Population estimate for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) in the subantarctic Auckland Islands, New Zealand

A new population estimate for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand, suggests that breeding numbers have remained stable over recent years, averaging 577 pairs annually between 2012 and 2017. This finding contradicts earlier estimates based on beach counts, which indicated a potential decline but were deemed less reliable due to uncertainty. The study combined intensive nest-searching with counts of transiting penguins on Enderby Island over three years to establish a relationship between count numbers and breeding birds, then extrapolated these findings to estimate the population for the entire Auckland Island group. The subantarctic populations, particularly in the Auckland Islands, are critical, representing 37–49% of the total breeding population for the species. Researchers recommend ongoing monitoring, including mark-recapture methods, with at least 50% of individuals marked to improve the accuracy and confidence intervals of future estimates.

Muller, C. G., Chilvers, B. L., French, R. K., Hiscock, J. A., & Battley, P. F. (2020). Population estimate for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) in the subantarctic Auckland Islands, New Zealand. Notornis, 67(1), 299. https://doi.org/10.63172/057021puhwtc