How you can help Sydney Harbour's little penguins
The recovery of Sydney's little penguin population can only succeed with the active support of everyone who uses the harbour and foreshore areas.
The Manly community as well as various user and interest groups have already shown great willingness to help save this population from extinction. But there is still more to be done. Please follow the rules in the little penguin critical habitat area, and consider doing the following things to help us to protect this endangered population:
Gardening
Some gardening activities can be a real threat to penguins. Removing vegetation may expose burrows or disrupt penguin breeding. Common bushland weeds such as lantana actually provide very good penguin shelter.
Another problem is the dumping of vegetation and garden clippings. Dumping can bury existing burrows or prevent penguins from getting to their nests, as well as encouraging weeds to grow.
If you're planning to tidy or remove any vegetation near the foreshore, you are likely to need a licence. Please contact Manly Council or the OEH Little Penguin Recovery Plan Coordinator for advice.
Noise, light and other disturbance
Noise and light on the foreshore or on the water can delay penguins from returning to their burrows. The presence of people or light near burrows at night can make penguins abandon their nests altogether.
Please reduce the amount of noise and light around penguin areas, especially from dusk to dawn during the breeding season (1 July to 28 February). Do not use flash photography or shine torches at penguins or around their burrows, and try to avoid being around foreshore habitat at dusk and dawn during the breeding season.
Pollution
Rubbish tangles, suffocates and injures little penguins. Fishing lines and hooks on the foreshore or in the water can strangle them or injure their feet and flippers. Oil and chemicals in the water make penguins sick.
Don't dump rubbish overboard from your boat, and if you bring anything to the foreshore, make sure you take it back when you leave. However, when removing large pieces of existing rubbish such as old doors, ask Manly Council or the OEH's Little Penguin Recovery Plan Coordinator first as it may be providing shelter for penguins.
More information
Page last updated: 15 April 2011
