Penguin and Sooty Shearwater viewing at Cape Foulwind

Media release – 13 July 2011

Penguin and Sooty Shearwater viewing at Cape Foulwind

The public is to get the chance to view Blue Penguins and Sooty Shearwaters in their natural environment at Cape Foulwind on the West Coast.

The West Coast Blue Penguin Trust is behind a project to increase the numbers of penguins and shearwaters (also known as titi or muttonbirds) nesting near the existing Cape Foulwind walkway. It is hoped the public will be able to view the birds returning to their nests at dusk within four or five years.

The project is being sponsored by Solid Energy and is supported by DOC and the Buller Council.

“The beauty of this site is the public can’t access the actual nest sites but they can view both birds,” says West Coast Blue Penguin Trust chair Kerry-Jayne Wilson.

“It’s great seeing penguins waddling up from the sea to their nests and being able to watch shearwaters circle overhead at dusk and hear the thud as they crash down to land is amazing,” she says.

Sooty shearwaters are almost extinct on the mainland of New Zealand and there is no public penguin viewing on the West Coast of the South Island. It is hoped the area will become a tourist attraction in time.

“DOC is keen to work with the Blue Penguin Trust to develop the
opportunity for people to view penguins and sooty shearwaters at Cape
Foulwind. This will compliment the existing seal viewing at the site," says DOC's Buller Area Manager Bob Dickson.

Buller Mayor Pat McManus says it is wonderful the West Coast Blue Penguin Trust is embarking on a project that not only helps protect the blue penguin but may also bring economic benefit to the community.

“Anything that helps us slow tourists down and encourages them to spend more time in the Buller area is a plus,” he says.

“I would also like to thank Solid Energy for its support, their contribution has a positive impact on the Buller community.”

The Trust is delighted Solid Energy will sponsor the project for at least its first two years.

Mark Pizey, Solid Energy’s General Manager Environment and Health and Safety, says the company’s goal is to have a net positive effect.

“Community-driven enhancement projects like this one support that goal and this one also links into work we are doing around our mine sites and in other places to protect native species and habitat from predators, giving them a better opportunity to thrive. We wish the Trust well with this project.”

The Trust is awaiting a final permit from DOC but hopes to begin installing nesting boxes below the walkway and creating tracks from penguin landing sites to the nest boxes in August. Predator control will also be undertaken. A sound system playing penguin and shearwater calls will be installed and should encourage young prospecting birds to take up residence.

“Working with wild animals, success is never guaranteed however as both of the target species already breed at Cape Foulwind and the methods used have worked elsewhere the chance of success is high,” says Kerry Jayne Wilson.

It is hoped the populations will be increased to a level where the public will be able to view the birds in four to five years.

ENDS