A tawaki road block

A tawaki road block on East Shelter Island, Doubtful Sound/Patea.

While working with the local penguin population – filming for a major documentary series and continuing our research on the side – we frequently had to cross the island. The track passes along one of the manliest and most populated (7 nests!) tree root caves on the island.

One day we were making our way back to our boat landing, when we ended up in a stand-off with a troupe of penguins that emerged from said cave, I suppose for a breath of fresh air (with 9 chicks not potty trained the cave is a rather smelly affair).

There we were, three humans and four penguins just eyeing each other up for several minutes. It was a rare and special moment where we could be really close to the birds without them making a hasty retreat.