Juvenile penguin deaths baffling
By HELEN KEMPTON , Friday, 4 March 2005

Hundreds of young penguins have been found dead along Tasmania's east
and northern coastlines.

A lack of food, a lack of hunting skills, or a combination of both, is
thought to be behind the death by starvation of the juvenile little
penguins.

The penguins are being washed up on beaches around the State from South
Arm at the mouth of the Derwent River, to Scamander, East Devonport,
Ulverstone and along the north coast.

The mortality trend is also being recorded on Phillip Island, off
Victoria.

On the North-West alone, 136 penguin deaths have been logged since
report forms were issued in December.

However, the numbers dead on the beach have escalated in the last few
weeks.

Pathology testing by the Department of Primary Industry, Water and
Environment show the "fledglings" had died of starvation.

Most had just left their burrows to forage for food on their own and it
is thought this stage of the penguin's development had coincided with a
time when food was scarce.

There are also signs that young birds may have already been underweight
before they headed off on their own.

Experts are unsure exactly how many birds have been washed up and if
the deaths are a one-off or part of a seasonal trend.

It is thought possible that juvenile penguins die of starvation every
year, but ocean current changes have bought them back to shore this
season.

Currents are also of interest in terms of the food supply.

DPIWE's Penguin Hotline received six reports of penguin deaths
yesterday morning and Cralde Coast Coastcare was notified that another
group of juveniles had been washed on to the beach at Ulverstone.

Penguin project officer Drew Lee said a database of penguin mortality
in Tasmania was being established and staff were also talking to
experts on Phillip Island, off Victoria.

"When we have more data we can come up with more answers and spot
trends as they develop," Mr Lee said.

Mr Lee said little penguins, formerly known as fairy penguins, were
either about to moult or had moulted at this time of year.

The adult penguins abandon their chicks and go to sea in search of food
to double their body weight in preparation for the three- week moult in
the burrow.

"Basically there are a lot of young birds out there having to learn to
fish for themselves," Mr Lee said.

People discovering dead penguins are encouraged to call the Penguin
Hotline on 0427 736 484.



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