From the Antipodes Islands to Timaru for endangered penguin

Matthew Littlewood 16:47, Feb 17 2020

An Antipode Islands-based penguin spotted in Timaru was most likely looking for its dinner on its rare visit, a Department of Conservation (DOC) spokesman says.

The endangered erect-crested penguin, spotted by Stuff photographer John Bisset, near Timaru port's breakwater at the weekend, could be one of a few making its way to South Canterbury shores as they begin to moult.

DOC technical advisor Bruce McKinlay said while the erect-crested penguin breeds on the remote Bounty and Antipodes Islands, it was "not uncommon to find individual birds moulting on the east coast of the South Island most summers".

"As a top predator the penguin was most likely looking for fish," McKinlay said.

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Rare kakī spotted outside of Mackenzie Basin near Timaru

The birds predominantly live in the Mackenzie Basin where the Department of Conservation Kakī Recovery Programme is run to build numbers of the once near extinction species.

Two kakī  that have appeared on a farm near Timaru are the latest of the world's rarest wading bird to be reported outside of the Mackenzie Basin.

South Canterbury farmer, George Steven said he had seen two kakī who had made a home for themselves on his dairy farm in Otipua, near Timaru. 

He first noticed the birds, who had stuck together and made a home for themselves in a wetland paddock on his farm, about a week ago.

South Canterbury farmer George Steven found a couple of the rare black stilt on his property.

The birds predominantly live in the Mackenzie Basin where the Department of Conservation Kakī Recovery Programme is run to build numbers of the once near extinct species.

"The stilts are in the paddock that has pockets filled with water." 

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