The laid-back fledgling

So much for ‘once chicks fledge they will not touch try land again for almost a year’. This tawaki chick from Rollers Beach, Stewart Island, obviously had different plans. After its first splash in the big blue, it found itself a nice little rock not far from the cave it hatched in. It then spent the better half of a day perched there preening extensively and enjoying the life in fresh air (as opposed to the ammonia contaminated, dank gas not really qualified to be called ‘air’ inside said cave).

Ultimately, however, high tide forced the young one to get wet again… and start the adventure of its first year at sea.

A recently fledged tawaki chick is raking a break after its first dip

Don’t be fooled by the grey beard; this fellow is only a couple of months old.

The penguin equivalent to taking a shower

Inevitably, the incoming tide washed the wee one of its perch