Local wildlife experts are spending their Christmas break rehabilitating little blue penguins that are washing ashore weak and starving on the beaches of the Bay of Plenty.

This season's fledglings are being found hypothermic and emaciated, much to the concern of the Western Bay Wildlife Trust.

'This is likely due to La Niña conditions, which can lead to warmer sea surface temperatures and more frequent storm events,” says the trust's kororā and mortality research project manager Melissa McLuskie.

A rescued little blue penguin. Photo: Melissa McLuskie.

'Stormy seas are just making it harder and the young ones need good conditions to thrive," says Melissa.

'Little blue penguins already have a high mortality rate and these extra challenging conditions can make it hard for vulnerable birds like fledglings heading out to sea for the first time or birds that have not gained sufficient weight before undertaking their annual moult.”

Melissa McLuskie with a rescued penguin. Photo: Western Bay Wildlife Trust.

Western Bay Wildlife Trust, a charitable seabird and shorebird conservation organization, monitors seabirds and shorebirds in Mount Maunganui. They also offer a rescue service for the Western Bay of Plenty for penguins spotted on the beach during the day that may be sick, injured or starving.

Two rescued penguins. Photo: Melissa McLuskie.

Anyone rescuing a sick little blue penguin from a beach may assume the best thing is to take the penguin home and put it into a tub of water or the bath – but Melissa says this can cause a lot of stress and make them even more hypothermic.

'If you spot a penguin on the beach or during the day or trying to come ashore, please give it space and call 0800 SICK PENGUIN or 0800 DOC HOT for further advice. Do not attempt to put it back in the water or offer any food or water. Wait with the bird until further advice, and please keep dogs and people away.”

The trust has started rehabilitating little blues and Melissa is currently caring for two sibling birds, one of which has had an infected bill.

'We found them while doing our routine nest monitoring and check health-checks before they fledge. They had lesions on their flippers, legs and bill. We're getting them swim-ready and hope to release them next week.”

The cost to feed the two penguins is around $12 per day, with running costs on top of that.

'We've been fortunate to receive equipment donations from members of the public to enable us to undertake this work.”

Two rescued little blue penguins. Photo: Melissa McLuskie.

Rehabilitation of seabirds requires lots of special care and is resource and time demanding with multiple feeds, medications and swims on a daily basis. The trust is heavily reliant on donations and funding grants to operate, with all proceeds going back to the birds. One significant donation recently was an incubator that can be used to stabilise birds in critical condition.

To help support the rehabilitation of little blue penguins, people are encouraged to donate at www.westernbaywildlife.nz/donate/