Relationships between foraging behaviour, diet and reproductive success at an urban colony of little penguins (Eudyptula minor), St Kilda, Australia

A rare urban colony of little penguins at St Kilda, Australia, has thrived despite global declines, with ~1000 individuals exploiting artificially dredged shipping channels for foraging. Research using GPS loggers and time-depth recorders revealed that these penguins travel only 34 km daily, diving mostly to depths ≤10 m, with a diet dominated by Australian anchovy and southern garfish. Stable isotope analysis showed seasonal shifts in prey consumption, while stomach contents identified dietary diversity. Reproductive success was low but linked to prey quality rather than double brooding rates. The study highlights how this colony has adapted to urban and marine environmental changes, emphasizing the need for careful management of prey stocks to sustain its survival.

Preston, T. J. (2017). Relationships between foraging behaviour, diet and reproductive success at an urban colony of little penguins (Eudyptula minor), St Kilda, Australia. Monash University. https://doi.org/10.4225/03/587C061D426EB