Phillip Island’s penguins break another massive record

The little penguins on Phillip Island might be small in size but have just broken another huge record. Find out what it is.

The little penguins on Phillip Island have set their second record in under six months.

A record amount of little penguins waddled onto the Summerlands beach on Saturday night, with the final count sitting at 5440 birds.

The previous record was set back in May this year at 5219 birds. Until Saturday this was the highest number of penguins recorded at the parade since 1968 when penguin counts first began.

Research Technical Officer at Phillip Island Nature Parks, Paula Wasiak, said the team couldn’t quite believe the penguins had broken another record.

“We needed a day to check we were absolutely correct – but there’s no doubt our Little Penguins have broken another record,” she said

“We knew there were a lot of penguins, but no one expected this record-breaking show!”

More than 2000 spectators watched from the stands on as the record breaking amount of penguins came up the beach. All other viewing experiences were sold out, giving the penguins quite the audience.

Ms Wasiak said numbers of penguins have been high this year for a combination of reasons.

“Since the last record was set, the number of penguins coming ashore has been consistently high,” she said.

“The numbers are a combination of penguins feeding very young chicks and an abundant food supply close to Phillip Island. At the Parade, we are at the peak of the guard stage of penguin breeding, when parents alternate coming into shore daily. The penguin chicks are a good weight, indicating that the food supply is healthy.”

The 40,000 strong colony at Phillip Island is the largest in the world, thanks to excellent breeding conditions and the conservation efforts of Phillip Island Nature Parks.