Help the little penguins at Manly
Did you know that Sydneysiders are lucky enough to have little penguins living right in their own backyard?
That's right! These beautiful seabirds live in a colony in a secluded cove on the Manly side of Sydney Harbour.
Little penguins come ashore to breed, raise chicks and moult. They nest in burrows or among rocks on the harbour foreshores at Manly - sometimes even in people's backyards or under houses.
You can see them from a boat or the Manly ferry as they swim and fish around the harbour. You may even see them at the beach! And, if you're quiet, you may hear them calling with a short sharp bark – or even making growling and donkey noises!
They're great little neighbours who add to the natural beauty of the harbour and beaches, making it a better place for us all - children and adults, visitors and locals alike.
But we can't take these backyard buddies for granted.
Why little penguins need a little help
Little penguins used to be common. But, today, the colony at Manly is the last one on mainland New South Wales. Others colonies do exist, but on islands off the coast. So our colony is even more special. And worth protecting.
The NPWS, Manly Council and other concerned organisations have already put a plan in place to help the little penguins prosper. A big part of that plan is to involve the local community in being penguin aware.
Be a backyard buddy - be penguin aware
Little penguins love:
- Some personal space - especially around their burrows during breeding season.
- Quiet after dark - so they can get safely from their burrows into the water to find food and back again.
- Clean healthy water, with lots of seagrass brimming with anchovies, pilchards, squid and krill.
But they hate:
- Dogs on the foreshore – which can kill or frighten adult penguins, leaving chicks without care.
- Cats and foxes – which hunt little penguins in their burrows.
- Discarded fishing line and hooks – which strangle little penguins or injure their flippers and feet.
- Rubbish that entangles, injures and even suffocates little penguins.
- Boats moored or rafted together, which create a barrier between their nests and the water.
If you live around Manly, be a little penguin buddy on land
- Keep your dog away from where they live and all protected areas.
- Keep your cat inside at night and during the day if possible.
- Feed your pets inside, as food left out can support foxes and feral cats.
- Reduce the amount of noise or light you make near the foreshore.
- Check under your car for penguins before you get in, and drive slowly near foreshores.
- Report uncontrolled dogs or cats to Manly Council.
- Report sick, injured or dead penguins to Taronga Zoo, NPWS offices or a wildlife rehabilitation group.
- Never discard fishing tackle or line.
- Never put oil or chemicals down the drain.
If you use Sydney's North Harbour, be a little penguin buddy on the water
- Keep your dog on your boat or leave it at home.
- Reduce noise and light on the water.
- Reduce speed to 4 knots or less near penguins.
- Watch penguins from a safe distance, so you don't disturb them.
- Report irresponsible behaviour on the water to the NPWS or the Waterways Authority.
- Maintain your boat to help stop fuel and oil leaking into the water.
- Never moor close to the shore.
- Never discard fishing tackle or line.
More information and useful links
- See a few more little penguin facts
- Read the NPWS little penguin factsheet
- Visit the Manly Council 'penguin aware' website
- Donate to the penguin appeal on the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife website