Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony science and environmental manager Dr Philippa Agnew said this year’s early start — the first egg was laid about May 25 at the Oamaru Creek Reserve — would have been driven by food availability at sea.
"The last few months must have been very productive, with plenty of fish for the penguins to eat," Dr Agnew said.
The long-term average first lay date at the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is July 12, and eggs at the Oamaru Creek Reserve usually arrived a few weeks later.
"Sometimes when we get eggs laid early, it is an one-off clutch, with other penguins laying much later, but this year we have 23 pairs already at the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony and six at the creek," Dr Agnew said.
Incubation lasted for about 35 days, so Dr Agnew was expecting the first chicks to arrive in the first week of July.
Once hatched, adult penguins took turns guarding the chicks and keeping them warm for the first two to three weeks, then they would usually both go to sea, returning each night with food for the chicks, Dr Agnew said.
During lockdown, the colony was closed for evening viewings and tours, but a small number of staff continued to feed and care for sick or injured penguins in their care, under the essential service category.
Since it reopened to the public on May 15, more than 500 people had gone to evening viewings to see little penguins coming ashore.
"About a quarter of those were local, some international visitors and the majority from the South Island," Dr Agnew said.
"We are obviously very grateful to everyone for supporting the colony, which means that the important conservation and research work we do can continue."
