Over 100 gather to discuss penguins
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony science and environmental manager Dr Philippa Agnew welcomed 113 attendees to the Oamaru Penguin Symposium. PHOTO: Oamaru Mail/Otago Daily Times
Penguins took centre stage in Oamaru yesterday as the largest-ever Oamaru Penguin Symposium kicked off, drawing 113 experts and enthusiasts from around New Zealand to the Oamaru Opera House. The two-day event, now in its 14th edition, brings together scientists, researchers, students and Department of Conservation staff to share their work and passion for penguins.
It began in the late 1990s as a small gathering focused solely on little penguins, but has since grown to include all penguin species — and even the occasional non-penguin seabird topic.
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony science and environmental manager Dr Philippa Agnew said the symposium was about more than just presentations — it was a chance to share ideas and engage in discussions about how to better protect our penguins.
"It's really cool hearing about the different ideas that people have and the projects that they're working on."
The symposium offers a rare opportunity for people working in the field to connect face-to-face.
"I just really look forward to catching up with people that I haven't seen for a while."
One highlight came from the penguin colony's staff member Beth Tremlett, who presented early findings from a project launched six months ago.
The study involved attaching miniature video loggers to penguins to observe their behaviour at sea — a world that remains largely mysterious.
"There's lots going on out there that we simply don't know about," Dr Agnew said.
"It's just another tool that helps us understand more about the penguins' lives."
She noted the importance of studying environmental impacts such as turbidity and storm events.
Such data could help shed light on how seasonal changes affected penguin survival.
After a day of talks, attendees were treated to a viewing of the blue penguins returning home at dusk — a first for many.
"It's great to share that with them," Dr Agnew said.
The symposium continues today with more presentations and opportunities to collaborate on protecting one of the world's most beloved seabirds.
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