Little penguin
kororā · Eudyptula minor
Comes ashore along the rocky shoreline after dark, braying loudest from July to November.
Story
The world's smallest penguin breeds around the Hauraki Gulf islands, and kororā are occasionally spotted along Kawau's shoreline. They are one of the species the pest-free programme aims to protect, because introduced predators are a key threat.
Behaviour
Kororā spend the day at sea, chasing squid and small fish, usually in water less than 50 m deep. At dusk they gather in small 'rafts' offshore, then come ashore to burrows, rock crevices or the space under buildings.
There’s more about this bird on Kawau in the island’s history.