“Little Penguins” (also called “fairy” or “little blue”) are the smallest penguins in the world:
Granite Island is a perfect home for them. Millions of years ago, a lava bubble formed and cooled beneath the earth’s surface. As the weight of the top layers reduced, cracks formed in the rock. Cracks exactly the right size for a little penguin – so they’ll only nest where there are rocks.
Nests are built by the males who dig out the soft stuff and weave native grasses to line the burrow. They then growl to attract females – the louder the growl, the better his genetics. Females spend their time feeding at sea – they need to weight at least 1.2 kg to be able to produce an egg. Attracted by the growling, they come ashore and check out the burrows and males available. Fights between males often result, and eventually the female will choose her mate.
Surprising fact: male penguins decorate their nests with unusual items in an effort to stand out. Items found in burrows include: a five-dollar note, golf balls and a baby’s dummy!
Parenting duties are shared equally with the male also sitting on the egg, and both parents going fishing to feed their young. Two chicks are usually born – never twins for diversity reasons – with one being strong, plus a second “reserve” chick. Eggs hatch after a month with a young chick about the size of a ping-pong ball. They’ll stay in the burrow for another two months, getting one feed a day, before venturing out by themselves.
Fishing is good at the mouth of the Murray River, so the Little Penguins make the 50km round trip to feast on pilchards – but they’ll often swim 70 – 100km a day. They’ll eat a fish the size of itself whole, strong stomach acid breaking it down as it goes. A small pouch on their chest is used to store their baby’s food (smaller fish, as they contain more oil overall).
When they arrive back on land, they wait a while before heading to their burrow – a wet nest will go mouldy, and the missus won’t be happy. Shaking their heads very fast, sprays out the salt from their nostrils and eyes. And then they bend diagonally backwards to push on the oil gland in their tail, and spread the oil over their bodies, creating a seal which will dry overnight so they’re ready to fish again the next morning. They’ll leave at 4am so they’re at the river mouth by sunrise.
When they return to the burrow, their chicks will hit the pouch to bring up the fish. Once empty, the parents have to hide, else the chicks will continue to hit them!
Every year, they moult during which time they can’t fish. Not all of them survive the three weeks on land without food.
I was also surprised at how much noise they make! As well as growling to attract a mate, they growl to warn off other males, and the in-breath sounds like a cat yowling. And they bark to announce their arrival, with others answering them.
Little Penguins swim on the surface of the water and their colouring is a perfect camouflage. The blue/grey of their back, wings and even the soles of their feet makes them almost invisible to birds of prey hovering above. And from below, their white bellies make them blend with the sunlight above. Seals don’t deliberately eat them, but sometimes mistake them for squid. Goanna’s are also known to eat big chicks, but as one will keep them going for months, they’re not a particular threat.
But, of course, the biggest risk to their existence is us. Murray River was the main method of transporting goods, and Victor Harbour was established as a port – in fact, it was planned to be the capital of southern Australia. The breakwater was built where, for centuries, Little Penguins had come ashore.
The causeway and visitor centre is built on the dry side of the island (closest to land) where the penguins prefer to nest. It’s important they keep warm, because they’re so small. They eat cold water fish, but can’t dive as it’s too cold – the barrier reef is more north, so they’re stuck at 35 degrees. That’s why you only find Little Penguins on the southern side of Australia and NZ.
Add to this the fact that they can’t breed for their first two years, and because they hardly sleep, they only live to seven years of age. Not only can they only have two chicks per year, only 5 – 10% of the population will survive to breed. So even in good times, their population increases slowly.
Plans have been approved to replace the current narrow wooden jetty with a six-foot wide, two-lane causeway. These beautiful creatures don’t stand a chance – our guide predicted that the colony would be eradicated within three to five years of the new infrastructure.
Apparently it’s what us humans call “progress.”
