THE PENGUIN KEEPER

We were very lucky that Kyla's mum came to tell us about when she worked as a PENGUIN KEEPER at Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland.


In Kelly Taltons Paula has to feed the penguins; krill, fish, squid, salmon smolt, herring and mussels. She scrubs the bottom of the disgustingly dirty pool. Paula wears a wet suit. Paula even has to clip their toe nails. That all takes 2.5 hours every day. Paula has to gather rocks and stones for the Gentoo penguin’s nests. All of the Gentoos lay 2 eggs. They come from the sub Antarctic and on the Antarctic Peninsula. The penguin enclosure is kept REALLY clean. It stops the birds getting sick.
By Timu
Year 3

Check out this YOU TUBE video of Gentoo penguins in the wild...

We're goin mad on penguins!!

Sophie completed this reading activity based on topic specific vocabulary - penguins
By Sophie

Sandy King's visit

Sandy King from the Yellow- eyed Penguin Trust came to Halfmoon Bay School on Friday October 23. She talked to the students about yellow-eyed penguins. Sandy showed us a slide show of pictures that she took when she was working around the Island.
Here are some interesting facts about yellow-eyed penguins:
• Did you know the oldest recorded yellow-eyed penguin lived for 28 years!
• They usually live for 20 - 23 years.
• They are about 60 cm in height.
• Sandy King also has to microchip the penguin chicks with a big long needle gun.
• Yellow-eyed penguins are so smelly because they play in their poop.
• Yellow-eyed penguins lay two eggs in spring each year.
• In their lifetime they lay about 38 eggs but sadly only about 4 eggs will survive to make it to adults.
We learned loads from Sandy that we didn’t know.
These photos were taken by Sandy
By Marley and Sophie

Our YEP Project introduction

We live on Stewart Island, a very special place to live. The Island has only one school, named Halfmoon Bay School. The oldest student is Jahdan. He is ten. We have got 19 fit and active students in total. Everyone cares about the environment because it is our natural beauty. Jack's dad works for DOC (Department of Conservation). He monitors the Bravo Island Yellow Eyed Penguins. We are lucky that nearly everyone at Halfmoon Bay School has seen a Yellow Eyed Penguin.