June - July - August
Penguins begin Nest Building & Mating
Egg laying starts
August – September – October
Penguins incubate their eggs for 36 days
Parents take turns guarding and feeding chicks for 2 – 3 weeks
October – November – December
Both parents go to sea daily returning each night to feed their chicks
Chicks are banded at 6 weeks old
By 8 weeks old the chicks are fully grown
Chicks leave the nest (fledge) and go to sea for 6 - 12 months
Early season breeders start the process again (double brooders)
December – January – February
2nd clutches start hatching
Adult birds come and go from the colony, almost doubling their body weight in preparation for moulting
March – April
Moulting
Adult and juvenile birds return to nest boxes for 2 – 3 weeks whilst old feathers fall out and new ones grow.
May – June
Birds return to sea for 2 -3 weeks to re-establish body weight 1000 – 1200g.
Penguins start nest building for the up coming breeding season.