09/02/2026
Godfreys Beach Little Penguins Colony Update:
🐧 Penginapause - The great moult
🐧 Late season Chicks
🐧 Pets & Penguins
Hello everyone!
Today I wanted to give you all some info about where our Little Penguins are at in Stanley.
Penguinapause:
This is the end of the Penguins breeding season. Most have headed out to sea gorging themselves with enough food to last through their land based moulting period. During this time they don't go back out to sea to feed for weeks.
The top pic shows a Penguin resting at the Godfreys Beach colony, showing just how much weight they gain in preparation for moulting. This is their most vulnerable time. Slow on their feet, land based, just wanting to rest and let it happen. These Penguins are the most important part of the colony. Breeding adults.
Only 1/3 of Penguin Chicks survive to adulthood so it is critical that these moulting adult birds are given the utmost respect and protection from predation.
With so many visitors and locals excited to see them it is important to get this info out so that everyone understands this part of their cycle and what to expect when visiting our colony. Very few Penguins are coming ashore now as most are either at sea feeding in preparation or are land based moulting, with very few returning to feed their late season chicks.
Late season Penguin Chicks:
Last Winter the breeding season started early, we already had chicks in the colony in August. With the parents only raising their young for 8-9 weeks it is a quick turn around. We then had another burst of chicks in late January. With that activity being so close to moulting season, quite a few chicks will be abandoned. This is terribly sad but it is nature. Our first priority is on the 30% proven survivors, our breeding adults.
The Chicks in our 2nd pic are at the end of their parental care stage with one showing no chick fluff and full adult feathers, and one with very little chick fluff. They will soon make their journey to the sea. This is also a critcal time for them and us to make sure they are left alone by both humans and land based predators.
Pets & Penguins:
As a dog lover, I understand the close bond we have with our 4 legged family members. A lot of visitors choose to travel with their pets. We advise all dog owners to keep their dogs away from anywhere there are Penguins.
Your dog, like mine, might be the most placid pup ever. My dog couldn't hurt a fly, he's nearly 14 and too porky to chase his own tail let alone a Penguin!
But he will never ever see Stanley. Not even left in the car while I am at the colony, he stays home.
As I explain to visitors, your dog will leave its mark or scent where ever it goes and that will attract other dogs, with or without their owners. A dog on the loose can wipe out an entire colony.
Our dog is getting more and more clingy and whiny the older he gets. When left alone while we went to the colony he would get so distressed, howling & whining. I fixed that by leaving a recently worn piece of my clothing with him and the tv on. Now he's happy & not stressed when we get home late at night from Penguin Guiding.
Please leave your dogs at home or in your RV or Caravan with these suggestions. They can not be around our vulnerable Penguins. Always take them for walks away from Penguin areas.
We need to all play our part in ensuring that our Little Penguins are safe and protected to ensure that future generations will get to experience them in their natural habitat in Stanley.
Thank you for reading my long post!
Kind regards,
🐧 Jen
FoSP President
