Penguin Experience

Cat footprints

2010-07-26T14:40:00.000+12:00

Blue Penguin footprints

2010-07-26T14:37:00.000+12:00

2010-07-16T17:55:00.002+12:00

Thanks sooo much Nathan and Fiona for organizing this it has been AWESOME!

Mechele says

2010-07-16T15:04:00.001+12:00

Day 1:

Thursday the 16th of July 2010 we got ready to set up the tracking tunnels. The object of them is if a animal or insect was to go through them they will lave footprints. We put a little bit of peanut butter and when they go to eat it they will walk through this special ink, and when thy out they leave ink prints. After we got them all ready we went along the top of the beach and hid them in bushes and under trees. We left them their over night and went and got them in the morning. Only two out of the eight tunnels got prints. They both looked like little insects feet. It was really exciting and interesting to find out what would be there!

Mechele Manson

Photo by Neil Ingram

Hazel says

2010-07-16T14:58:00.000+12:00

On the 14th 15th 16th of July 2010 myself and 9 other students from Taranaki were spending 3 days with volunteered experts from a company named 60 springs and members from other company’s, E.G Nga motu marine reserve society, forest and bird, Oamaru penguin coliny and more. We all got the chance to learn about little blue penguins, after spending 2 days in urenui learning about the habitat of penguins and the many threats. We got the chance to make 8 nesting boxers for the penguins. We worked altogether as a team to get it finished before lunch which we achieved,

I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful advice and facts but most of all Nathan and Fiona for organizing a great experience.

Thanks

Regards, Hazel Baker

Photo by Neil Ingram

The public survey - Day 1

2010-07-16T14:50:00.001+12:00

Day 1:

The Penguin Experience kicked off with us all conducting a survey on dog behaviour and attitudes. We experienced mixed results as people assumed we were telemarketers. Our attempts to interview people weren't recieved well. People saw us with our clipboards and turned around, crossed the roads, or held up a hand to clearly signal a dislike of survey. However, we decided to head to the Pet Essentials shop in the Richmond Centre, where Gym, Cafe, and Pet Shop goers had plenty to say about the state of the dog behaviour and attitudes in Taranaki. People saw things in many different shades of lights, and readily shared their opinions with us, in interesting and engaging discussions. The points of view were very varied, and we learnt a lot more through peoples opinions than we would have if we had not conducted the survey.

We achieved our projected number of twenty surveys in an hour, and we were rightly pleased with our efforts.

By Hannah Mackenzie, and Cavaan Wild.

Photos by Adrienne Nightingale

Some more penguin tracks

2010-07-16T14:15:00.001+12:00

Photos by Neil Ingram

Tim on penguin footprints

2010-07-16T14:10:00.001+12:00

Day Two : Morning

Looking for penguin prints

We got up early and went out to Wai-iti Beach and looked for penguin footprints going to the burrow and some going out to sea we traced the footprints back to the burrow’s and recorded the burrow’s G.P.S location. We went a long the beach looking for more we found cat and dog footprints, dogs and cats are big killers of penguin’s

Overall a good morning for looking for penguin footprints

Timothy Parr

Photos by Adrienne Nightingale

Raeanne says...

2010-07-16T14:06:00.002+12:00

Day 1 – 14/7/10

The penguin experience was so cool. One of my favorite parts was using tracking tunnels. It was very simple all we did was fitted them together to make rectangular tunnels. We used some special card that had ink in the middle. For bait we could have used ham, but we used peanut butter, we put a little bit on one side of the ink then slid the card into the tunnels. The nine tunnels were spread throughout the campsite, and left for the night. The purpose of leaving them out for the night was to see if we could pick up footprints belonging to small mammals. When we checked the tunnels only two had clear footprints. They were from some mice( The reason we think only two had clear footprints is because of the position of the tunnels and the temperature.

Raeanne Boschat

Kathleen says...

2010-07-16T14:04:00.000+12:00

14th June Day 1 of the 60 Springs Penguin Experience.

We headed out after a rushed arrival at the Urenui baches. We arrived at the deserted Wai-iti beach at the sun set. The weather was awesome. In groups we spread out over the beach. I was with Samantha and Jenny Lynch. Jenny’s from Places for Penguins in Wellington her experience with penguins was valuable. We scoured the beach for little blue penguins, which was quite hard in the dark and on the rocky beach where every rock a foot tall could pass off for a penguin. After about an hour it was time to head back to Urenui but we still hadn’t spotted any much to the disappointment of many. Although we didn’t spot any penguins I enjoyed the experience of the quiet beach, the sunset and the beautiful stars. The company was great thanks to Samantha and Jenny. Mark (who is a teacher fellow from RSNZ) and Mike (from DOC) stayed back and ten minutes after we left they spotted a penguin!

By Kathleen Chow

Making Penguin boxes

2010-07-16T13:45:00.002+12:00

Penguin Box Making

2010-07-16T11:19:00.001+12:00

Day 2, Thursday 15th of July

Penguin boxes. The object that children enjoy making and penguins enjoy using and living in. We all gathered round the piles of wood and took the appropriate sizes. Working in pairs, we attacked the wood with nails and hammers to attempt to capture a homely atmosphere and box. The boxes themselves took about 30-50 minutes depending on our skill and ability. Once the wood was carefully nailed in place, we proudly sprayed a penguin on the top to inform the public whose box it was. Some of us wrote our names, messages and anything we wanted to decorate the 'soon the be homes' with. With the help of Mark Meyburg, RSNZ teacher fellow, we placed the penguin boxes in a safe and convenient location. I really enjoyed the experience knowing that I was helping penguins instead of hindering their life and growth with every day threats such as: dogs, cats, stoats, cars, litter, pollution etc. The 'feel good sensation', that helping others gives humans, was in the atmosphere as we diligently worked on the boxes. Once we had a picture taken we left the new community and went to have lunch positively glowing!

By Danii Allen, 13 years old.

The View From Holly Johnson

Making the boxes was fun but mine and Danii's wasn't working. That stupid nail would not go in! Everyone else was almost finished while we were trying to hammer in one stupid nail and every two minutes dodgeing cars! We finished eventually and after spray painted a penguin on, we placed the boxes putting Hannah and Cavaan's 'Enclave' in a special place so that their noisiness would not disturb the little children penguins sleeping in the other houses.

Ready, Steady, GO!

2010-07-14T12:55:00.001+12:00

We have begun! The day started with a few light hearted games to get to know each other.
Philippa Agnew spoke to the team for over an hour and fielded a number of interesting questions from the team.
They are about to talk with Elise Smith and Barbara Hammond about community surveying. Then they will head out to survey the public along the coastal walkway to find out about people's behaviour and attitudes to walking dogs.
We have 2 photographers following the penguin 'squad' around these 3 days - Adrienne and Neil, snapping their every move.....
Mark Meyburg and Jenny Lynch (Wellington Places for Penguins) have also joined the squad to share their knowledge and time with us as we venture up the coast.

Tuesday 29 June 2010: the first gathering

2010-07-06T12:50:00.000+12:00

The gang together for the first time at Puke Ariki!
Nathan welcomed the team and briefed them, and parents, about what they have signed up for....
Photos were taken and the Taranaki Daily News also featured an article on the workshop the following day.

Students selected for Penguin Experience!

2010-06-25T13:52:00.002+12:00

Ten students have been successful in their application to experience blue penguins in North Taranaki. They are:
Danii Allen
Hazel Baker
Raeanne Boschat
Kathleen Chow
Holly Johnson
Hannah MacKenzie
Mechele Manson
Timothy Parr
Samantha Ure
Cavaan Wild

CONGRATULATIONS!

Penguin Experience 14-16th July 2010

2010-06-08T15:01:00.000+12:00

What is the Penguin Experience?

It is a 3-day penguin workshop that aims to raise awareness of little blue penguins in Taranaki.

Penguin Experience is being run by 60 Springs (Puke Ariki) and is currently at the promotional stage. All Taranaki Year 9, 10 and 11 students have an opportunity to apply to be a part of the experience (applications close 18th June 2010.