Artificial Nest Burrow for Little Penguins

An organization in Oamaru has constructed boxlike burrows for Little Penguins. Road signs warn people that penguins are in the area. Bleachers have been set up so that people can watch the penguins come out of the ocean each evening, waddle up a steep hill, and return to their burrows. Before going to their burrow, many stop to preen their feathers in preparation for another long day at sea the next day. I had a really good seat for observing them. When they turned a certain way under the lights, I could see the blue sheen on their feathers. I could also see their stubby little tails. When they walked toward their burrows, they leaned forward like Groucho Marx used to do in some of his movies. On the way out, I saw some of the penguins standing near the boardwalk which led to the parking area. It was worth sitting in the cold for two hours to see the penguins. Taking photos of the penguins was prohibited, but on the way in, I took a photo of this burrow. We were told that when we reached our vehicle after leaving the viewing area, we should check underneath to make sure no penguins were there.

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