Fiordland Crested penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Physical characteristics of the Fiordland Crested penguin
The most timid of the crested penguins, the Fiordland crested penguin stands about 40cm and weighs around 4 kilograms. The head, throat and upperparts are black and underparts are white. The sulphur-yellow crest starts at the base of the base of the bill, extends over the eye and droops down the back of the head. Adults often have white stripes on the cheeks, juveiles have a shorter crest and pale cheeks.

Habitat of the Fiordland Penguin
The males return to the breeding sites in June (mid winter), usually to the site of last year’s nest. The female follows shortly after and two eggs are laid in July. The second egg hatches first, while most first eggs fail to hatch. If both chicks hatch, the smaller first-egg chick is unable to compete for food and usually dies. For the first few weeks of life, the chick is guarded by the male and fed by the female. After this both parents feed the chick and the chick wanders, creching with other chicks if they are nearby, but returning to the nest to be fed.

World Range & Habitat of the Fiordland penguin
The Fiordland penguin, Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, is a migratory species found in the waters of Antarctica around the Southern Islands. During breeding season, this species can be found on the coasts of southwest New Zealand, Stewart Island and Solander Island. Breeding sites are typically found near trees or among the rocks for protection.

Feeding Behavior (Ecology) of the Fiordland penguin
Fiordland penguins, Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, feed on crustaceans, squid and small fishes.

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Threats to the Fiordland Crested penguin
The Fiordland crested penguin has declined in numbers drastically during the last twenty years. In the 1980s, the global population was estimated to number 10,000 breeding pairs. Today, the number is thought to be 2,500 to 3,000 pairs. The principal cause is believed to be from introduced animals such as cats and stoats, although where the birds’ breeding sites are close to public beaches, pet dogs are thought to be largely responsible for disturbing adult birds and catching chicks. With the increase in human leisure activities, this pressure is bound to intensify. There is also a problem with the endemic weka, Gallirallus australis, which preys on eggs and chicks and is thought to contribute to over a third of egg loses in some breeding areas, especially Solander Island.

At sea, penguins are in constant competition for food with fishing vessels and sometimes find themselves caught in fishing nets. Perhaps the biggest threat, however, is through marine pollution, particularly oil spillage and the illegal but common practice of discharging oil tanker ballast water off-shore. As yet, little is known about the possible effects of global warming on penguin populations.

Conservation of the Crested penguin
Recent surveys of a number of the Fiordland crested penguin’s breeding areas have suggested that more research into predator-related threats need to be examined. One idea is to eradicate the weka – the principal local predator – from Solander Island to reduce the losses of eggs and chicks.

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