Artificial nest boxes

Pipes and other forms of artificial nests that have been placed at Possession, Halifax, Marcus, Robben, Seal (False Bay), Dyer and Bird islands, as well as at the Boulders mainland colony. These nest boxes mimic burrows and minimises access to gulls, flooding of nests and disturbance, resulting in increased breeding success. The design of the nest boxes may need to be tailored to each breeding locality, and their efficacy is being assessed, but so far it seems as if the penguins readily move into and utilise these artificial structures, with positive results.

For more information, go to http://www.dict.org.za/faces_of_need/faces_of_needs_penguins