Manly: Treasured ‘little penguin’ population on the brink of extinction

A desperate call has gone out to help protect one of Sydney’s best loved animal populations that is now on the brink of extinction.

The population of little, or fairy, penguins around Manly has crashed to just 19 breeding pairs, down from a top of about 70 pairs. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

The population of one of Sydney’s most loved animals has plummeted to a critically low level.

A study had revealed that the number of endangered little penguins in and around Manly has crashed to just 19 breeding pairs — the lowest ever recorded.

Amid fears that they could disappear from the area altogether, authorities have made a desperate plea for boaties to help save the tiny seagoing birds.

For decades the little, also known as “fairy”, penguins were a regular sight in and around Manly Cove and Spring Cove as well as Little Manly and Collins Flat beaches. Their numbers reached as high as 70 breeding pairs in the past.

A dead little penguins, part of a colony at Little Manly Cove, found dead in 2001. Picture: Supplied

The endangered Manly population is the only known breeding colony on the NSW mainland, according to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Little penguins were once popular with international tourists who could watch several birds waddle from the water near Manly Wharf every evening at dusk, protected by volunteer penguin “wardens”, to spend the night under the wooden walkway on West Esplanade.

Manly Wharf, pictured in 2007, was known for a small colony of little penguins, popular with tourists, that lived beneath the boardwalk. Picture: Jim Trifyllis

But due to effects of being hit by boat propellers as well as increased human activity, development and attacks by foxes, domestic dogs and cats, little penguins have not been seen regularly at Manly Wharf for several years.

In 2015 one fox killed 27 penguins at Collins Flat alone.

A recent report by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) revealed that for the 2023-2024 season, there were now just 19 breeding pairs around Manly.

A pair of little ‘fairy’ penguin chicks on North Head. There are only 19 breeding pairs recorded living in the area. Picture: Supplied

The Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) is now calling on all recreational watercraft operators to stick to boating rules that are in place to protect the birds.

SCCG’s executive officer, Sarah Joyce, said urgent action was needed to help the penguin population recover.

“One of the key threats to the population is boat strike,” Ms Joyce said.

Two injured little penguins were returned to the sea at Fairlight Beach by Taronga Zoo vets in 2015. Picture: Toby Zerna

“The SCCG, in partnership with Transport for NSW, Northern Beaches Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), wants to increase awareness of the boating rules in Spring Cove to reduce this threat causing the death of more Little Penguins.”

A video has been released to point out what boaties need to do.

Boaties are urged to stick to low speed limits and avoid anchoring in environmentally sensitive areas within the cove.

Boating rules for Spring Cove are:

● Reduce speed to four knots or below when entering North Harbour, Manly

● Be extra careful at dawn and dusk

● Don’t anchor in seagrass beds

● Don’t bring dogs or cats onto beaches

“Slow down”: Collins Beach (centre) is at the head of Spring Cove, between Manly and North Head, was known for its regular sighting of little penguins.

DCCEEW’s senior threatened species officer, Erica Mahon, echoed the plea to protect the birds.

“There is always hope for the little penguin population,” Ms Mahon said. “But we need everyone to pitch in to make sure these penguins have a future here in Manly.”

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