Autumn and winter patterns of nest site attendance and behaviour by little penguins (Eudyptula minor) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

Abstract

Little penguins are widespread around eastern and southern Australia, the coast of New Zealand and neighbouring islands, with various sized colonies distributed irregularly throughout these locations. There are many studies on little penguin colony attendance and behaviour during the breeding season, yet little is known about their autumn and winter behaviours at the colony. There have been varying reports of little penguin colony attendance, some with regular attendance patterns and others without. The present study was conducted to investigate colony attendance and behaviour of little penguins during autumn and winter. During April – July 2021, colony attendance, body condition, nestbox occupancy, individual colony attendance behaviours and penguin pairing of 205 little penguins (Eudyptula minor) were examined at the Port Tarakohe colony in Golden Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Nestboxes were checked every two days during April and May and then twice a week during June and July. Previously published data of colony attendance and body weight was also analysed for comparison with Port Tarakohe data. I found a three-and-a-half-week cycle of colony attendance with 0 to 106 penguins being present at the colony at any given time. Body weights did not increase during these months, and the colony attendance cycle was not influenced by the lunar phase. A majority of penguins stayed loyal to one nestbox (60%) and one ‘partner’ (75.6%) during these months, but some individuals were sighted in anywhere up to seven different nestboxes or with four other penguins. Individual penguins displayed varying colony attendance patterns, with many penguins showing clear patterns of presence and absence, and some pairs showing signs of synchronisation. There was a significant difference in the time little penguins spent on land in their nestbox compared to at sea, with penguins spending, on average, one week on land and two weeks at sea. This is the first study to show that little penguins in the South Island of New Zealand have cyclic colony attendance patterns in autumn and winter. It is also the first study to report individual differences in little penguin autumn and winter behaviours and can be used as a baseline for future studies.