Horomaka Kororā 2020/2022
20 years on and with many conservation projects that have been happening and even more due to the announcement of Pest Free Banks Peninsula we were very keen on working on a data base line of penguin population health around the peninsula.
And so the massive project started, a project lead by Pōhatu penguins but supported by so many organisations, businesses, NGOs and volunteers which without who this project wouldn't be possible. The community support has been uplifting.
The saying "team work make the dream work" is more than accurate and appropriate in the situation ^-^
Objectives:
•To conduct a complete transect ground survey of Kororā/White-flippered penguins on Banks Peninsula.
•Areas previously searched in 2000 and known breeding areas, of which 16 are accessible by land and 174 are accessible only by boat, will be searched by teams of volunteers.
•All data collected will be entered into the penguins survey webpage.
•A paper will be written at a later stage.
•Report written for Ecan to help with coastal management plan.
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All parties involved are:
| •Pōhatu penguins •Blue Cradle foundation •Orbica •DoC •Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust •Quail island trust •Tina Troup •Kate Whyte •Robin Burleigh •Rachel Hickcox |
•Gary Brittenden •International Antarctic Centre •Black Cat cruises •Akaroa Dolphins •Koukourarata •NZ penguins initiative •Oashore •Long look out tours •TrackMe •Okain’s bay enhancement society |
•Christchurch penguin rehab •Lyttelton Port Company •The Seventh Generation •Mafi’s kayaks •Akaroa, Duvauchelle, Bush Farm and Okain’s bay schools •Rapaki marae •Bunnings •Volunteers |
Survey protocol:
•Team leader will have a handheld GPS which when path track is on can record the track you walk without you taking way points. This should always be on during the search
•Areas will be searched by teams. At least 1 team leader per 4 team members or less. Team members are grouped into pairs once burrow/nest is located.
•A pair will consist of the nest investigator and the recorder.
•Teams will walk in transect lines across the area of their survey section. Each person will be 5 to 10 metres apart, checking 2 to 5 metres each side of you right and left. Team leaders will determine vertical or horizontal grid method for the site
•Once a burrow/nest has been located, team stops. The pair closest to nest site are the nest investigator and data recorder. Investigator will relay findings and recorder will enter data into the smartphone app (see section below for more details)
•Team leader will be overlooking the work of their teams, making sure data entry is done properly and accurately.
•Recorded nest sites will be marked with biodegradable flagging tape or chalk for rocky areas to prevent double counting.
31st of October - Training day:
 Dr. Matiu Payne from Koukourarata opening the meeting with a Powhiri and sharing stories of the Kororās. |
 Averil and Kevin presenting the whole project and introducing survey and H&S protocols |
 Once the theory finished we headed to Pōhatu for some practical training.
Kevin presenting the webpage app to his team |
 Penguins can be anywhere and that is what Tina and Penny are finding out just now ^-^ |
 Many sites are only accessible by boats and so some of us will need to kayak ashore, so get in the water team and self rescue yourselves. |
 All volunteers and Team leaders getting ready top explore and look for penguin poop |
2d of November:
 Averil leading the team and explaining the boundaries of the area. |
 Averil getting lost and searching for her crew? |
 Oh, no here is everyone! |
 Averil guiding George and pointing at the areas that need to be surveyed and discussing the best approach. |
 Here is, one of our friend!  Part of the crew, enjoying lunch in a stunning environment of Akaroa harbor. |
 Kayaking back and forth from beaches to boat. |
 Always time for a selfie ^-^ |
 Once ashore and all kayaks safely pulled ashore, Akaroa Dolphins keeps and eye on the team. |
 And while we are at it, a bit of cleaning; you wouldn't believe how much rubbish the team found! |
3d of November:
 Pōhatu penguin team member explaining protocols to the students
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 Using all senses to find penguins
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 Always enough time for some more expression.
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4th of November:
 All smiley at the beginning of the day!
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 I certainly can smell it she says, but how deep does it go!
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 At last, we're finishing with this section... |
6th of November:
 Getting ready for a boat and kayak survey day |
 Let's speed up a bit shall we ^-^ |
Anyone around?
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 Although everything goes into an app Averil plays it safe and records everything on paper too. |
 The Blue Cradle film crew stopping for lunch with smelly NZ Fur Seal and penguin all around. Won't stop for long? will we? |
 Searching for penguins can bring you to many random places and you can get annoyed at the birds but the view from some spots are just stunning. |
 No we're not stranded, everything is ok?! |
 After a long day surveying it's time to come back so let's speed up again but take the time to enjoy the stunning scenery of the peninsula |
 After a long day and all wet gear dropped off, a moment to remember the awesome team. |
9th of November:
 Morning welcome and exploration at Rapaki Marae
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 Greeting and stories at Rapaki Marae by Kerepiti
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 Welcomed on board the Black Cat to go and explore Lyttleton harbour
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 Duvauchelle school students presenting, to other schools, what they've learnt during their participation to the survey at Pōhatu.
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 The behind the scenes of the fantastic documentary filmed by Blue Cradle and his team.
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 Learning session about micro-plastics during the journey.
Kids were fantastic with great ideas on how to stop using plastic: tell the government to stop producing it! ^-^ |
12th of November:
 Thanks to Black Cat Cruises, we've been able to access some very remote places. |
 Vila ashore looking for penguins. Is she going to find any? |
 No that's not quite that Vila! ^-^ |
 Little penguin hiding under a rock, that's one extra nest to the total count. |
 But it is always good to take the time to enjoy the stunning scenery and cliffs around Banks Peninsula. |
13th, 14th and 15th:
Some very long days with the Student Volunteers Army helping out surveying part of Flea Bay and Stony Bay.
Boundaries set,
Get set, Ready, Go
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Noooooo, stay with us!!!!
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Leave me alone, I want to snooze
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Lunch break while surveying penguins
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No, time to go back out. Those penguins aren't going to count themselves.
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Group photo for the show
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 Student Volunteer Army Crew, ready to go |
 Always time to cheers at the end of the day to celebrate a good working day |
Driving down to Stony bay to survey penguins
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 Neat views, is that going to be coastal cliffs surveying today? |
Simple answer is "nope"
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Let's get in line, ready and go again!
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Victory, we're out of the shrub
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Who's tempted to jump in after such a long and warm weekend? ^-^
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A gap between mid November to now. It is not because we have stopped surveying, on the contrary, we haven't stopped and are almost done.
We have had some fantastic sea-conditions at time that have allowed us to even have fun and explore some sea-caves and tunnels, here is one particularly great one at Pōhatu.
 12 sections, 91Ha of penguin habitat going from sea-level to over 200 meters altitude and 800 meters in land. those penguins have certainly make us climb up and down over the last few weeks.
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 But the views are fantastic. |
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Averil even went to Christchurch to the Xchange cafe to present the survey. This was organised by James and his team from Blue Cradle Foundation
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-579.jpg "Pohatu penguins team member at the xchange cafe") |
-461.jpg "Pohatu penguin team member at the xchange cafe") |
-866.jpg "Blue Cradle team member at the xchange cafe") |
-384.jpg "Pohatu penguins and Blue Cradle team member at the xchange cafe") |
-780.jpg "Pohatu penguin team member at the xchange cafe") |
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