Tawaki

It has been a few years in the making to try to get a glimpse of the Fiordland crested penguin. They are extremely rare and the best time of year to see them is also one of the busiest times for us at Whalewatch. Pre-covid, I would be working 6 days a week but now I work 4 days a week. Having an extra two days off has allowed for many more adventures throughout this special country. Unfortunately, like most NZ’s endemic birds, Tawaki are rare, endangered and have had their range severely reduced.

The best time to attempt to see the Tawaki is during their breeding season (June-November). They are very shy and extremely vulnerable to human disturbance and introduced predators like dogs, cats, rats and stoats. When they are not breeding they can swim 100s of kilometres from their breeding sites in their search for food.
It is thought the Tawaki once ranged as far north as the south of the north island, but now they are only found in Westland, Fiordland and a few islands including Stewart Island.

I am incredibly grateful to finally see these beautiful birds and to be able to spend a few hours quietly observing and photographing them was a genuine privilege and a memory that will stay with me for a long time. I would love to hear any thoughts you may have. Cheers.