Bumper penguin season on way for Ōamaru?
Ōamaru hasn't seen blue penguin eggs this early before. Photo: Supplied
Birds in the Ōamaru blue penguin colony have begun laying their eggs almost three months early, sparking hope of a bumper season.
Colony science and environmental manager Philippa Agnew told Morning Report the colony had never laid eggs in April before and it was very surprising.
Little penguins typically began laying eggs between late July and mid-November, spending April and May feeding at sea in preparation for the nesting season.
"We expected the season to be early, but this is the first time for our colony - and second recorded for the country - that we have had eggs laid in April," Agnew said.
She said when penguins laid early, they could lay a second set of eggs.
"Potentially, this is going to be a really productive season, with lots of chicks being fledged from the colony."
Agnew said the early egg-laying was also a good indication that the marine environment was healthy.
"Egg-laying is very food-driven, so to have eggs this early means we have good food close to the colony. It tells us that things are looking good for the season."
The news wasn't all good, with an injured penguin found tangled in fishing-line just before Easter. The bird was found near Holmes Wharf, a popular fishing spot.
"The line was wrapped around it so tight that the penguin had lost its leg," Agnew said.
"You could also see the penguin was then trying to use its flipper to get on to the rocks, which did damage to the point that the bone was sticking out of its flipper."
Agnew said the penguin also likely had a bone inflection.
"An injured animal like that can't live a healthy and pain-free life in the wild," she said. "We had to have it euthanised to end its suffering.
"It was the only humane thing to do, because it couldn't survive in the wild with only one leg."
Agnew said the consequences of discarded fishing gear were a monumental problem for all kinds of marine animals.
"The fishing-line obviously wasn't lost on purpose, but the person also probably didn't consider the impacts that could have on the wildlife.
"This sort of thing happens more than people realise."
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