Burnie Penguin Observation Centre | Community
Burnie Penguin Observation Centre
Phone: +61 437 436 803
Address: The Boardwalk, Parsonage Point, West Beach 7320 Burnie, TAS, Australia
Website: www.discoverburnie.net/what-to-see/penguins.html
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25.01.2022 While we have not seen these same changes to the behaviour of the Little Penguins in Burnie, we have seen changes to the breeding season over the last couple of years and wondered why. It is so easy to forget that "nature" is a web and what happens in one area can and does have an effect far beyond that area.
24.01.2022 From The Advocate 25 July 2020
23.01.2022 A sad story; it would be a tragic loss if any of the endangered penguins should disappear. Fortunately, our Little Penguins appear to be doing well, but stories like this are very real reminders of the need to care for the world around us and the beings we share it with.
23.01.2022 From The Advocate, January 21, 2020. The laws are in place, now all we need is a way to monitor the colonies and implement them.
21.01.2022 We look forward to the increasing number of visitors to the Burnie Little Penguin colony, but the well-being of our guides and visitors is important. We follow COVID safety guidelines, and ask that our visitors do the same. If you are feeling unwell or coughing and sneezing, please visit on another night. When you arrive, please use the supplied hand sanitizer, record your contact details on the contact sheet, and maintain social distancing. Please don't be offended if yo...u area asked to move to create a bit of space; we all want a pleasant safe evening for everyone. The viewing area is large and there are plenty of penguins to watch so there is no need for crowding; even the emerging chicks have managed (without our help) to be nicely spaced. The guides now arrive at 7:45 and look forward to seeing you, smiling, and warmly dressed, to share an evening with the penguins.
21.01.2022 Again! Once more we are debating what steps can realistically be taken by the community can stop these deaths. This happened in a marked "No dog" area which means either the dog was roaming freely or someone ignored the signs. Responsible dog owners, make sure that you keep your dogs under control; you are legally responsible for the damage they do including killing protected wildlife. Maybe it is time to start taking photos of dogs in "No dog" areas, without identifying photos of their owners, and forwarding them to the Burnie City Council to highlight just how common the problem is and the strength of community concern.
21.01.2022 Do you recognize this visitor? These photos were taken a few weeks ago by someone in a boat, just off the coast of Burnie. It obviously is not a local, so with apologies for the poor quality of the images, would someone be able to identify the visitor.
20.01.2022 A wonderful turn-out to Burnie's Dog's Breakfast. Friends of Burnie Penguins teamed up with Penguin Rehab & Release and Cooee to Camdale Coastcare to raise community awareness surrounding responsible dog ownership, especially around our sensitive coastal areas. Thank you to everyone involved in getting this event happening and to all those that came along to join in the fun.
20.01.2022 Thank you for the pictures Vicki
20.01.2022 Our good friends at Penguin Rehab & Release are seeking new volunteers to join their team! Penguin Rehab & Release focuses on the rehabilitation of penguins (and other seabirds) that come into care due to sickness, injury or misadventure with the end goal being releasing the birds back into the wild. There will be an information evening on the 26th of November from 5:30 - 6:30 at Cradle Coast NRM (1-3 Spring Street, Burnie) ... Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. If this is something you think you might like to get involved with, you can register for the information evening by contacting Kathy Grieveson at [email protected]
19.01.2022 Keep your eyes open; you never know what you might see on a Tasmanian beach. It sounds as if penguins big or small go through the same process of preparing for a moult, losing their feathers and then growing lovely new shiny feathers, ready to go off to sea. If you visit us in Burnie around 8:15pm, you can watch Little Penguins with their smaller version of moulting. No bookings are necessary and we do not charge, but donations which allow us to operate, are very welcome.
18.01.2022 Have you noticed that the days are gradually getting longer? That means that our guides now arrive at 8pm as the sun is goes down. Spring is well and truly here and this year's penguin chick numbers are growing. We have already watched the first chicks head off to sea, but there are plenty of smaller babies to take their places. Looking at all the lovely fat penguins, babies and adults, it is obvious that there is a good food supply out there in Bass Strait.
18.01.2022 Our first molting penguin for this season.
18.01.2022 What is happening at the Burnie Penguin Observation Centre now; it seems to have gone quiet? This is the quiet period in the penguin breeding cycle when most of the chicks have grown up and gone to sea starting their adult lives while their poor bedraggled parents are entering recovery mode; the parents are fattening up preparing to moult. A few fat fluffy moulting birds can be seen after dark, but more and more will appear each night as they come ashore to start their 17 day wait for new feathers to grow. And there are still a few birds coming ashore at dark who appear to be neither one nor the other.
17.01.2022 Friends of Burnie Penguins are pleased to be able to say that our guides will arrive to start the penguin viewing season in Burnie on Thursday October 1st at 6:30pm; after the change to daylight saving time on October 4th, the start time will be 7:30pm. We will observe COVID 19 safety measures so the procedures will be a bit different this year. The Burnie colony has the advantage of plenty of space to allow social distancing. Guides may ask you to move from one spot to an...other, but that will be to insure everyone has a good chance to see penguins. Things may be a bit difficult for us humans at the moment, but the good news is that the penguins have not been effected at all so you will be able to watch and enjoy them. Our interpretive tours start every night at sunset. They are free and there is no need to make a booking. We do happily accept the donations which allow us to continue to give visitors a chance to watch penguins and to learn about them. Just make sure that you dress warmly as the viewing platform is exposed to the weather and can be very cold.
16.01.2022 We watched this seasons chicks grow up and go off to sea as young adults, wishing them luck and knowing that they need it. Unfortunately it is a sad fact of life that it is hard for young penguins to learn to hunt and feed themselves. We are now receiving reports of dead penguins on shore, and people are concerned about what they should do if they find one. In all probability the penguin died of starvation, and it is best left where it is found; it is part of an ecosystem so nature will deal with it.
16.01.2022 This thoughtful comment from Daryl Connelly was published in The Advocate yesterday July 29. It is a reminder that the Little Penguins are a community asset and the responsibility of us all, not just the individual groups who protect and advocate for them. We are so fortunate to have penguins living so close to us and that means that so we must take extra care around their habitat and keep our pets under control.
16.01.2022 What are well dressed penguin guides wearing this season? Custom designed and locally made masks by Marg, with a filter of course! The Friend of Burnie Penguins annual training course will be held on September 26th in Burnie. This free course will introduce you to the wonderful world of Little Penguins and how to interact with their visitors safely. We operate according to COVID safe guidelines and will continue to modify our guidelines if and when conditions change. Please contact this page, or ring or text Evelyn on 0437149747 for details or to register by Friday September 18th.
15.01.2022 Happy New Year! Burnies Little Penguins enjoyed last nights fireworks and hope that you did too. Thanks to Perviz and Cathy for sharing their photos.
14.01.2022 Have you been wondering about our lovely Little Penguins? They are still happily spending their winter mostly at sea, and coming in occasionally for an overnight rest on land. Friends of Burnie Penguins are doing weekly penguin observations and the birds we are seeing are beautifully glossy and fat. It looks as if there is plenty of food in Bass Strait and penguins are enjoying it.
13.01.2022 What has been happening at Burnie Little Penguin colony? A lot! First of all, we welcomed the five new guides who competed the induction training in September and have now joined the crews on the viewing platform. On October 1st, when guiding started for the season, the guides were surprised to see two well grown chicks waiting to be fed. Since then, we can certainly hear more chicks too small to be out, which will gradually emerge to be seen. In the meantime there are plenty of adult penguins arriving nightly. Now that daylight saving has started, guides are arriving at 7:30 to prepare for an evening of penguin watching. We do follow COVID safety guidelines and ask your cooperation as the health of our visitors and guides is important to us. Thank you Alison for the photo.
11.01.2022 Cool Canines and coastlines! Dog’s Breakfast is a free bbq event for dogs and their humans to attend. Hosted by local volunteer groups, Cooee to Camdale Coastcare, Friends of Burnie Penguins and Penguin Rehab & Release, we all wish to invite you along to join us. Date: 10th October (Next Saturday)... Time: 9:30am Where: South Burnie Dog Exercise Beach. After being joined by some guest speakers, us humans can enjoy a free bbq, and a bag of tasty treats will be waiting for our dogs. Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. So book your spot now https://burnietickets.com.au/event/11756 *COVID-19 guidelines will be in place*
10.01.2022 Has anyone else noticed that the days are getting a tiny bit shorter? While our guides will still be arriving at 8pm, they will start the talk at 8:30. We will continue to be on hand for our interpretative penguin viewing until March 31 and this page will update time changes as the days gradually shorten. You do not need to make a booking, and we do not charge,but donations which enable us to continue our work, are always welcome.
10.01.2022 Of course those who are going to break the rules will do so regardless, but for those who want to do the right thing by our local penguins, and still give your dog a fun beach run, here is a list of the beaches and parks that are dog friendly in the Burnie municipality. Please check the specific park/beach links and follow those guidelines. If youre not from the area, please check your local council to find the areas for you and your pooch. Have fun, play some fetch, and have a splash, just not near the penguins please. https://www.burnie.net//Pets-and-A/Dogs/Dog-Exercise-Areas
10.01.2022 Little Penguins are always lovely to watch! There are differences between the Phillip Island and Burnie colonies, but Little Penguins are the same both sides of Bass Strait.The birds in the much larger Philip Island colony come in over the beach in big groups. In the much smaller Burnie colony, they come over the rocks singly or small groups. But penguins are penguins, and we do our best to protect them and safely share them with our visitors.
09.01.2022 Happy New Year from Burnies Little Penguins. They plan, with their guides of course, to watch the fireworks at 9:30, and again at midnight.
09.01.2022 After a very quiet couple of weeks at the Burnie Little Penguin colony, the penguins are now telling us that they are back, loud and proud. The moulters still lurk out of sight during the day, emerging silently at dark, but an increasing number of birds are coming in from the sea calling to those already on land. There is also a rumor of chicks being heard, so all in all, each night is its own adventure, we are never quite sure what we will see. As the evenings are now drawing in, guides arrive at 7:45pm; on Sunday, March 8,that time will change to 7:30.
08.01.2022 Our good friends at Burnie Penguin Rehab and Release worked tirelessly for over a year to get this little penguin fit and ready for the high seas. Read her story here.
08.01.2022 Friends of Burnie Penguins will hold training for new guides in September. Our interpretative tours will start in October as usual and will operate according to CVID19 guidelines. We expect low visitor numbers to start, but will be flexible and adapt to changes as needed as the season continues. If you would like further information or register your interest, please message this page. And for the record, we expect to see lots of happy penguins, unaffected by human health problems
08.01.2022 Have you noticed how quickly the days are becoming shorter? The penguins have, and they are showing up earlier, and so will the guides. Starting tomorrow March 15th the guides will arrive at 7:15 pm, and give a short talk about the birds and the colony around 8. There may not be a large number of penguins around at the moment, but you will still have a chance to learn about and observe Little Penguins.
08.01.2022 With live sport now a scarce resource, BBC commentator Andrew Cotter has lent his distinctive voice to the fairy penguins of Phillip Island https://www.google.com.au//bbcs-andrew-cotter-commentates-
07.01.2022 Yippee, Christmas is coming and we will be in Burnie to share it with you. Penguin viewing will continue every day through the holidays including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve and New Years Day. Come along around 8:30pm to learn about penguins from the guides and then watch the show as parents come in after dark, some to feed their babies.
07.01.2022 What"s happening at the Burnie Little Penguin colony now? Plenty! The chicks are growing, some are getting ready to go to sea while other younger chicks are losing their fluff and begging for food. Guides continue to arrive at 8:00pm, giving an introductory talk about the birds and the colony around 8:45, and then wait for the birds to become active as darkness falls There is no need to make a booking, and our interpretive tours are free. We do welcome donations from our visitors as those donations allow us to continue our work. Just remember to make sure that you have warm clothing with you. Tasmanian evenings along the waterfront can be surprisingly cool after a warm summers day. Thank you Angela for the video
07.01.2022 Hi all, hoping the weekend finds you well. After a few less than happy posts relating to the tragic deaths of 5 penguins last weekend. We bring our fellow penguin enthusiasts something happier this weekend. During our last (and unfortunately shortened) guiding season, Ben Milbourne came along to The Burnie Penguin colony to film our penguins for a segment on Award Winning Tasmania. Tune in to channel 9Tas at 12:00 tomorrow afternoon to watch. Thank you to Award Winning Tasmania for coming down and sharing the love for our penguins.
07.01.2022 The date is set! Are you available on Saturday September 26th for training for new penguin guides in Burnie. If you are over 16, interested in learning about penguins and sharing your knowledge with visitors, this is your chance to join us for our once a year training session. The training, covering an introduction to Little Penguins, interacting with visitors, and safe guiding, is free and no previous knowledge of penguins is needed. We are very aware of the concerns abo...ut COVID19 and the safety of our guides is extremely important. We will operate according to strict guidelines and will not hesitate to discontinue guiding if circumstances in Tasmania change. In the meantime, we expect low numbers of local visitors so it will be a great chance to observe and learn about Little Penguins. For further information and to register your interest, please message us through this page or call Evelyn on 0437 149 747.
06.01.2022 Thanks for your question Rob. Our guides will be ready to share the penguin experience with visitors tonight and every night until March 31st. Tonight the guides will arrive around 8:15pm, give a short talk about the birds and the colony and then wait for the penguins to become active - sometime after 9. While the times may change as the days begin to shorten, our wonderful volunteer guides will be on hand to help visitors watch and understand our lovely Little Penguins.
05.01.2022 I just wanted to share a bit more of a personal feeling about these penguin deaths. Aside from the fact it was a group of my friends who volunteer to protect and look after these exact penguins who found the bodies, the attitude from the naysayers is really not ok and is not conducive in the slightest. We arent out here hating on dogs or all dog owners, we arent out here denying that cats can also cause damage to penguin colonies or that feral cats are an issue that needs t...o be fixed. We are just out here saying that this time it was a dog, and we can PROVE that by the injuries presented and if youre that desperate we can also confirm once the necropsies (post mortem examinations) are done by the authorities. But even then, therell be people who will just always deny. I take personal issue with being told that penguin advocates dont like dogs. I had a dog, she loved the beach, but we took her to a dog beach and kept her on a leash. Also for her safety against other dogs. Dogs are unpredictable and if they get out and are on their own, they will have a great time. We dont blame the dogs for any of this and we dont blame all dog owners. We just want to protect the penguins.
05.01.2022 It is winter now so the penguins are spending most of their time out to sea, with just an occasional rest on shore. This one, resting on a stormy afternoon in Burnie, was photographed yesterday in Burnie by guide Barbara.
04.01.2022 https://www.examiner.com.au//police-catch-alleged-penguin/
03.01.2022 This picture was taken by one of our visitors a while ago; the Little Penguin is probably getting ready to "sing" as only penguins can, or maybe it is just have a good stretch. Listening to the many different calls of the penguins is one of the additional joys of guiding. We still have places available for our upcoming annual training, to be held on September 26th in Burnie. Registrations close on September 18, so if you are interested or would like to know more, you can message this page or ring or text Evelyn on 0437149747
02.01.2022 Chick season is starting on Phillip Island and it wont be long until Burnie will also be welcoming our very own chicks. Our FREE guided tours will begin on the 1st of October and by then hopefully the chicks will be just about ready to poke their heads out and say hi In the meantime, there is penguin activity at the colony and we are all very excited to start the next 2020/2021 penguin season See you soon
02.01.2022 Burnies Little Penguins and their human helpers are saying an early "Good bye" for the winter. With the concern about the COVID 19 virus and the reduced number of penguins and visitors, our guides have decided to give themselves an early start to their winter break. We hope you have a snug, cosy and healthy winter and we will return, with the penguins, in the spring. We look forward to greeting our visitors on October 1st.
02.01.2022 Merry Christmas! Burnies Little Penguins are hoping that everyone is having a very happy day. They want you to know that that you dont have to stand in the snow to meet them. Come down to say "Hello and Merry Christmas" to the guides volunteered to spend Christmas night sharing the penguins and their babies with visitors.
02.01.2022 Autumn is creeping ever closer and the days are oh so slowly getting shorter. Guides will now arrive a 7:45 and give a talk around 8:15. No bookings are necessary and there is no charge to our visitors, however donations are very welcome as our group is dependent on them to do our work. There are still penguins to seen; moulters are spending their days hidden from sight and come out at dark for fresh air. They range from fat birds who have not begun to lose their feathers yet, through fluffy peevish feather dusters to sleek birds with shiny new feathers ready to go back to sea.
01.01.2022 Another success for Kathy and the crew at Penguin Rehab and Release! After 3 months in care this Little Penguin went home this morning. "Munchskin" (aka P1 WS20) was found at West Beach below the rocks near the observation centre. A late fledgling, he was trying to get out to sea for the first time but kept being knocked over by the ripples along the shoreline. He was very underweight (only 630gms) and suffering from a spinal injury. After 3 months rehabilitation, P1 now weighs 1040gms and is in a much fitter condition. P1 was successfully released by Kathy and Emma, just before first light and spent quite a long time learning his new home address before heading out to sea. Live long and prosper!
01.01.2022 Happy World Penguin Day! It is a day to celebrate!
01.01.2022 Our friends at Lillico have lost some guides this year and are hoping that there are some interested people who would like to join them.
