Community effort has protected Low Head's penguin population

Between 2017 and 2019, dog attacks on little penguin colonies were responsible for the deaths of more than 100 penguins in the area.

Friends of Low Head Penguin Colony held an event in George Town on Saturday where BirdLife Tasmania convenor Eric Woehler OAM discussed recent little penguin survey results.

FOLHPC president Steven Gordon was pleased with penguin safety outcomes over the past three years including rookery improvements, and was hopeful that community education would help dog attacks remain a thing of the past.

Surveys from over a two-year period starting in 2019, carried out by Dr Woehler and a team of citizens scientists, found the Low Head colony numbered about 250 breeding pairs.

It was one of the only locations in Tasmania to be surveyed for little penguin numbers, but Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson was hopeful it could be repeated elsewhere.

IN OTHER NEWS: Advocacy group and Greens demand action from government over seal saga

There is little data on the total population of little penguins in Tasmania and Senator Whish-Wilson wants other municipalities to look towards Low Head.

"If we could copy this project all around the state then we would get a good idea of what the statewide population is," he said.

"It's a great role model for other communities."

Senator Whish-Wilson said the small population number of the Low Head colony suggests the deaths of 100 penguins was likely significant and will take the rookery 15 years to recover.

Despite the reduction in dog attacks at Low Head in recent years, the little penguin population continues to face challenges.

Dr Woehler said the breeding seasons of little penguins have changed significantly in recent years due to warming sea surface temperatures.

"Thirty to 40 years ago the normal breeding season would have been late spring in to summer. Now we're getting winter breeding, autumn breeding, spring breeding," he said.

Dr Woehler is concerned that little penguins being ashore more often to nest, potentially putting them at risk of attack.

He said the overall impact of the dog attacks remained unclear without historic data for comparison.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: