historic Reserve through recent years.

Number of yellow-eyed penguin nests in the Katiki Point Historic Reserve, 2009 to 2015.

Breeding success

The fertility at both colonies was 86%. Chick survival was 74% at Katiki Point resulting in an

average 1.28 chicks fledged per nest. Chick survival was 68% at Okahau Point resulting in an

average of 1.10 chicks fledged per nest.

Overall 55 chicks fledged from the 46 nests at Moeraki (average 1.20 chicks fledged per nest),

similar to the 57 chicks fledged from the 58 nests at Moeraki (average 0.98 chicks fledged per

nest) in the 2014/15 season, despite a 21% decrease in nest numbers.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber

of

nests

Calendar year (start of breeding season)

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Yellow-eyed penguin nests and penguin-proof fence at Katiki Point in the 2015/16 breeding

season (image from Google Earth).

Total 25 nests: 22 in Katiki Point Wildlife Management Reserve (green dots) and three in

Katiki Point Historic Reserve (yellow dots).

Areas presented below are approximate and were calculated from this Google Earth image.

The penguin-proof exclusion fence installed in July 2015 is shown in red.

The exclusion fence reduced the area available for penguins within the 2.8 ha Wildlife

Management Reserve by 0.6 ha, a 21% reduction.

The area previously used by penguins within the Historic Reserve totalled 2.0 ha and is shown

in purple. The exclusion fence reduced the area available for penguins within the Historic

Reserve by 1.5 ha, a 75% reduction.

Overall the available area used by penguins at Katiki Point was reduced by 44%.

(The exception was the most southern nest: here penguins skirted the south end of the fence.)

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Table summarising the breeding success of yellow-eyed penguins at Katiki Point and Okahau

Point in the 2015/16 season.

Katiki

Point

Okahau

Point

Moeraki

total

Number of nests 25 21 46

Number of eggs laid 50 40 90

Number of eggs hatched 43 34 77

Total number of chicks fledged 32 23 55

Number of chicks fledged naturally 25 17 42

Number of rehabilitated chicks fledged 7 6 13

Fertility (no. eggs hatched/no. eggs laid) 86% 85% 86%

Chick survival (no. chicks fledged/no. eggs hatched) 74% 68% 71%

Egg success (no. chicks fledged/no eggs laid) 64% 58% 61%

Average chicks fledged per nest (no. chicks fledged/no. nests) 1.28 1.10 1.20

Likely predation of chicks by rats

Chick survival was lower at Okahau Point because seven of 34 (21%) chicks disappeared less

than 2-weeks old. This was the first case of loss of chicks attributable to predation in recent

years. Additional traps were deployed and after a rat was caught the disappearances stopped.

The stomach of this trapped rat contained fish flesh (presumably from a spill of penguin food

during chick feeding by parents) but no penguin remains.

One chick whose sibling disappeared showed substantial damage on its feet (see photos

below) that could have been caused by a rat. We deployed a trail camera at this nest for one

week and recorded visits by a rat into the nest – no other predators were recorded. This chick

survived but showed scarring on the feet when last seen at 3-months old.

A major Diphtheria outbreak among chicks

The 2015/16 season had one of the worst recorded outbreaks of Diphtheria in young chicks at

Moeraki. Veterinarian Katherine Johnson from Oamaru Veterinary Centre diagnosed the first

chicks with Diphtheria at Katiki Point on 8 November 2015. Each chick found subsequently

with symptoms was treated daily with Baytril for a minimum of five days.

The chicks were all weighed aged 70 days and those that had been treated with Baytril for

Diphtheria and survived were on average 100g heavier than those that had not been sick. This

showed that they not only fully recovered but also thrived later.

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Three photographs of a chick aged 24 days

showing 2-day old bite damage on its feet.

Left: damage on the outside toe of the right

foot.

Below: two views of damage on the outside

toe of the left foot

The feet of the same chick as a 3-month

old. The scars caused by the bites are

clearly visible.

The rat caught on camera in the nest 19 November 2015 (left) and a rat caught nearby in a

Timms trap 25 November 2015 (right).

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Summary of the occurrence and survival of chicks with Diphtheria; where “treated” are

chicks that showed symptoms of Diphtheria and “untreated” are chicks that did not show

symptoms of Diphtheria.

*This analysis excludes the seven chick deaths attributed to predation at Okahau Point.

Katiki Point Okahau Point

Moeraki

total

Number of chicks hatched 43 27* 70*

Number of chicks treated 21 (49%) 11 (41%) 32 (46%)

Number of chicks untreated 22 (51%) 16 (59%) 38 (54%)

Survival of treated chicks 17 (81%) 8 (73%) 25 (78%)

Survival of untreated chicks 15 (68%) 15 (94%) 30 (79%)

Average weight at 70 days (kg) treated 5.4 5.1 5.3

Average weight at 70 days (kg) untreated 5.3 5.0 5.2

Impact attributable to the presence of tourists at Katiki Point

There is no visitor count for the last 12 months but our impression is that the number of

visitors has increased since the 40,000 – 50,000 visitors through the 2014/15 year. DOC

intended to install a people counter in November 2015 but this has not happened yet.

In the 2014/15 season 49% more chicks died at less than 2 weeks old for nests up to 10m from

tourist paths compared with nests more than 10m from tourists paths (see 2015 Annual

Report). In winter 2015 we installed a penguin-proof internal fence about 20m from the

external fence of the Wildlife Management Reserve and along the fence on the Historic

Reserve to prevent penguins from nesting close to paths used by tourists. This season only

three pairs bred within 10m of the external fence within the Wildlife Management Reserve

and raised a total of five chicks successfully.

The new penguin-proof fence prevented all but one pair from crossing paths used by tourists

on the Historic Reserve. This pair bred on the pa, and after one egg disappeared from the nest

(possibly stolen), the other egg was fostered to a pair at Okahau. Two other pairs nested on the

Historic Reserve 9m and 7m from the paths used by tourists and they raised one and two

chicks respectively to a healthy weight (>5kg) at 70 days old. The three chicks from nests

close to the tourist paths each subsequently lost weight (200-400g) and had to be brought into

rehabilitation.

Following official coercion, on 20 January 2016 Rosalie stopped asking tourists to leave after

the sign-posted 7:30pm closing time and tourists began staying later. It is our view that the

late presence of tourists near these nest sites caused the decrease in weight and would have

decreased their post-fledging survival chance significantly.

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Rehabilitation

For the 2015/16 season the soft-release pens were moved from Katiki Point to Okahau Point.

Overall 14 chicks were brought into the rehabilitation facility from the two Moeraki colonies

(see table for breeding success); one died and 13 were released. In addition, one chick was

brought into the rehabilitation facility from Shag Point and released.

We had a total of 62 yellow-eyed penguin admissions into the rehabilitation facility in the

2015/16 season. One adult, two pre-fledging chicks and five post-fledging chicks were

admitted more than once resulting in a total of 48 individuals. Five individuals of other species

were also rehabilitated. All penguins were released at Okahau Point except Katiki Point

yellow-eyed penguin breeders.

An overall 94% release rate for individual Yellow-eyed penguins was achieved. The average

number of days Yellow-eyed penguins spent in rehabilitation was 21 days (range 4-63 days)

including the time spent in the soft-release pens. The average number of days yellow-eyed

penguins spent in the rehabilitation facility was 28 days in 2013/14 and 18 days in the 2014/15

season.

Table summarising all penguins admissions to the Katiki Point rehabilitation facility in the

2015/16 season. “Pre-fledging chicks” fledged following rehabilitation: their total number of

admissions included birds that were re-admitted after fledging. ”Post-fledging chicks”

(juveniles <1-year old) fledged naturally.

Total number

of

individuals

Total number

of

admissions

Total

dead

Release rate

of

individuals

Yellow-eyed penguin

Adults 16 17 0 100%

Juveniles (1-year old) 1 1 0 100%

Pre-fledging chicks 15 20 2 87%

Post-fledging chicks 16 24 1 94%

Total 48 62 3 94%

Other species

Snares crested penguin 1 1 0 100%

Little penguin 3 3 0 100%

White-flippered penguin 1 1 1 0%

Total 5 5 1 80%

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Only one juvenile (1-year old) yellow-eyed penguin was admitted to hospital this season. It

was one of only three juveniles resident at Moeraki, and all had been rehabilitated in the

2014/15 season and had been released in July 2015.

Overall a 6% mortality rate during rehabilitation of yellow-eyed penguins in this season was

the lowest in three years. Starvation, injury and sickness were the reasons penguins were

admitted to be rehabilitated. This season only seven adults were rehabilitated as underweight

for the annual moult, and the other nine had injuries. All but one pre-fledging chicks were

starving and ten had inflamed throats. One chick was removed from Shag Point after its

sibling was found freshly dead, most likely killed by dogs. Nine of the rehabilitated post-

fledging chicks had injuries, and the other seven were underweight. The juvenile admitted to

the rehabilitation facility was too thin for the moult.

Rehabilitated breeders from Katiki Point or Okahau Point were hard-released at their colony

of origin. All other rehabilitated penguins were soft-released at Okahau Point. A total of seven

individual post-fledging chicks were soft-released at Okahau Point and were re-captured for

rehabilitation nine times there, two were re-captured at Katiki Point and one in Oamaru. The

strategy of soft-release appears to have imprinted most penguins onto Okahau Point because

three-quarters of recaptures occurred there. This behaviour could contribute to a higher

survival rate and recruitment resulting in more penguins breeding in the future.

Table detailing the total number of chicks that were fledged naturally and rehabilitated and

fledged in the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons; and individual penguins and number of

admissions of chicks that were rehabilitated post-fledging.

2013/14 2014/15 2015/15

Number of chicks

that fledged naturally 26 (44%) 35 (63%) 42 (76%)

that fledged from rehabilitation 33 (56%) 21 (37%) 13 (24%)

Rehabilitated after

fledging naturally 2 3 8

(2/26 = 8%) (3/35 = 9%) (8/42 = 9%)

fledging from rehabilitation 1 4 2

(1/33 = 3%) (4/21 = 19%) (2/13 = 15%)

Of the 47 admissions of adults, juveniles and post-fledging chicks, 38 (81%) were collected

within the breeding colonies at Katiki Point and Okahau Point. The other 9 (19%) penguins

were collected elsewhere in North Otago along the 50km stretch of coast from Waianakarua to

Karitane. This indicated that many penguins in need of rehabilitation come ashore outside

breeding areas. This makes it imperative that much of the coast outside breeding areas needs

to be monitored for penguins that may require rehabilitation.

As a requirement of our Rehabilitation Permit, a list of monthly admitted and released

penguins were submitted to DOC Dunedin and DOC Permissions Hamilton.

We made a simple assessment of the minimum effect of rehabilitation on population size. At

Katiki Point 10 of 25 female breeders (40%) are alive because they have been rehabilitated in

the past: without rehabilitation there would have been a maximum of 15 instead of 25 nests.

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Respective results for Okahau Point were two of 20 female breeders (10%) with a maximum

of 19 instead of 21 nests. The outcome for Moeraki without rehabilitation would have been a

maximum 34 nests, 26% less than the actual 46 nests.

Trapping for introduced predators and predation of seabirds

Despite intensive trapping, seven yellow-eyed penguin chicks < 2 weeks old went missing at

Okahau Point this season. More traps were deployed and chicks stopped disappearing after a

rat was caught (see above). No yellow-eyed penguin chicks disappeared at Katiki Point.

One Sooty Shearwater and one diving petrel were found dead at Katiki Point.

Kill traps at Katiki Point were monitored by Nola Tipa (Te Runanga o Moeraki).

Phil Bates donated seven DOC 250 traps in boxes and two cage traps in June 2016 and

provided assistance with his expertise.

One cat was shot by Joe Taurima on 24 November 2015 in addition to 14 cats trapped and

killed at Katiki Point and seven at Okahau Point.

Table summarising trapping result of introduced mammals at Katiki Point and Okahau Point

from 1 July to 30 June in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Katiki Point Okahau Point

2014/15 2015/16 2014/15 2015/16

Cats 26 14 5 7

Ferrets 3 8 2 4

Stoats 0 3 0 0

Rats 0 8 0 2

Possums 0 1 0 1

Habitat work

The extensive vegetation maintenance started in winter 2014 has been continued with

emergent faster-growing trees pruned to free up overgrown neighbouring slower-growing

trees. A concerted effort has begun to eradicate boxthorn, an invasive introduced species that

hinders penguin movement and its thorns have been found as splinters in penguin feet and

flippers.

A total of 74 nest boxes were available for penguins at Katiki Point, 84 at Okahau Point and

five in the area between Katiki Point and Okahau Point colonies for the 2015/16 season. We

continued to create new nest sites within the forested areas with stockades of cut branches for

concealment. Outside the forested areas nest sites were created by planting trees around new

nest boxes, with plants protected either with plastic sleaves or with circles made of fencing

material and shade cloth.

We mowed grassy open areas on coastal slopes to create open spaces for the penguins to

socialise. We also cleared any rank grass that blocked access to nest sites. Reducing the area

with rank grass also decreases the favoured habitat for introduced predators because stoats,

ferrets and cats are attracted to rank grass for shelter and food (rodents, rabbits and passerine

birds). The local farmer Doug Stalker has kindly made about 16 sheep available for grazing

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around Okahau Point. Our aim is to maintain open areas in short grass throughout the year on

grassy slopes and promontories used by penguins.

North Otago, including Moeraki, has been in drought conditions for two years. At Okahau

Point we have expanded our watering system (tanks and hoses) and are watering young plants

fortnightly. A consequence of the drought has been a plague of rabbits. Rabbits have ring-

barked a variety of mature trees, including all five-finger and kowhai and cabbage trees, and

we have mitigated damaged by circling vulnerable trees with rabbit mesh. By the end of June

2016 no trees had been planted because the ground was too dry. We plan to plant about 120

trees around new nest sites in the grazed pasture and ground cover with ferns and 80 astelias

within the forest later this winter.

Joe Taurima reported shooting 103 rabbits over four visits to Katiki Point Historic Reserve

between 24 November 2015 and 7 February 2016.

Yellow-eyed penguins at Shag Point

There was one yellow-eyed penguin nest again at Shag Point, with number of adults living

there totalling only this pair and one solitary male. On 9 February 2016 one of the two chicks

was found dead with what appeared to be dog bite marks. For its own safety the other chick

was moved to the rehabilitation facility at Katiki Point. On 5 March 2016 an adult was found

dead with what appeared to be dog bite marks. On 6 March 2016 a pair of moulting adults

found nearby were removed for their own safety and released at Okahau Point. The male of

that pair was subsequently found dead at Shag Point in good condition and with no apparent

injuries. Consequently, of the three adults that lived at Shag Point, two have died recently. The

fate of the remaining female remains unknown.

Inappropriate behaviour by visitors at Katiki Point

Tourists continue to visit Katiki Point in large numbers. No count of the number of tourists

visiting Katiki Point is available because no people counter was installed despite being

promised by DOC in October 2015. Rosalie ceased enforcing the 7:30 pm summer closing on

20 January 2016. Subsequently tourists were present in the colony most evenings until 10 pm,

some arriving and leaving in complete darkness. A camera set to photograph the public

carpark at one minute intervals for 12 days, 1-12 February 2016, showed that the departure

time of the last vehicle departed averaged 9:17 pm, range 7:59-10:54 pm.

On 2 April 2016 we removed the two large signs that displayed opening and closing times.

Tourists continue to trespass by climbing fences. Rocks were also found 30m inside the

colony from the path and must have been thrown there by tourists. People continue to be noisy

and harass seals, shags and penguins.

15

A trail camera placed near the ‘neck’ at Katiki Point captured people accessing the beach

after climbing the perimeter fence, as shown in the following four photographs.

31 January 2016 29 February 2016

14 May 2016 14 May 2016

March 2016: a child is left unattended on

the rocks at Katiki Point while an adult is

diving

16

April 2016: a person walking the foreshore

abutting the Katiki Point Wildlife

Management Reserve.

A dozen rocks were found scattered over

an open area used by penguins in the

Wildlife Management Reserve, about 30m

from the path used by tourists.

(These rocks were grouped for the photo.)

A tourist taunts a NZ fur seal at Katiki

Point for a photo, 5 July 2015

This group of visitors climbed over the

perimeter fence to access this area with NZ

fur seals.

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On 24 October 2015, the Penguin Rescue donation box at the front gate at

Katiki Point was vandalised and the money inside stolen.

Left: the back of the donation box was broken open; Right: the front of the donation box.

There have been two incidences where people have brought dogs into the Katiki Point Historic

Reserve. Both were documented and referred to the Waitaki District Council.

Spearfishers with a dog returning from the

Historic Reserve to the carpark on 27

February 2016

A visitor with her dog on a lead near the pa

on Katiki Point, 19 March 2016.

There have been at least three occasions since 4 May 16 when visitors have flown drones over

the reserves, lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house at Katiki Point. There appears to be no

guidelines as to what is allowed by DOC. It is illegal to fly drones are over private property

without the consent of the land owner.

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Advocacy work

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Stock-Take Report Team visited Katiki Point on 20 July 2015 for a

meeting with Rosalie, Chris and Hiltrun, and their report was published on 7 June 2016.

Hiltrun presented the Penguin Rescue 2015 Annual Report at the Yellow-eyed Penguin

Symposium on 1 August 2015.

Penguin Rescue participated in two hui with Te Runanga o Moeraki, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu

and DOC Dunedin, on 6 November 2015 and 7 March 2016 to discuss the management and

future of Katiki Point. Monthly reports of our activities were provided from December 2015 to

June 2016. Discussions have concentrated on enhancing the visitor experience and deviating

visitors away from the edge of the DOC reserve and but no changes have been implemented.

To date there has been no consideration of the conservation management of yellow-eyed

penguins and other wildlife.

Labour Party MPs Ruth Dyson and David Clark visited Katiki Point with an Otago Daily

Times (ODT) reporter on 4 December 15. Our message was that yellow-eyed penguins are in

danger of extinction on the South Island and that more resources are needed to prevent it. An

article about the visit entitled Plight of the yellow-eyed penguin appeared in the ODT on 19

December 2015 (see Appendix 1).

Rosalie gave a talk to the North Otago Vintage Car Club in December 2015 about yellow-

eyed penguin conservation at Moeraki.

Gemma Bell, an Honours student at the Zoology Department, University of Otago, visited

with her supervisors Yolanda van Heezik and Phil Seddon in mid October 2015 to discuss her

thesis at Katiki Point entitled “Impacts of human disturbance on nest placement in yellow-

eyed penguins”. Gemma collected data from 4 to 10 November 2015 at Katiki Point.

Julia Reid from Penguin Place visited in early December 2015 to consult about treatment of

Diphtheria.

Rosalie gave a talk to the Oamaru Red Cross on 21 December 2015 about yellow-eyed

penguin conservation at Moeraki.

Lucy Dickie, a Masters student in Science Communication, University of Otago visited Katiki

Point on 17 December 2015 and 30 March 2016.

A group from Pencarrow Primary School visited Katiki Point on 11 February 2016 and were

shown around by Rosalie.

A group of Masters students from the Tourism Department, University of Otago, visited

Katiki Point on 17 March 2016 and were shown around by Rosalie.

Trudy Webster, marine scientist from the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, visited 1 April 2016.

Rosalie gave a talk to the Wainakarua Lions Club on 6 April 2016 about the yellow-eyed

penguin conservation at Moeraki.

19

Rosalie gave a talk to the Hampden Community Energy Society Inc. on 26 April 2016 to ask

for funding to buy predator traps.

Rosalie and Hiltrun attended the Oamaru Penguin Symposium on 5 - 6 May 2016 and Hiltrun

gave a presentation entitled “A paucity of females – predicting a continued decline in yellow-

eyed penguins” (see Appendix 2).

Rosalie spoke at the Waitaki Council Freedom Camping consultation meeting on 9 May 2016

to raise awareness of freedom camping at Katiki Point.

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Professor Emeritus of Ecology at Lincoln University and trustee of the

West Coast Penguin Trust visited Katiki Point with two other Trustees on 21 May 2016 to

consult about penguin management and rehabilitation.

Rosalie attended a one-day workshop of the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team at

Massey University, Palmerston North on 20 May 2016.

Rosalie attended the Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of New Zealand Annual Conference on

21-22 May 2016 at Massey University, Palmerston North.

In May 2014 a Facebook page for Penguin Rescue was started with regular photos and

updates about the penguins at Moeraki and at the end of June 2016 had 490 “likes”.

Three articles were also published in the Hamraki Rag to alert locals to stranded penguins and

asking them to contact Penguin Rescue if a penguin was found.

On 25 May 2016 a Forest and Bird discussion document entitled “Reversing the penguin

decline in New Zealand” was received and we commented on the yellow-eyed penguin

chapter.

Rosalie was interviewed in an article about Katiki Point entitled Penguin colony at mercy of

visitors that appeared in the ODT on 4 June 2016 (see Appendix 3).

Volunteer hours

We recorded the volunteer hours worked for the six months from 1 January to 30 June 2016.

A total of 2849 volunteer hours were contributed (primarily by Rosalie, Chris and Hiltrun), the

equivalent of 3.1 full-time positions (2849 hours / 0.5 year / 46 weeks / 40 hours per week).

Financials from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

Penguin Rescue received a total income of $27,990 through the 12 months.

A total of $6,935 was received in the Penguin Rescue donation box at Katiki Point. for 50,000

visitors donations would have equated to an average of 14 cents per person.

Donations through the Penguin Rescue PayPal account totalled $3,066. This included

sponsorships received through the Penguin Rescue website for five chicks ($50 each), one

adult ($150 each) and one juvenile ($150 each); 11 nest boxes were sponsored ($50 each) and

20

had the name of their sponsors written on them; three transponders were purchased and two

sponsors contributed towards buying food for the penguins in the rehabilitation facility.

Through the last 12 months we began applying for grants to fund conservation projects.

Three grant applications were successful:

Birds NZ Project Assistance Fund (see Appendix 1) 7 trail cameras $ 1,940

Speight’s Community Fund 12 nest boxes and enclosures $ 4,440

Hampden Community Energy Society Inc. traps $ 1,590

Total three grants $ 7,970

Applications to the Lottery Environment & Heritage Fund and Fonterra Grass Roots Fund

were unsuccessful.

An Expression of Interest Form for the 2015/16 Department of Conservation Community

Fund was lodged on 28 June 2016 for three years of funding to publish the outcomes of long-

term research by Penguin Rescue on wildlife at Moeraki.

Sufficient income was received to employ Dr Hiltrun Ratz part time as a Rare Species

Conservation Analyst beginning on 1 January 2016, with salary totalling $5,000 to the end of

June 2016 (see Appendix 4).

Expenditure on goods and services (excluding bank transaction fees) totalled $14,513. The

main categories of expenditure are listed below. Rehabilitation remains the biggest expense

but this was much cheaper than expected because New Zealand King Salmon kindly provided

salmon at a 60-70% reduction.

The main categories of expenditure for the 12 months from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

Expenses:

Rehabilitation $3,400.00

Monitoring and research $3,200.00

Plants $3,000.00

Pest control $1,600.00

Vehicle logistics $1,200.00

Fencing and maintenance $800.00

Nest boxes $500.00

Total for the 7 main categories $13,700.00

Rehabilitation: vet visits and drugs,

fish, release pens.

Monitoring and research: stationery,

batteries for transponder gate.

Plants: plants, potting mix, planter

bags and buckets, trays, watering

cans, screening and protection,

plumbing for watering plants.

Pest control: new traps, bait.

Vehicle logistics: travel cost for Chris

and Hiltrun.

Fencing and maintenance: penguin-

proof fence; maintenance of

power tools, post hole borer.

Nest boxes: 4 new wooden boxes and

nest enclosures on grazed land.

Financial accounts for the 2014 calendar year were audited on 7 October 2015 by Richard A

Burgess & Associates (see Appendix 5).

Auditing of accounts for the 2015 calendar year is under way.

21

Research on other species

In addition to yellow-eyed penguins, we continued to monitor fur seals and seabirds on the

Moeraki peninsula—here we present four highlights.

New Zealand falcon

We saw New Zealand falcon on three days

at Okahau Point (11 May, 20 May and 4

June 2016).

To our knowledge these are the first

records for a New Zealand falcon at

Moeraki.

Burrowing seabirds at Katiki Point

The article below describing the start of our trail camera surveillance of burrows is from page

10 in Birds New Zealand Number 10 (June 2016).

22

National census of red-billed gulls

Red-billed gulls have been classified as a threatened species because their numbers have

declined nationally. In contrast, Otago has bucked this trend and shown a regional increase

(Perriman & Lalas 2012: Recent increase in population size of red-billed gulls (Larus

novaehollandiae scopulinus) at Otago, southern New Zealand; Notornis 59: 138-147).

We participated in the Birds New Zealand National Red-billed Gull Survey, 2015-16.

Katiki Point with 535 nests was the second-largest colony in Otago and the ninth-largest in

New Zealand.

The main part of the red-billed gull colony at Katiki Point, 7 December 2015. The gulls thrive

at Katiki Point only because we have fenced their colony to minimise the likelihood of human

disturbance and we set traps in the nearby DOC reserve to reduce the numbers of ground

predators.

Mortality event hits New Zealand fur seal pups

We have monitored pup numbers annually for most years since breeding by fur seals at

Moeraki began in 1988/89 in the bay south of Matiaha Head, midway along the peninsula.

Subsequently breeding has spread along 3.0 km of shoreline from Tawhiroko Point (first pups

in 2002/03) south to the tip of Katiki Point (first pups in 1997/98).

There were about 530 pups born on the Moeraki peninsula in 2014/15. A high mortality of fur

seal pups was reported at Otago through August and September 2015. We monitored the fate

of Moeraki pups as part of a collaboration with Laura Boren (Science Advisor Marine Species

and Threats Team, DOC Wellington) and Jim Fyfe (Biodiversity Ranger, DOC Dunedin).

Analysis is underway; initial results indicate that about half the Moeraki pups died.

The number of pups born on the Moeraki peninsula in 2015/16 dropped by about 20% to

about 420. This indicates that the mortality event in 2015 affected not only pups but also

breeding females.

Thin fur seal pup near death

Fat healthy fur seal pup

23

Plans for the future

Funding for 12 new nest sites including trees was obtained from the Speight’s Community

Fund and work will continue over winter to complete them.

Yellow-eyed penguin breeding and survival will be monitored.

Other species including NZ fur seals, spotted shags and red-billed gulls will be monitored.

Penguin Rescue will be participating in the second stage of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Stock-

Take Project.

Penguin Rescue will be presenting three talks at the Annual Penguin Symposium on 6 August

2016.

Penguin Rescue will be participating in the IUCN review for yellow-eyed penguins co-

ordinated by Phil Seddon, Zoology Department, University of Otago.

Acknowledgements

In addition to people already mentioned, thanks also to volunteers who helped out at Katiki

Point; particularly Tom McTavish and Tobi Hartfiel who donated much time and energy. We

thank Andreas and Belinda van der Zande for their interest and support. We also thank Doug

and Robyn Stalker for grazing their sheep at Okahau Point and for their interest and support.

They also gave permission for us to advertise with our logo and website on their hay bales

along the road by the woolshed. Thanks to Richard Burgess for auditing the Penguin Rescue

accounts pro bono. For the locals who watched over ‘their’ beaches and called with news

about penguins in trouble – you have saved many penguins this season – thank you.

Dr Chris Lalas thanks Sanford Ltd for funding travel between Dunedin and Moeraki from July

2015 to March 2016. Special thanks also go to New Zealand Salmon King for providing

salmon at cost this season; Wayne Croft from Northline Distributors for delivering the salmon

to the Lighthouse at no extra cost; The Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust for kindly donating

two 1000 litre plastic tanks that will be used for our watering needs at Okahau Point; Oamaru

Veterinary Centre for pro bono checking and treating penguins in rehabilitation (charges

restricted to costs of drugs and transport); and Phil Bates for donating seven traps.

There have been some generous donations this season from many people. Without these it

would be difficult to feed all these mouths in the rehabilitation facility and to buy the materials

for nest boxes and habitat development - thank you all. In particular:

Donations of ≥$500

Moeraki Boulders Holiday Park $2000

Ron & Isabel Ross Ogden, Lighthouse Hills Farms $1000

Mr Brooks $1000

Eberhard Ratz $ 950

4 Nature Tours $ 900

Sylvia Allan $ 500

Murray and Bronwyn Judge $ 500

QEII Trust $ 500

Kokonga Ltd $ 500

User

Text Box

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Talk presented by Hiltrun Ratz at the Oamaru Penguin Symposium on 5 May 2016

A paucity of females—predicting a continued decline in yellow-eyed penguins

Abstract

Yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) are listed in the IUCN Red List as endangered

and their numbers have declined in the three key mainland breeding sites through the last four

years: Moeraki (North Otago), Boulder Beach (Otago Peninsula) and Long Point (Catlins).

We compared the demography of resident yellow-eyed penguins at Moeraki in 2015/16 with

that presented from 10 consecutive years of data by L. E. Richdale in A population study of

penguins (1957). The key demographic outcomes of a declining population size are the

proportion of the population breeding increases as recruitment decreases, and the proportion

of females decreases due to a sex-bias in survival. Breeders represented 71% of the resident

population at Moeraki compared with 61% reported by Richdale. Females available for

recruitment accounted for 5% of the population at Moeraki, less than half the 11% reported by

Richdale. Without a more substantial reservoir of females available for recruitment there will

be no fast recovery of the population. Application of average values for survival and

recruitment predicts a 2% annual increase in nest numbers from the demography generated by

Richdale but a 9% annual decrease from the recent demography at Moeraki. We also predict a

decrease in breeding success due to increasing interference by surplus males. These

predictions are possible only because the Moeraki population is marked and is closely

monitored throughout the breeding season and subsequent moult.

Table showing the composition of the resident population of yellow-eyed penguins at Moeraki

in the 2015/16 breeding season.

*Proportion = proportion of the total population of 129 penguins.

(One female breeder had two partners, hence the disparity in numbers of adult breeders.)

Category Females Males Total *Proportion

Adult breeders 45 46 91 71%

Adult non-breeders 3 32 35 27%

Juveniles (1-2 years old) 3 0 3 2%

Total 51 78 129

*Proportion 40% 60%

User

Text Box

Appendix 3

Appendix 4

Job description for part-time employment for Penguin Rescue by Dr Hiltrun Ratz

Job title Rare Species Conservation Analyst

Employer Penguin Rescue

Reports to Penguin Rescue manager

Key relationships Penguin Rescue team and Department of Conservation

(DOC)

Role purpose To provide information to make the best decisions for the

welfare of yellow-eyed penguins (YEPs) managed by

Penguin Rescue at Moeraki and to comply with the

requirements of DOC permits

Salary $10,000 per annum; part-time employment (0.1 position)

Key responsibilities Deliverables / Outcomes Data analysis Analyse the data collected by Penguin Rescue during year-

round monitoring of YEPs at Moeraki to document

outcomes for their survival and breeding success. This

scientific knowledge is applied to meet conservation

challenges and guide the management of this endangered

species.

Marking individual YEPs Implant YEPs with transponders for individual

identification and measure for sexing. This information is

recorded and analysed as a key component of population

monitoring.

Photography Take photographs to depict the condition, behaviour and

habitat of YEPs. These are used to inform veterinarians,

and illustrate reports, conference presentations and the

Penguin Rescue Facebook page and website.

Public relations Represent Penguin Rescue within the scientific community

through presentations at meetings and conferences.

Maintain the Penguin Rescue Facebook page and website

to inform and update the public about its work. Issue

certificates are to sponsorship donors.

Funding Assist the manager in securing funding to progress

conservation work undertaken by Penguin Rescue.

Reporting Present results and images to record activities for the

Penguin Rescue Annual Report.

Compliance with DOC Fulfil the reporting requirements of all DOC permits.

KATIKI POINT PENGUIN REFUGE CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEX

FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2014

Page:

Directory

1 Statement of Financial Performance

2 Statement of Movements in Equity

3 Statement of Financial Position

KATIKI POINT PENGUIN REFUGE CHARITABLE TRUST

DIRECTORY

AS AT 30 JUNE 2014

Nature of Business Penguin Rescue & Recording

Address Moeraki Lighthouse

R D 2, Palmerston 9061

Registered Office Moeraki Lighthouse

R D 2, Palmerston 9061

Trustees Walter Kiener - Chair

Theresa Kiener

Christopher Lalas

Hiltrun Ratz

Sue Robb

Daniel Bidwell

Wayne Turner

Elaine Burgess

Rosalie Goldsworthy - Manager

Accountants & Auditors Richard A Burgess & Associates Ltd

Bankers KiwiBank Limited

Tax Status Charitable Entity

GST Not Registered

KATIKI POINT PENGUIN REFUGE CHARITABLE TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2014

2014

2013

$

$

Income

Charitable Donations

18,433

16,300

Interest Received - Gross

379

325

18,812

16,625

Penguin Activities

Capital Items

685

358

Fish

10,919

1,898

Ear Tags

846

-

Electronic Aids

5,949

440

Housing & Boxes

194

-

Predator Expenses

407

-

Veterinary Expenses

1,112

534

20,112

3,230

Property Activities

Fencing

630

-

Hardware

1,565

400

Lawns & Hedges

128

-

Maintenance

730

820

People Management

429

-

Plant & Plant Protection

1,631

-

Plumbing

733

-

Signs

598

-

Timber

118

-

6,562

1,220

Administration

Accountancy

-

-

Audit

-

-

Computer Expenses

327

118

Conference & Training

145

-

General Expenses

51

-

Travel Expenses

60

-

583

118

-

-

Surplus

($8,445)

$12,057

KATIKI POINT PENGUIN REFUGE CHARITABLE TRUST

STATEMENT OF MOVEMENTS IN EQUITY FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2014

2,014

2013

$

$

Equity at start of the period

29,434

16,577

Net Surplus for the Year

-8,445

12,057

Total Equity at the end of the period

20,989

29,434

KATIKI POINT PENGUIN REFUGE CHARITABLE TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2014

2014

2013

$

$

EQUITY

Trust Equity

20,989

29,034

Total Trust Equity

$20,989

$29,034

REPRESENTED BY:

CURRENT ASSETS

Bank

27,522

29,434

Accounts Receivable

-

-

Total Current Assets

27,522

29,434

LESS

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts Payable

6,533

401

Total Current Liabilities

6,533

401

WORKING CAPITAL

20,989

29,034

NET ASSETS

$20,989

$29,034

For and on behalf of the Trust

R. M. Goldsworthy Dated 07 / 10 / 15

Trustee

KATIKI POINT PENGUIN REFUGE CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30TH JUNE 2014

1.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1 a)

ENTITY REPORTING:

1 b)

MEASUREMENT BASE:

1 c)

PARTICULAR ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Income Tax:

The Trust is a registered charity and is exempt from Income Tax

1 c)

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES:

The Trust is a reporting entity for the purposes for the Financial Reporting Act 1993. The Financial Statements of the company have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Act 1993. The Trust qualifies for differential reporting as is is not publicly accountable and does not qualify as a large entity. The company has taken advantage of all available differential reporting exemptions.

Katiki Point Penguin Refuge Charitable Trust is registered under the Charities Act 2005.

These Financial Statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, with the exception of certain assets being revalued where appropriate.

No guarantees have been recorded by the Trustees. Previous Year $0.00