Yellow Eyed Penguin
Penguins
Penguins are one of the most ancient families of birds. They have been on earth for 60 million years. These flightless birds have short, stubby flippers, dense waterproof feathers and a sleek, streamlined shape, making them well adapted for swimming in the cold sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seas where most species of penguin live.
What's in a name?
The name hoiho is Maori for “noise shouter” because its piercing calls can be heard over the crashing waves. Its scientific name Megadyptes antipodes means “large southern diver”.
There are 16 species of penguins and they are all found in the Southern Hemisphere. Only three species breed on mainland New Zealand, the little blue penguin, the Fiordland crested penguin and the yellow-eyed penguin or hoiho.
Hoiho
Hoiho is the fourth largest penguin in the world and grows up to 65 cm tall and weigh 5 to 6 kg. It has a yellow bright yellow stripe that goes around its eye and around the back of the head. It also has bright pink feet!
Hoiho are endemic to New Zealand and are a threatened species, which means there are not many of them left. They are only found around the south-east of the South Island, on Stewart Island, Auckland island and Campbell island.
Nesting and chicks
Hoiho make their nests in August and September and usually lay two greenish-white eggs. Unlike lots of other penguins who don’t mind nesting in one big group, hoiho like their privacy and won’t build their nest near any other hoiho.
When the eggs hatch one parent goes fishing while the other one looks after the chicks. When the fisher comes in from the sea, the parents greet each other with noisy cries and gestures. The hungry chicks have to wait until they have finished saying hello! The hungry chicks then thrust their beaks into the parents mouth for the regurgitated meal.
By early March the chicks are as big as their parents - but not as good-looking.
Their downy feathers have been replaced by a waterproof outfit of feathers so they are ready to go to sea. One thing is still missing through – their yellow head band!
Helping Hoiho
Once upon a time lush forest came down to the sea and the shouts of the hoiho could be heard along the New Zealand coast. But people cut down the forests beside the sea, and brought dogs, cats and stoats.
Moulting
Moulting is when birds replace their old,worn out feathers with new ones. Adult hoiho moult during March and April. For 3-4 weeks they will not go to sea while their old feathers moult. They lose weight and are vulnerable to predators like stoats, dogs and people!
Hoiho nest sites were destroyed, and their chicks were killed by cats, stoats and ferrets.
Out at sea hoiho get tangled and drown in set nets, or may not be able to find enough fish to eat.
Hoiho are now a threatened species but people are helping them survive by protecting and replanting nesting sites in places like Okia Reserve in Otago and Forest and Bird’s Te Rere Reserve near Invercargill.
You can help too
If you visit a hoiho nesting area:
• Be quiet so you do not scare the hoiho from coming ashore to feed their chicks
• Talk quietly and move slowly
• Stick to the tracks
• Do not go into areas fenced off for penguins
• Do not take dogs near hoiho nesting areas
• Do not litter
• If you see someone doing the wrong thing near hoiho nests call the Department of Conservation .
You can even help by eating cheese! Check out the Mainland cheese label next time you are in the supermarket. Every time you send a Mainland cheese label back to the people at Mainland they donate $1 to the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust.
