Dwarf penguins swept the coast of Australia. The phenomenon of mass landings was first observed in 1960, and thousands of penguins have regularly flooded the beach since then.
More than 5,000 blue penguins crossed the coast on Phillip Island in Australia last week – Books in Live Science.
The migration was first spotted in the area in 1960, and since then thousands of tiny penguins crossed the beach in one night.
The blue penguin or dwarf penguin – Eudyptula Minor – is the smallest species of penguin, measuring only 30-40 cm in length, and weighing barely a pound and a half. Phillip Island is home to Australia’s largest dwarf penguin colony, which, according to the Penguin Foundation, consists of about 40,000 birds.
Part of the Phillip Island penguins swim ashore every day after searching for fish, squid, krill and small crustaceans in the ocean and then head to the outback to their nesting site.
The locals also mention this phenomenon as the procession of penguins, which attracts many tourists to the area. Researcher Paula Wasiak said colony movement has always been observed in the same area for more than 50 years.
On May 3, a total of 5,219 penguins attacked the beach, a record number.
“We couldn’t believe our eyes. Over five thousand penguins ran out of water in less than an hour.” researcher said. The previous record for blue penguins was set in April, when 4,592 birds ran ashore.
Penguins feed mainly on small fish such as anchovies, which can only survive in a narrow temperature range. The oceanic conditions around Phillip Island are often ideal for an abundant food supply near the coast. After the food approaches the shore, the penguins tend to make quick trips back and forth and reach the beach in time for the night parade.
The increase in the number of penguins can also be explained by the fact that older penguins in the colony are trying to breed outside the mating season. According to Wasiak, off-season breeding is usually preceded by an increase in the number of penguins that begin to forage.
Cover photo: youtube.com
