We took trip to Philip Island. It has been the highlight of the trip, (for me anyway). First we stopped at a wildlife park. There, we got to pet the baby wambat, feed the kangeroos & see the koalas. From there we went to a winery. Then on to Philip Island.
It was here we got to see the Little Penguins. The Little Penguin is the smallest of the world’s 17 penguin species and is the only species to breed on the Australian mainland. It stands approximately 33cm in height and weighs approximately 1kg.
About an hour before sunrise the penguin leaves its burrow and heads out to sea. The penguin spends the day swimming around looking for food, feeding on pilchards, anchovies and sprats. The fairy penguin may swim up to 100 km in a day in order to catch the 240 grams of fish they require to maintain body weight. They may stay out to sea for some weeks at a time, depending upon the availability of food sources. Penguins have been i
dentified as far as 1000km from their home base.
In the late afternoon, the penguins return to the waters near Philip Island and gather in groups called “rafts”. At dusk, the raft moves closer to the beach and breaks up into smaller groups before coming ashore. Dark patches appear in shallow waters and the penguins’ familiar “huk huk” call is heard and they magically appear on the water’s edge. The penguins stand in the shallows, sometimes retreat in to the sea if they sense d
anger, regain confidence and again come to the beach. They usually regroup, sometimes numbering over 100 birds, and make their way up the beach to the dunes.
Penguins usually land in the same place every night and take the same path, pausing to preen their feathers and rest for a while before making their way to their burrow.
dentified as far as 1000km from their home base.In the late afternoon, the penguins return to the waters near Philip Island and gather in groups called “rafts”. At dusk, the raft moves closer to the beach and breaks up into smaller groups before coming ashore. Dark patches appear in shallow waters and the penguins’ familiar “huk huk” call is heard and they magically appear on the water’s edge. The penguins stand in the shallows, sometimes retreat in to the sea if they sense d
anger, regain confidence and again come to the beach. They usually regroup, sometimes numbering over 100 birds, and make their way up the beach to the dunes.Penguins usually land in the same place every night and take the same path, pausing to preen their feathers and rest for a while before making their way to their burrow.
We sat close to the beach and watched the penguins come to shore & then head to their burrows. They were so close, right beside our feet. We could here the chicks calling out for their mammy's & daddy's!! the parents can recognise their chicks, but the chicks can't recognise their parents!!
2 comments:
hey barb! its lachie from the office. hope you've been keeping well and i wanted to wish you a safe and happy journey! rock on!
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