New project works like Citylink -- but for penguins

21 October 2004

A project described by Monash University scientist Dr Richard Reina as 'Citylink for penguins' will provide vital information on the fishing and breeding habits of Phillip Island's Little Penguin colony.

Dr Reina said the aim was to discover whether penguins left the colony with their close neighbours and whether early risers were the best providers of food and care for their chicks.

Researchers are using an innovative weighbridge, designed by the Australian Antarctic Division especially for the penguins.

Like the Melbourne road network system Citylink it will measure traffic flow and record details from a tiny microchip implanted under the skin of the penguins.

"When they walk over the weighbridge details of weight, time and identity will be recorded much like the process of monitoring vehicles on Citylink," Dr Reina said.

"This will make it possible to measure how much fish each animal is catching during the day by comparing weight from readings collected in the morning and night.

"The beauty of the Citylink penguin system is that it's fully automated and you don't have to be there all the time to collect the data.

"We want to discover if the penguins who leave the nest early are the most productive fishers and if this relates to their success as parents," he said.

"The data will help add to the little known early morning habits of the Little Penguins. "This is the first step -- to find out what timetables the penguins work on -- then we can look at a whole range of other behaviours like socialisation at sea," Dr Reina said.

The new penguin project is a collaboration between Monash University and Phillip Island Nature Park. Monash University Honours student Mr Tom Daniel is working on the project three days a week at Phillip Island.

For further information or to arrange interviews with Dr Reina or Mr Daniel contact Ms Ingrid Sanders in Media Communications on +61 3 9905 9201.