First penguins arrive at new habitat

The first arrivals have moved into a new penguin habitat created out of part of a carpark at Oamaru’s waterfront.

The little penguins were discovered this week during monitoring by Oamaru Penguins staff at the habitat, created from an unused bit of carpark at the colony following upgrades by the Waitaki District Council.

Local schools had built new nesting boxes, put plants in and dug in the new boxes, Oamaru Penguins said in a social media post.

And the penguins chose the ‘‘brightest box’’, staff said in a social media post.

More than 280 penguins were found this week and five new pairs had eggs, meaning there were 12 pairs on eggs, it said.