Issue 922 - 3 November 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 8,000 Blind Little Blue Penguin found at Matarangi Beach By Gillian O’Neill Mercury Bay optometrist, Brett Howes, had a pretty unique appointment on Thursday last week when he was called in to examine a Little Blue Penguin found on Matarangi Beach disoriented and seemingly blind. The tiny bird was found on the Tuesday after Labour Weekend by a couple walking along the beach and was taken to Kuaotunu Bird Rescue for examination. “The two people saw the penguin coming out of the water during the day and it is very unusual to see them on land at that time which suggested there was something wrong,” said Annemieke Kregting, who’s running the centre. “They described how he was disoriented and walking around in circles.” Examining the fledgling, Annemieke and volunteer, Dr Sue Grieg, were both concerned about what they discovered. “He was in great condition,” Annemieke said. “He was a good weight, there were no signs of any injury, it was exactly what you would want to see in a bird of this size.” However, the hugely dilated pupils and the penguin’s inability to react to any light or movement in front of his eyes was troubling. “His pupils were absolutely huge when he came in, they have decreased quite a lot since then, but he is still not responding to any visual stimulation,” Annemieke shared with Brett before the patient was brought out for his eye exam. The penguin, estimated to be around four to six months old, was a little sleepy when Kuaotunu Bird Rescue volunteer, Dr Sue Grieg, holds onto a seemingly blind Little Blue Penguin he first came out of his temporary home in while optometrist, Brett Howes, conducts an eye exam. the centre’s dedicated room for native birds, but quickly sprang into action when given “It looks perfectly fine. There is no sign of any penguin and otherwise in good health, there is a Auckland will be taking the penguin,” she said. the opportunity to gulp down some fish. eye injury and that being the case, my best guess strong possibility that he will recover,” he said. “They have wildlife vets on site.” “He is eating well, we have him on a short at this stage is he has suffered a thump or a bang “I think there is a good chance we will see the The penguin will be monitored for a few course of anti-inflammatories just in case there to the head, or potentially has had a little stroke, pupils continue to reduce in size and then the weeks to see if his sight improves and this will is anything going on that we cannot see, but although given his age I would say that is eyesight will improve.” determine what happens next in terms of his there is just nothing obvious that would explain less likely.” On that positive note, the Little Blue Penguin, future. “It would be cruel to just release him what is going on here,” Annemieke added. Brett said it is was very common in birds fresh from his consultation and with a full if he cannot see,” Annemieke said. “He would In the end it was a brief and reasonably for systemic issues, a wider health problem, tummy, was returned to his nesting box for have no idea where he was going and no ability stress-free time under the optometrist’s scope, to impact the eyes. He also described how some well-earned peace and quiet. to defend himself, so we will just have to wait with Brett concluding the penguin’s eyes the extensive dilation is normal for penguins, Although hopeful that the patient will recover and see.” were unlikely to be the cause of the problem. essentially exposing parts of the eye that enable sufficient sight to return to the wild, Annemieke Annemieke also thanked Brett for coming “So what I’m looking at is the retina and right them to see when in the water. The pupil then decided, given the likelihood that an injury to assist. “We are really lucky to have such through to the back of the eye to see if there is restricts again to enable them to see on land. had been suffered, that some specialist vet care fantastic support from our local community,” anything amiss and there is nothing,” he said. “I think if it is an injury, as this is a young was appropriate. “Green Bay Bird Rescue in she said. Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz MBAS “Lifers” assembly a truly unique occasion On Wednesday last week, Mercury Bay Area School farewelled 19 “Lifers,” students who Teacy, Floyd Ross. Isabel Lunn, Alice Robinson, Corbin Duerre, Rory Trebes, Woody Teacy and spent all 13 years of their school career at MBAS. “Thirteen years ago, when these students Vincent Dowling. New entrants, from the left - Jasper Beck, Seazyn Tansey, Levi Szparagowski, started out with us, our roll was only 700 students, now we’re over 1,000,” school principal, Fisher Moody, Marlo Cosgrove, Kaleesha Davies, Willow Pepper, Mackenzie Williams, Brandon John Wright said at the whole school assembly. “We’re New Zealand’s largest area school and Carse, Addison Davidson, Hannah Ribet, Sylvia Faiva, Rosie Wylie, Marli Jarvis, Mila Taylor-Dean the number of Lifers we’re acknowledging today makes this a truly unique occasion.” All the and Lizzy Van Tonder. Lifers who attended the assembly were handed a certificate by one of the new entrant students In the photo on the right are the new senior student leaders for 2021. From the left - Ava Lamason who started their school careers this year. (deputy head girl and learning leader), Alban Ribet (learning leader), JJ (John) Twemlow During the assembly, the Year 13 student leadership team also handed over their responsibilities (hauora leader), Austin Morcom (head boy), Georgia Land (communications leader), Jasmine to the senior student leadership team for 2021. McCleery (deputy head girl and sports leader), Tiana Tiro (sports leader), Louisa Murie In the photo on the left are the Lifers who attended Wednesday’s assembly with the new (head girl), Keegan Wright (communications leader), Finlay Archibald (Board of Trustees entrants who handed their certificates to them. Lifers, from the left - Shayla Taylder, representative) and Ibuki Nishida (deputy head boy and hauora leader). Absent from the Dana Ohlson, Olivia Brown Douglas, Kenjia Campbell, Julia Williscroft, Zoe Smith, Levi Driver, Jake photo - Paige MacPherson (arts leader) and Izzabella Park (arts leader). What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information provided and sponsored by Week of Wednesday, 4 November to Wednesday, 11 November - This is a good week to try and spot the International Space Station (ISS) as it will be making some bright passes early in the evenings. The ISS, like other satellites, is only visible for a few hours after sunset (or for a few hours before sunrise) as outside these times it will be in the shadow of the Earth. Sometimes we get a chance to see two passes on the same night as it only takes about 90 minutes for the ISS to go around the Earth travelling at 8km per second. Jupiter and Saturn remain very noticeable high overhead in the early evenings, with reddish Mars conspicuous lower down in the east while bright Venus is unmistakable low in the eastern dawn sky. Wednesday, 4 November - Two ISS passes tonight with the first brighter one from 8:23pm in the SW, followed by a very low pass from 10:01pm in the west heading northwards. Thursday, 5 November - A low ISS pass tonight from 9:12pm in the SW and heading northwards. Astronomy Tours and B&B Friday, 6 November - The brightest ISS pass of the week tonight from 8:25pm in the SW and passing right beside Jupiter and Saturn high overhead. Phone (07) 866 5343 Sunday, 8 November - The last ISS pass for a few weeks tonight from 8:27pm low in the west. Wednesday, 11 November - Mercury will be at its furthest from the Sun today (its “greatest elongation”), but still very hard to pick in the dawn sky as it will be very low on the horizon and quite faint. www.stargazersbb.com Whitianga and Hot Water Beach tides Tides data sponsored by nzwindows.co.nz 4 Dakota Drive Whitianga Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Tel 07 869 5990 Page 2 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 922 - 3 November 2020 Uncertainty about Destintion Coromandel and i-SITES future Uncertainty is emerging about the future said. “I am a firm believer too that this council of Destination Coromandel as doubts are cannot afford the $625,000 that goes into raised about continued funding of the tourism Destination Coromandel.” marketing organisation by Thames-Coromandel TCDC’s current contract with the marketing District Council. body runs until June 2021. Council’s $625,000 annual contribution to Mrs White said all the information centres Destination Coromandel is one of the things on the Coromandel Peninsula had been put on ratepayers will be specifically canvassed on notice that their continued funding would be during upcoming Long Term Plan consultations. a matter for discussion during the Long Term However, funding issues have already emerged Plan consultations. Apart from the i-SITES, with TCDC warning that the two Destination several local information centres are supported Coromandel-operated i-SITES in Whitianga by council through annual grants. and Thames are under threat as the organisation In a statement to The Informer, Destination is battling to meet its budgets.