Mulberry Grove Penguin Project
As a part of Mulberry Grove Primary School's collaboration with Blue Nature Aotearoa, the students are able to learn and contribute to research on Aotea/Great Barrier Island. Blue Nature is delivering a combination of education opportunities in environmental sciences and new technologies to young people on the island.
Penguin Project
The Little Blue Penguin/Kororā population of Great Barrier Island is a topic close to founder Nikki Kaye's heart. After a conversation with Ally Gibbs at Mulberry Grove Primary School about her alignment with Blue Nature, the Penguin Project was created.
The aim of the project is to improve our understanding of the Aotea Kororā population and explore how emerging technology and innovation in the marine space can contribute to conservation efforts.
Professor John Cockrem, a Massey University lecturer and endocrinology specialist, joined the project, bringing his expertise as the species is a primary focus of his research
The Nest Boxes
Professor Cockrem has specifically designed the nest boxes for Aotea that make it harder for predatory species to enter. These nest boxes were built by members of the local community using local resources.
Three sites were researched and selected using local knowledge for the best chances of the penguins utilizing the nest boxes.
Recently, Professor Cockrem, Nikki Kaye, Ally Gibs, and the Mulberry Grove students and community laid the first 11 next boxes.
Conservation Diaries
The students keep track of and learn how to record environmental observations through conservation diaries.
They acquire skills in class and put them into practice in their own backyards, gaining a new perspective on the environments around them. Through this, they are actively contributing to data collection of the Aotea Kororā population, identifying knowledge gaps and areas of improvement.
Hands-on experiences with Professor Cockrem are one of the key ways the students benefit from Blue Nature Aotearoa, providing opportunities that are typically limited due to the geographically isolated nature of Great Barrier Island.
Aligned with Blue Nature's purpose to 'inspire younger generations,' we provide students with resources to learn about and discover emerging technologies in New Zealand and around the world. This includes exposure to drones, artificial intelligence, and other technologies that students might not otherwise have access to.
There are many future plans in the works for the Aotea Blue Penguin Project, so stay tuned.
