Population estimates of Yellow-eyed Penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, on Campbell Island, 1987-98

Abstract

A census of Yellow-eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes, landing sites on Campbell Island in the New Zealand subantarctic in winter 1992 recorded 1034 birds. From mark–recapture analysis of banded birds at one site, the total population was estimated at 1347 91 birds, a decrease of 41% since 1988, when there were 2277 122 birds. The main population centres, in decreasing order of abundance, were at Perseverance Harbour, Northeast Harbour, Northwest Bay and Southeast Harbour. In 1992, 140 landing sites were found, 32 fewer sites than in 1988, although a new area with 14 birds was found on the Col coast. Counts at 11 landing sites were used as an index for population change from 1987 to 1998. These showed that penguin numbers decreased between 1988 and 1992, stayed low until 1994 and then began to increase again. Population trends differed in degree and timing at the three bays of Northwest Bay and at Southeast Harbour and, by 1998, total counts at the former area were still only 50% of that found in 1988, whereas at the latter they were 41% higher.