A special gift marking the fifth anniversary of the passing of a Tauranga resident is helping a local wildlife trust rehabilitate birds found in critical condition and requiring special care.

Local wildlife experts from Western Bay Wildlife Trust - WBWT - who spent their summer rehabilitating little blue penguins that suffered dog attack wounds or washed ashore weak and starving on the beaches of the Bay of Plenty are delighted to now have a special wildlife incubator.

'The trust has started to rehabilitate little blues and have been fortunate to receive equipment donations from members of public to enable them to undertake this work,” says WBWT Kororā & Mortality Research Project Manager Melissa McLuskie.

'Rehabilitation of seabirds requires lots of special care and is resource and time-demanding with multiple feeds of fish, medications and swims on a daily basis."

A weak and exhausted little blue penguin resting in its 'towel donut' inside the incubator. Photo: Melissa McLuskie.

"WBWT is thankful to have collaboration and support from ARRC and has happily released seven penguins since January 2022.

'The trust is heavily reliant on donations and funding grants to operate with all proceeds going back to the birds.

'One significant donation was an incubator that can be used to help stabilise birds in critical condition.”

The incubator was sponsored by the five daughters of Denise Cassin who passed away in October 2017.

Melissa McLuskie with a little blue penguin chick after a swim session. Photo: Supplied.

The daughters of Denise Cassin have provided the following eulogy.

Denise Cassin

Denise Cassin was born in Tauranga on January 20 1941, the eldest daughter of Frank and Thelma (nee Laurent).

Her father built many of the houses in the Bay of Plenty, and as a child she lived in Fraser Street, in a house built by Frank and designed by Thelma. Her parents spent their later lives in Goods Road.

In 1965 her vivacious nature led her, at the age of just 24, to set out on a journey to Europe to meet up with her sister Laurene who was traveling with a group of friends.

She flew to Sydney and then made the journey on the MV Fairsea to Southampton. Her travel diaries tell of much adventure, both at sea and on land. She met her future husband while in Athens, visiting the Acropolis.

A whirlwind romance led to the pair marrying in Guildford, England in 1966. And over the course of the next 20 years or so they had five daughters.

Denise Cassin. Photo: Supplied.

In 1973, the family journeyed to Denise's native New Zealand to live in Tauranga in a red brick house in Darraghs Road, Otumoetai. At this time there were three daughters.

Two attended St Mary's Convent in 13th Avenue - the school Denise had herself attended as a child and where some of the same nuns were still teaching including her favourite music teacher Sister Theresa.

This sojourn to New Zealand lasted six years and in 1979, the family returned to England, settling near the coast in Devon.

Denise made frequent trips back home to her native country, ensuring the two younger daughters also had the 'NZ experience”.

Her address book was full of names of the Kiwis she knew and had grown up with, she was very proud of her roots and determined to stay in touch. She made her last trip home in the early 2000s.

WBWT volunteer Vicki Woodcraft releasing little blue penguins at Shark Alley February 2023. Photo: Melissa McLuskie.

Denise was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2003.

Her husband cared for her at their home in Bovey Tracey for many years until this became unmanageable and she went into a care home in 2013.

Her determination and strength saw her recover physically from a hip replacement in 2015. She was still laughing when we visited and walking again with her husband's help.

After being forced to move to another care home in early October, Denise stopped eating and passed away peacefully on October 15 2017 at Buckfastleigh, in Devon. In a final show of determination, despite not having eaten for days, she held on for some 35 hours while her eldest daughter travelled from Wellington to say goodbye.

Denise's five daughters, the other four of whom live in the UK, decided to sponsor an incubator for Western Bay Wildlife Trust to aid little blue penguin rehabilitation in the Bay of Plenty to mark the fifth anniversary of Denise's passing.

Little blue penguins

Little blue penguins in the Bay of Plenty have been washing ashore weak, starving and hypothermic for the last three summers.

'This is likely due to La Nina conditions, which can lead to more frequent storm events, warmer sea surface temperatures and lack of food,” 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.”

Little blue penguins preparing for release. Photo: Melissa McLuskie.

Western Bay Wildlife Trust is a charitable conservation organisation dedicated to the protection of seabirds and shorebirds in the Western Bay of Plenty. The trust monitors little blue penguins, grey-faced petrel and NZ dotterel populations in Mount Maunganui.

They also offer a rescue service for the Western Bay of Plenty area for any penguins in distress, particularly during the day as they are most likely sick, starving or injured.

'If you spot a penguin on the beach during the day 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,” says Melissa.

'Whilst giving the bird some space, wait nearby until further advice is given and please keep dogs and people away.”

To help support little blue penguin rescue and conservation efforts, people are encouraged to donate at www.westernbaywildlife.nz/donate/