Does the Seabird Habitat Restoration Project present a risk to seabirds and the island?
Most wildlife management involves some level of risk, especially when wildlife is physically handled or disturbed. Using fire in areas known to be inhabited by penguins also involves risk. However, as 95 per cent of the penguin population remains at sea between May and July each year, the risk is reduced by conducting the burning in June. To further minimise the risks, penguin nesting sites in each zone will be located, marked and monitored months before any burning is conducted. Immediately before a burn, each zone will be carefully searched. Any penguins found will be held in an enclosure for the duration of the burn (approximately 24 hours) and released only when the burn is declared out. Each burn will be patrolled by firefighters from the time it begins to the time it is declared out. Any penguin attempting to enter the fire ground between those times will also be held within the enclosure until the fire is declared out. All activities associated with the Seabird Habitat Restorati
