Falklands Conservation

Best Year Ever for Falklands Penguins!

After some years of bad population figures and lowered breeding success being recorded around the Islands, it is great to be able to report that this year the figures are the best ever for gentoo penguins, with a breeding success per pair of 1.16 chicks

Each year as part of the ongoing Seabird Monitoring Programme, Falklands Conservation researchers visit key breeding sites of gentoo, rockhopper and Magellanic penguins around the Falklands during November, to count the adult breeding pairs. This gives us a very clear idea of the population trends - how many adults are returning to the islands, or in the case of gentoos, fit enough to begin the breeding season with a nest and a partner. During January, researchers return to count the numbers of chicks, late on in the breeding cycle when it is likely that most chicks still present will actually fledge successfully. These counts are carried out using binoculars and tally counters, usually from a good vantage point such as a Land Rover roof. All counts are carried out 3 times for accuracy.

This year, 11,457 gentoo penguins were counted, compared to 10,191 at the same sites last year, a 12% increase. Added to the breeding success of 1.16 chicks per breeding pair, compared to only 1 chick per breeding pair last year, this represents their most successful year since records began in 1986.

Gentoo penguin feeding chick, January 2005, Weddell Island.

Rockhopper penguins also had a good year. Although this species is one that causes most conservation concerns, because they never have what could be called a brilliant success rate, this year they managed 0.80 chicks per breeding pair, and the populations monitored went from 2,982 in 2003-4, up to 3,420 breeding pairs. 

Finally, Magellanic penguins, measured by the density of breeding birds per km², went from 22.4birds km² in 2003-4 to 42.7 birds km-2 in 2004-5. This increase in numbers was also mirrored in an increase in breeding success from 0.62 chicks per breeding pair in 2003-4 to 1.33 chicks per breeding pair in 2004-5 - the species second best year since records began.

Magellanic penguin with moulting chick, January 2005, Volunteer Point, East Falkland.