Manly’s Little Penguins at wharf and North Head are ready for love as breeding season underway
VIDEO: Special penguin cams have captured the birds getting breeding season underway — with human love wardens on duty to protect the creatures during their important love in.
Manly
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IT’S time for Manly’s penguins to get romantic.
But the protected birds can forget about getting a bit of peace and quiet because many eyes will be on them.
Not only does the National Parks and Wildlife Service have cameras on some of the penguins’ lovefests, but special wardens at Manly Cove will take turns at watching over them.
While only a handful of penguins live there, a crew of wardens takes turns making sure the penguins can get on with things in peace.
Warden co-ordinators Sally and Tony Garman are among 50 volunteers. Their tasks include closing gates to the wharf to keep people away, clearing up rubbish and telling residents and tourists about the treasured colony — the only one in mainland NSW.
They patrol more isolated areas towards North Head between June and February.
Mr Garman, from North Curl Curl, said they get attached to the creatures.
“The other week we saw the first sighting and it’s just so exciting,” Mr Garman said. “If we didn’t close the gates, we’d lose them. In the national park it’s safer for them — except for foxes and things like that.”
Lucky is a male who has been returning for about six years to Manly where he was born. He got his name after a photographer saw he had fishing line tangled around his leg, which experts removed.
He’s been with Bella for around four years, and they live in a burrow under the wharf.
Mr Garman said: “Usually the male comes back to where they’re born.
“He came back when he was three and started building a nest.
“He stood by the wharf and was calling for a mate and after a couple of weeks this lovely female turned up.
“They usually stay together for life but they have a fairly high divorce rate.”
Penguins lay two lots of two eggs a season.
Last year two of the pair’s chicks were seen, including one which first emerged on Christmas Day.
The wardens are looking for more volunteers and have a training course on July 29.
Volunteers must sign up to help once every week or fortnight for one to three hours.
Meanwhile, cameras are at Store Beach, Quarantine Beach and on the Australian Institute of Police Management land.
National Parks and Wildlife Service operations co-ordinator Peter Bergman said the cameras have showed some mating activity.
All the beaches close at sunset to protect the creatures.
LITTLE PENGUINS
Manly is the only colony in mainland NSW
There are two areas of critical habitat, around Manly Point near Addison Rd and from Store Beach to the Quarantine Station
Help by staying away from habitat and disposing of waste responsibly
Contact National Parks and Wildlife Service on 9960 6266 or email admin@manlypenguinwardens.com.au for info on becoming a warden or call 9457 9577 to report other issues.
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