WA Seabird Rescue Albany co-ordinator Carol Biddulph reflects on busy season for penguin rehabilitation

An Albany seabird rehabilitator has reflected on her busiest period yet after returning seven penguins to the ocean since the start of summer. WA Seabird Rescue Albany coordinator Carol Biddulph has cared for five northern rockhopper penguins and two little penguins since December. She has a dedicated penguin pool and enclosures on her property in Torbay where she cares for all kinds of seabirds. On March 13, she released a northern rockhopper penguin, named Pengy, at Perkins Beach. Believed to have come from islands in the southern parts of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, the bird was found in Augusta in January and was looked after by another carer before being transferred to Ms Biddulph. “It did come in very underweight. It was only 1.6 kg when it came in to the carer at Augusta, so it was very, very light,” she said. “It didn’t have any injuries but it was very thin and would not have survived.” One of the little penguins was found by tourists visiting Misery Beach, where it was starting to undergo its yearly moult. “This little bird had a foot missing from an old injury, he had a bit of a disability but he was a fat little thing,” Ms Biddulph said. “The injury had happened a little while ago so it had all healed, but yes he only had one foot.” The little penguin was named Fang by Ms Biddulph because it was “bitey”. It was released back at Misery Beach on March 22. Ms Biddulph commended the members of the public who reported the penguin to WA Seabird Rescue. She encouraged anyone who spotted a penguin on the beach to call the wildlife group. After a busy few months caring for in-need penguins, Ms Biddulph is hoping she will not see any more until next summer when the moulting starts again. “For moulting penguins, yes it is the end of the season, but penguins could come in at any time of the year,” she said. “Nature’s a funny thing, it can throw you these odd curve balls so you’ve just got to be prepared.”