Tarakohe’s penguin housing project extended by volunteers
Petra Kraase and Derry Kingston taking part in the working bee at Tarakohe. Photo: Ina Holst.
Last Sunday, volunteers of all ages worked on another phase of the penguin housing project on the western breakwater at Tarakohe.
Equipped with wheelbarrows and shovels, and under a cloudless sky and with a sparkling sea as a backdrop, they shifted mountains of soil to dig in 50 penguin nesting boxes and create rocky tunnels from the sea.
DOC organiser Greg Napp was beaming and delighted with the support, which brought together many familiar faces from the Pohara Boat Club and conservation groups.
“We are upping the number we are digging in this year and we are making better use of the natural holes between the rocks to place the boxes,” Greg said. “I am really pleased with the turnout. With so many people we can achieve a lot more in less time. We will come back later, give it a month or two and plant it up. This side of the breakwater gets less erosion as it higher and the waves hit it differently.”
Last year 42 boxes were dug into the rocky breakwater opposite the boat club, which is now beautifully landscaped. The estate already has penguins in residence.
“Three boxes are used by penguins and we planted toi toi (Cortaderia toe-toe), taupata (Coprosma repens) and flaxes (Phormium cookianium) from Whaririki. These plants are very hardy: sometimes the saltwater washes right over them.”
Between shovelfuls of dirt, volunteer conservationist Fill Burgers said it was exciting to see so many people of all ages working there because they cared for the penguins.
“Hopefully these nesting boxes will be here for many generations of penguins to come.”
Ina Holst
