Penguin Sighting

We didn't stay long in Christchurch, because it was a little overcast, which is not ideal for paragliding. So after a half of a day we left with plans to return and paraglide a week later. We continued South to a small town on the coast called Oamaru. This town is known for penguin colonies that reside there year round. It is always fun to see animals, even in a zoo, but there is something special about seeing them out in the wild. I was looking forward to a few penguin spottings, and so was Torey. In fact, they are his favorite animals, so I think it was more important to him.

I drove there, because we needed to get there fast and I tend to have a lead foot. We were a few minutes late for the nesting tour, but we got to see all the penguins come in after dark. In Oamaru there are two types of penguin colonies, Blue Penguins and the Yellow-eyed Penguin. We got to see both, but I was only allowed to take pictures of the Yellow-eyed Penguins. After visiting the local information center we were equipped with a map that lead us to the Yellow-eyed penguin breeding ground. We parked the campervan and walked along a trail to a viewing point. There was a small crowd waiting to see these penguins swim out of the ocean and waddle along to the brush. Apparently they are the most endangered penguin species because of a loss of breeding locations. Most locations have been destroyed from human development. After waiting almost forty-five minutes we were delighted by the presence of one penguin who was riding in the waves. After reaching the sand the penguin stood up on his webbed feet and started to waddle up the beach. Five minutes later he was hidden in the brush. Since there were at least twenty Yellow-eyed Penguins I'm sure there where more to come, but we needed to make our way to the see the Blue penguins.

The Blue penguins are being monitored by a research company, so as tourists we paid a small few of $15 NZ dollars to observe the return to their nesting ground. I would have liked this a lot if we were the only ones observing, but unfortunately there was a tourist bus of Japanese mixed in. Normally I don't mind other tourists, but for some reason this group of Japanese tourists were obnoxious and didn't follow the three simple rules. We were asked to sit still with no sharp movements, be quiet, and absolutely no photography. Although the directions where given to them in English and Japanese, they chose to break every rule. As a teacher I was irritated with the lack of respect and obedience. As a spectator of these amazing animals I was frustrated because I couldn't concentrate. Because of their rudeness, many of the penguins did not come to shore and those that did stayed right in their nests.

The bonus of the observation was that we could stay as long as we liked, and the tour group was on a schedule so they left early. After the large groups left and most others left from lack of patience, we were the last ones there. To our amazement, more penguins came out of the ocean. They became very noisy, as it was breeding season, and they all started to come out of the nests. I found out that blue penguins only need to sleep a few minutes every four hours so they are up most of the night. They live in monogamous relationships, usually for life, but there is a small divorce rate. We even got to see them mate. After squawking at each other, they waddle in a circle around each other. Then the male penguin would push the females head into the ground. After that, we observed a quick mating process. This was happening all over the place. I couldn't help but laugh. As humans, relationships are so private and here we got to see it all happen.

Apparently these penguins will nest just about anywhere that is somewhat hidden. The research company has had to relocate penguins that are under houses and local businesses. On our way out, I was driving along the small road when I saw a penguin head poke out from a basement window box. I stopped and waited to see if he would do it again, but it did not happen. We had to leave, because we planned to rise early in the morning to watch the Yellow-eyed penguins leaving their nests.

We got up at 6am to drive back to the yellow-eyed nests and once again waited. After only thirty minutes we saw two penguins walk out of the bushes right in front of the observation point. I couldn't believe how close their were to the observation deck. They weren't shy either, as they paused to look at us. I think they probably stopped to check out the safety of their surrounding before heading back to the ocean, but as they raised their arms and moved their necks back and forth it looked as if their were doing their morning yoga. We stayed for a while to watch as more and more penguins made their way back to the ocean for the day. It was a fun experience to see penguins and at each location we got to talk with a local whom knew quite a bit about penguins. Already Torey and I were enjoying the South Island tremendously.