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Fiordland Crested Penguin

Tawaki

Eudyptes pachyrynchus

Fiordland Crested penguins are a recent arrival at Ulva, as the summer of 2011 was the first sighting for me there with a single bird molting on Sydney Cove. (photos above)

There are only a handful of pairs around the immediate locality..... a pair nesting past Lee Bay, another pair actually within Halfmoon Bay, and a pair on Bench Island.

When I arrived on Stewart Island in 1969 the nearest birds were a few nesting on Codfish Island and a small colony at Port Pegasus. And even in Fiordland/South Westland numbers are not great, as they have suffered badly from Stoat predation.

Size 280 mm


Fiordland Crested. The noisy cackle is very distinctive
Agility. Like all penguins Fiordland crested have short legs, and bear at first glance appear clumsy on land. However their stock legs are very strong, and they can jump a quite surprising distance
Handsome These are a handsome bird, reminding me of an elderly dignified gentleman in tux and spats.
Moulting. Once moult starts the birds are confined to the shore. It must be extremely uncomfortable, and they generally look quite miserable