List of little penguin colonies explained

This is a list of little penguin colonies notable for their size, location or public profile. It is not exhaustive. Some little penguin (Eudyptula minor) colonies are particularly large, well-known, or are tourist attractions; even small colonies in urban areas may attract tours. Little penguins, also known as little blue or fairy penguins, exhibit site fidelity to their breeding colonies and nesting sites over successive years. They live year-round in large or small colonies, with each individual breeding pair forming a burrow, or using caves or crevices between rocks, in which to raise their chicks (of which two are born at a time, usually about two days apart).

Although many breed in large, well-defined colonies, the penguins also occur in scattered locations along long stretches of coastline.^[1] In New Zealand numerous beaches, bays and coves are host to penguin colonies. Colony sizes may range from thousands to just a few nests, with some penguins ranging into urban areas. The total population is estimated to lie between 350,000 and 600,000 individuals. Most of these breed on offshore islands where they are not subject to predation by introduced mammals, nor to regular disturbance by people, and are relatively secure. Many colonies on the Australian mainland, as well as on the coasts of Tasmania and New Zealand's North and South Islands, are in decline.^[2]

Tourism

Little penguins typically return to their colonies to feed their chicks after sunset, which is when they are most visible to people and where tourist attention is focussed. Little penguins attract large numbers of tourists in Australia, and are important in several local economies. However, penguin tourism can also affect penguin breeding success through causing adults to desert nests and chicks to receive fewer meals.^[3]

Predation

Little penguins were once common along the southern coastline of mainland Australia but are now primarily confined to various small islands and isolated coastal locations due to predation by introduced feral and domestic cats, foxes or, in New Zealand, stoats and ferrets, and stray dogs on the mainland. The birds and their nests are also preyed on by native animals such as goannas and, in the vicinity of the colonies at sea, by fur seals.^{[4] [5] [6]} Where roads pass close to colonies, they may be killed by cars.

Due to their diminutive size, the introduction of predators and the spread of human settlement, some colonies have been reduced in size by as much as 98% in just a few years. An example is the small colony on Middle Island, near Warrnambool, Victoria, which was reduced from 5,000 penguins to 100; a subsequent conservation management program using Maremma sheepdogs to guard the colony and deter foxes allowed numbers to start to recover.^[7]

Australia

Jervis Bay Territory

Colonies in the Jervis Bay Territory include:

• Bowen Island^[4] - 5000 pairs, restricted access^[8]

New South Wales

Colonies in New South Wales include from the north:

• Boondelbah Island,^[9] Cabbage Tree Island and Broughton Island, near Port Stephens - four small colonies constituting the most northerly breeding site of the species, restricted access^{[10] [11]}
• Lion Island^[5] - 300 pairs, nesting site threatened by invasive weeds, island subject to environmental rehabilitation program, restricted access^[12]
• Manly Point - small, threatened urban colony in Sydney Harbour^[13]
• Five Islands Nature Reserve - offshore from Port Kembla. Over 1000 occupied burrows in 1962, significant decline noted in 1990s.^[14]
• Barunguba / Montague Island^[4] - up to 8000 pairs, largest NSW colony, tours conducted^[15]
• Twofold Bay^[16] - small mainland colony in the Eagles Claw Nature Reserve adjacent to the town of Eden.^[17] This colony has gone extinct.^[18]

South Australia

Colonies in South Australia include:

• Althorpe Islands - Group of islands in Investigator Strait, southwest of Yorke Peninsula^[19]
• Goose Island, Little Goose Island & White Rock Island - aquatic reserve^[20]
• Granite Island, Victor Harbor - colony in possibly terminal decline, from 1600 to 1800 individuals in 2000 to about 20 in 2012, evening tours and information centre^[21]
• Greenly Island - Island offshore from Coffin Bay in the Great Australian Bight
• Investigator Group - colonies on Dorothee Island, Pearson Island which was surveyed as having approximately 12,000 birds in 2004 and the Waldegrave Islands.
• Kangaroo Island

1. Kingscote - about 700 individuals in 2010,^[22] guided tours were given each evening,^[23] but stopped in 2013^[24]
2. Penneshaw - small, declining colony threatened by fur seal predation,^[25] evening guided tours
3. Flinders Chase National Park - "thousands" inhabiting the park's shores, reported in 1972. Current status unknown.^[26]
4. Ravine de Casoars - population described as "innumerable" in 1972. Current status unknown.
5. Sandy Creek - "dozens" inhabiting limestone caves, reported in 1972. Current status unknown.

• Lipson Island, north of Tumby Bay, Eyre Peninsula - colony appears to be stable at around 100 animals.^{[27] [28]}
• Louth Bay (Louth Island and Rabbit Island) - status unknown, previously a large colony in the 1800s
• Royston Island, in Pondalowie Bay at the south-west end of Yorke Peninsula - as of 1982, the species was reported as being “most numerous” on the island. As of 2011, the status of the breeding colony was not known.^[29]
• Sir Joseph Banks Group - island group in Spencer Gulf supporting multiple colonies - some in decline, others of unknown status
• Thistle Island - large island in southern Spencer Gulf
• Troubridge Island, off Edithburgh, Yorke Peninsula in Gulf St Vincent - formerly 3000-6000 individuals and one of South Australia's largest colonies, access by permit. As of 2013, colony is believed to be in decline.
• Wardang Island - formerly the largest colony in Spencer Gulf. Population status is unknown.
• Wedge Island

Tasmania

Colonies in Tasmania include:

• Bicheno - colony of 200 pairs on Diamond Island adjacent to and accessible from the town; tours available^[30]
• Bruny Island^[4] - declining colony of about 400 pairs at the Neck (sandy isthmus between North and South Bruny Island) attracts large numbers of tourists to its viewing platforms^[31]
• Burnie - observation centre and tours^[32]
• De Witt Island^[4] - 500 pairs; part of the Maatsuyker Island Group Important Bird Area (IBA)
• Goat Island - part of the Three Sisters - Goat Island Nature Reserve
• Lillico Beach^[4] near Devonport - small colony; viewing facilities
• Low Head^[4] - small colony; guided tours
• Port Davey Islands Important Bird Area - over 16,000 pairs spread over several small islands in the Southwest National Park; access difficult^[33]
• St Helens Important Bird Area - up to 15,000 pairs at various sites around the fishing and holiday town of St Helens; tours available^[33]
• Wynyard - tours available by appointment^[34]
• Preservation Bay - Small colony

Tasmanian Bass Strait islands

• Babel Island - 20,000 pairs; IBA; access difficult^{[33] [35]}
• Betsey Island^[33] - 15,000 pairs; nature reserve and IBA^[35]
• Chalky, Big Green and Badger Island Groups Important Bird Area - over 40,000 pairs spread over several islands in the Furneaux Group^[33]
• Forsyth, Passage and Gull Island Important Bird Area - 80,000 pairs^{[33] [35]}

Victoria

Colonies in Victoria, Australia include:

• Gabo Island - up to 20,000 pairs^[33]
• Lady Julia Percy Island - 2,000 breeding pairs
• London Bridge beach, Port Campbell National Park - small colony; tours and viewing platforms
• Middle Island - small, threatened colony protected by innovative conservation program using sheepdogs; restricted access
• Phillip Island - 70,000 individuals; iconic colony and major Australian tourist attraction operating since 1928^{[4] [33] [36]}
• St Kilda Harbour Breakwater - small urban colony of approximately 1400 individuals ^{[4] [37]}

Western Australia

Colonies in Western Australia include:

• 6-mile Island, Israelite Bay^[38]
• Bald Island^[39]
• Carnac Island, near Perth and north of Garden Island. Status unknown.^[40]
• Coffin Island^[41] northeast of King George Sound
• Daw Island, 150 km east of Condingup
• Doubtful Islands^[42]
• Eclipse Island (south of Albany)^[43]
• Flinders Bay - Seal Island^[44] and St Alouarn Island^[45]
• Garden Island, 6.5 km north of Penguin Island. Estimated 500-600 birds in monitored areas in 2011.^[46]
• King George Sound - islands including Michelmas Island,^[47] Mistaken Island,^{[48] [49] [50]} Seal Island^[51] and Breaksea Island. Breaksea Island mentioned in an historical account from 1827, current status unknown.^[52]
• Pasley Island^[53]
• Penguin Island, near Perth, has the state's largest population. Population estimated at 1,000 birds in 2011.^[54] It is part of Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.
• Quagering Island^[55]
• Newdegate Island, at the mouth of Deep River.^[56] Historical account, current status unknown.
• Recherche Archipelago - numerous islands including Cull Island,^[57] Figure of 8 Island,^[58] Hood Island,^[59] Mackenzie Island,^[60] Mondrain Island,^[61] Observatory Island,^[62] Ram Island,^[63] Remark Island,^[64] Sandy Hook Island,^[65] South East Isles,^[66] Wilson Island (present in 2001)^[67] and Woody Island (which supports a colony of unknown size at the island's Eastern end).^[68]
• Shelter Island, near Torbay. Historic account, current status unknown.^[69] Skin of a specimen also collected there in 1988.^[70]

New Zealand

Colonies in New Zealand include:

• Oamaru - >1,000 individuals ^{[4] [71] [72]}
• Pipikaretu Beach, on Otago Peninsula^[73]
• Pōhatu/Flea Bay, on Banks Peninsula (white-flippered variety)^[74]
• Taiaroa Head^[4]
• Motunau Island Nature Reserve - approximately 1,650 nests,^[72] access restricted
• Matiu/Somes, Mākaro, and Mokopuna Islands in Wellington Harbour (Te Whanganui-a-Tara)

Notes and References

1. Book: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks. . Marchant, S.; & Higgins, P.J. (Coordinators) . 1990 . Oxford University Press . Melbourne . 0-19-553068-3 . 246 - 259 .
2. Web site: Little (Blue or Fairy) Penguin. 2012-09-17 . About Penguins. International Penguin Conservation Work Group . 2011-08-06 .
3. Book: What is causing the decline of Little Penguins on Granite Island, South Australia?. Bool, N.M. . Page, B. . Goldsworthy, S.D. . 2007 . SARDI Research Report No.217 . South Australian Research and Development Institute. Adelaide .
4. Web site: Penguins: Little (Blue) Penguins - Eudyptula minor. Peter. Dann. International Penguin Conservation Work Group. 2011-11-25.
5. Web site: Little Penguin - Penguin Project. Valerie. Grabski. 2009. Penguin Sentinels/University of Washington. 2011-11-25. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111216162812/http://mesh.biology.washington.edu/penguinProject/Little. 2011-12-16.
6. Web site: BBC - Science & Nature -Sea Life - Fact Files: Little/Fairy penguin. July 2005. bbc. 2011-11-25.
7. Web site: Middle Island Maremma Project . 2012-09-06 . Warrnambool . Warrnambool City Council . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120819155644/http://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/index.php?q=node%2F943 . 2012-08-19 .
8. Web site: Little Penguin . 2012-09-08 . Booderee National Park: Birdwatching . Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Australia . 2012-05-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120825131303/http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/booderee/visitor-activities/birdwatching.html . 2012-08-25 .
9. Web site: Shoal Bay. Port Stephens Australia. en. 2020-04-30.
10. Web site: Broughton Island's recovery is well under way. 2012-09-11 . A Question of Balance: summary of radio interview of Nicholas Carlile by Ruby Vincent. Victor . Barry . 2SER Community Radio Station . June 2011.
11. Web site: port stephens. laspinne. Little Penguin research. en. 2020-04-30.
12. Web site: Lion Island Little Penguin Threat Abatement . 2012-09-11 . Project overview . . April 2007.
13. Book: Endangered Population of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Manly. Anon . 2000 . Recovery Plans . NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service . Sydney . 0731362608 .
14. Web site: Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association Inc. (SOSSA) - Five Islands History and Future Management. www.sossa-international.org. 2020-04-30.
15. Web site: Little Penguins . 2012-09-11 . Montague Island NSW . Montague Island Tours .
16. Barton, D. (1978). Breeding Fairy Penguins at Twofold Bay, NSW. Corella 2,7 1-72.
17. Book: Eagles Claw Nature Reserve Plan of Management. Anon . 1992 . NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service . Eden . 0-7305-7338-9 .
18. Priddel, D., Carlile, N. & Wheeler, R., 2008. Population size, breeding success and provenance of a mainland colony of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor). EMU, 108, pp.35–41.
19. Wiebkin, A. S. (2011) Conservation management priorities for little penguin populations in Gulf St Vincent. Report to Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2011/000188-1. SARDI Research Report Series No.588. 97pp.
20. http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/65420/5._AqResWeb.pdf "Goose Island Aquatic Reserve"
21. Web site: Granite Island penguin population in possible peril . 2012-09-12 . 891 ABC Adelaide . Brett . Williamson . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 2012-08-14 .
22. Web site: Kingscote Community Penguin Census. 2012-09-12 . Kangaroo Island . Department of Natural Resources, South Australia . 2011-02-07 .
23. Web site: Birds & Bees . Tourkangarooisland.com.au . 2009-06-30 . 2012-09-04.
24. News: Kingscote Penguin Centre tours to stop . . 22 July 2013 . 16 January 2019.
25. Web site: Fate of island penguins appears sealed as hunted become hunters. Lloyd. Graham. 2011-03-26. News. The Australian. 2012-09-12.
26. Book: Masterman, Mervinia. Flinder's Chase Revisited. Griffin Press. 1972. Netley, South Australia. 63, 68, 73.
27. Madden-Hallett, D. M., Hammer, M., Gursansky, W. and Donato, D. B., 2011. Lipson Island baseline flora and fauna report and assessment of risk. For Golder Associates, Donato Environmental Services, Darwin.
28. Donato Environmental Services (2012). Port Spencer Stage 1 Public Environmental Report, Volume 4 of 5, Appendix J. Adelaide: Centrex Metals Ltd.
29. Web site: Robinson. A. C.. South Australia's offshore islands. Australian Heritage Commission. 13 December 2013 . Canty, P. . Mooney, T. . Rudduck, P.. 283. 1996.
30. Book: Small North-East Islands Management Plan. Anon . 2002 . Parks and Wildlife Service. Hobart .
31. Stevenson, Caryn . Woehler, Eric J. . 2007 . Population decreases in Little Penguins Eudyptula minor in south-eastern Tasmania, Australia, over the past 45 years . Marine Ornithology . 35 . 71–76 .
32. Web site: Penguins. 2012-09-14 . Discover Burnie . Burnie City Council .
33. Web site: Species factsheet: Eudyptula minor . 2012-09-08. BirdLife Data Zone . BirdLife International . 2012 .
34. Web site: WYNYARD PENGUIN TOURS. 2015-12-19.
35. Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart.
36. Book: Marine Pollution: New Research . . 2008 . September 4, 2012 . Hofer, Tobias N. . 344. 9781604562422 .
37. http://www.stkildapenguins.com.au St Kilda Penguins
38. Web site: Record: 0b4a29b7-13d8-4115-9aef-4e873597759c Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
39. Web site: Record: e31599d4-0ced-4085-ba06-e1c6ea640cce Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
40. News: LIFE and LORE of the BUSH SEVERAL MATTERS FROM NORTH PERTH.. Sunday Times. 1928-03-18. 2015-12-18. 44.
41. Web site: Record: f8f0c2cb-f583-4e92-8ed7-6c771af18ce6 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
42. Web site: Record: f53d6579-544e-487a-9963-3d7a19245adb Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
43. Web site: Record: 573aa6a2-096a-4aff-9845-9cf3b9a65964 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
44. Web site: Record: AVIF:A12858 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
45. Web site: Record: a4a41dd7-ac86-4a3c-bd50-b656722bc778 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
46. Book: Cannell, Belinda. Potential impacts of the Mangles Bay Marina Based Tourist Precinct on Little Penguins. Oceanica. 2011. Western Australia. 4.
47. Web site: Record: 1491d755-d987-4a91-b81f-52eb7be3c66c Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
48. News: Albany Suspects Incendiarism ALBANY, Saturday.. The Daily News. 1938-01-01. 2015-11-07. 7.
49. Web site: Penguins to help monitor health of King George Sound. www.abc.net.au. 2015-11-07. en-AU.
50. Web site: Record: 9a2cf3ca-2e6a-4b06-8f8f-a0afba34bcab Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
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52. News: HISTORY in NAMES Albany's Harbour. The West Australian. 1947-05-17. 2015-12-18. 5.
53. Web site: Record: 18f463d4-66e9-49eb-8631-68f8f660d8f4 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
54. News: Saving the penguins. Moodle. Claire. 2014-09-22. 2014-11-10. ABC.
55. Web site: Record: 64ecb216-f193-4b3f-a46e-8ea9e533a891 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
56. News: CHAPTER XII.—1841.. The Inquirer and Commercial News. 1898-11-11. 2015-11-07. 4.
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58. Web site: Record: 57c32ea4-7ff9-40fc-aed3-ad151db4e5c4 Occurrence record Atlas of Living Australia. biocache.ala.org.au. 2015-12-26.
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68. Web site: Wildlife viewing. 2014-12-03. Esperance Island Cruises & Woody Island Eco Stays.
69. News: REMARKS RESPECTING THE IS[?] LANDS ON THE COAST OF S. W. AUSTRALIA. To the Editor of the Perth Gazette. [CONTINUED.]]. The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. 1842-10-01. 2015-12-18. 2.
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71. http://www.penguins.co.nz/ Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
72. Flemming, S.A. (2013) "http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/little-penguin". In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online
73. Web site: The Abundance, Breeding Distribution, and nest sites of Blue Penguins in Otago, New Zealand . Journal of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand . Volume 41, Part 3 . September 1994 . September 4, 2012 . Dann, Peter.
74. http://www.pohatu.co.nz/ Pohatu Penguins