The Project
Eden once home to a thriving little penguin colony that held a special place in the locals hearts. The penguins faced challenges with predators, as well as habitat erosion. These factors caused a significant decline in the penguin population, ultimately leading to the colony's extinction by the early 1990s.
The Eden community was devastated by the loss and rallied together to raise funds in the hope of resurrecting the penguin colony. These funds remained in the Eden Fairy Penguin Fund until 2016 when Wendy Noble, Ranger from National Parks & Wildlife Service, Nicholas Carlile, Senior Research Scientist and Chris Lloyd from Southern Ocean Seabird Study Association resurrected the project.
With mainland dogs and foxes posing a continuous threat, the three lead the installation of fences along the cliff top near Eagles Claw Nature Reserve to protect against predators. The group designed concrete artificial habitats called ‘Eden Burrows’ which were installed and solar-powered audio system broadcasts mating sounds from penguins on the nearby Montague Island/Baranguba during the mating season.
Successfully the project enticed two mating birds to choose Wheel Cove for nesting in 2023, birds that have become pioneers in re-establishing a colony that had been locally extinct for 30 years.
Wildlife cameras on the reserve captured thousands of photos of little penguins throughout their breeding season and in 2023 two eggs were discovered by the group.
An egg was hatched into a healthy little penguin chick in October 2023. It’s the first to fledge on mainland New South Wales outside of Sydney in three decades, making Eden only the second mainland breeding colony of little penguins.
Through this ongoing project, we aim to establish a new colony of little penguins at Wheel Cove over the next four years. In addition to the sound attraction and penguin burrows, fledglings from vulnerable areas may eventually be translocated to this safe area to help establish the colony.
Revive the project from 1980’s
Identify a site appropriate for little penguins within Twofold Bay that would provide natural protection from the elements, Wheel Cove was chosen.
The site was prepared by installing a solar powered sound attraction system to broadcast breeding colony calls (love songs) of little penguin at night during the breeding season (June to December inclusive).
Nesting materials collected from active burrows in other colonies, were placed within the new artificial ‘Eden’ burrows to provide odour cues.
Fencing installed around the site to protect the seabirds from potential predators and protect the site’s vegetation from the public.
Attract penguins to shore
Successfully the project enticed two mating birds to choose Wheel Cove for nesting in 2023, birds that may have become pioneers in re-establishing a colony that had been locally extinct for 30 years.
Remote-controlled cameras on the reserve captured over 1,000 photos of the penguins throughout the winter and scientists observed the female laying two eggs.
The idea is to establish as many pairs to the site, and eventually those pairs will produce enough young that those young will come back and keep the colony going.
Establish community support
The re-establishment of penguins on the peninsula around Eagles Claw would not be possible without significant community support.
Community support via a ‘Friends’ group to assist in native vegetation regeneration within Wheel Cove, monitoring of penguins, visitor education opportunities and fundraising.
Background
The Little Penguin Eudyptula minor has previously bred in a number of sea gutters below a headland near the Eden wharf on the New South Wales Far South Coast. The local Eden community brought the small population’s activity at the site to the attention of authorities in the 1980’s. The site was visited by Peter Dann Senior Scientist, Phillip Island Nature Park Victoria in the mid-1980s, where he found sign of fox activities and potential dog incursion to the area. At that time there when 27 penguin pairs in residence.
The site was given protection by NPWS through the creation of Eagles Claw Nature Reserve in 1992. The Far South Coast Environment Group raised funds to establish a safe haven for the colony. Unfortunately, a severe storm in 1975 washed the colony out of its north-east facing site. This loss combined with predation by foxes and domestic dogs caused local extinction of the colony before any conservation works such as a fence were commenced by NPWS and the funds remained in trust.
On recent field visits by Office of Environment Conservation Science staff and others to the site, original nesting sites were discovered showing signs of occupation, though several seasons old. This suggested that little penguins may still visit the Nature Reserve area. Further investigations revealed that nearby Wheel Cove, just outside the Nature Reserve boundary on Council land, had potential as a site to which penguins could be attracted as it would be better suited due to the changing climate conditions.
A long penguin past, the project history.
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Pauline Reilly from RAOU (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) requesting information from David Barton about the colony.
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Far South Coast Environment Group (FSCEG) agreed to take on the project as it was then the only known mainland breeding colony in NSW.
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‘Eden Fairy Penguin Fund’ set up and received donations due to a country wide program by David Barton.
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In 1984 Eagles Claw became a ‘Native Birds Crown Reserve’ managed by a Trust.
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NPWS Plan of Management Eagles Claw, draft 1986 to final 1993.
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In 1997 a Proposal for the Translocation and fencing of Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) Colony NPWS with advice from Dr Nick Klomp, and an attempt by ranger to resurrect project.
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Wendy Noble NPWS completed an environmental assessment for predator proof fence in new location, various government agencies approvals achieved, Native Title approval, Consultation with Eden Local Aboriginal Lands Council and Bega Valley Shire Council, Local bird group, Rotary, Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre and local community on the headland.