Webcam in Little Penguin (Korora) Nest — Oamaru Colony, New Zealand

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony — What the Camera Shows

This webcam broadcasts a live stream from a little penguin nest in the Oamaru colony — one of the few places on New Zealand's South Island where you can observe korora in their natural habitat. The camera is installed inside an artificial nest box and operates around the clock, allowing you to see penguins in real time — from egg incubation to chick rearing.

The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is located in a former limestone quarry on the Pacific coast, just a few minutes' walk from the town center. This is a conservation facility established to protect and study little penguins — the most diminutive members of the penguin family.

About the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

The colony was founded in the 1990s when enthusiasts and scientists noticed that little penguins had begun nesting in the abandoned quarry between the busy Waterfront Road and the ocean. Today, more than 200 birds live here, making the colony one of the largest in the Otago region.

Oamaru is a small town in the southeast of New Zealand's South Island, known for its Victorian architecture and penguin population. The colony is located in a historic quarry where limestone was once mined for the town's construction. Today, this place has been transformed into a sanctuary where penguins nest in artificial boxes placed among rocks and thickets of native vegetation.

Little Penguin (Korora) — The Smallest Penguin in the World

The little penguin, or korora (Eudyptula minor), is the smallest penguin species in the world: its height is just 35–43 cm, and its weight is about 1 kg. The plumage on the back and head has a characteristic bluish-grey tint, which is why the bird is called the "blue penguin." The belly is white, the beak is dark, and the eyes are light with a bluish sheen.

Korora lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle on land. During the day, they spend time in the ocean hunting for small fish, and return to shore after sunset. This is why the webcam in the nest is most informative in the evening and night hours — that's when you can see penguins returning from hunting, feeding chicks, or settling in for the night.

Nesting Behavior and Diet of the Penguins

Research has shown that little penguins in the Oamaru colony prefer artificial nest boxes over natural shelters. This discovery allowed scientists to equip the colony with special boxes with hinged lids, which facilitate bird observation without causing them stress.

Penguins nesting in artificial boxes demonstrate reproductive success of up to 70% and a hatching rate of up to 2.06 chicks per pair. These figures are significantly higher than those of birds nesting in natural conditions, confirming the effectiveness of the nest box installation program.

The diet of penguins in Oamaru has been studied in considerable detail. A 1994–1995 study identified 22 prey species in the birds' stomachs. Fish dominated the diet, found in 89 out of 90 penguins studied and accounting for 90% of the estimated prey mass. The diet is primarily composed of anchovies, sardines, and small herring, which penguins catch in the shallow waters off the coast.

An interesting behavioral trait of korora is group swimming after sunset. Penguins gather in a large group in the water and move together along the shore toward their nesting sites. This is an effective predator avoidance strategy — together, the birds feel safer during the transition from the ocean to the colony.

Underpass for Penguins

One of the most unusual stories associated with the Oamaru colony is the construction of an underpass for penguins. The fact is that the colony is located on one side of the busy Waterfront Road, while the hunting grounds are on the other. Every evening, penguins were forced to cross the roadway, which posed a threat to their lives.

In 2015, the city authorities decided to build a special underpass beneath the road. The tunnel was equipped with lighting and a video surveillance system so that penguins could safely move between the ocean and the nesting site. The project proved successful — the birds quickly adapted to the new route, and the number of traffic accidents involving penguins dropped to zero.

What You Can See on the Camera

The webcam is installed inside an artificial nest box and broadcasts images in real time 24/7. In the frame is the nest chamber, lined with dry grass, twigs, and plant fibers. Here you can observe little penguins in their natural behavior: egg incubation, chick care, feeding, and social interaction between pairs.

Artificial nest boxes in Oamaru are equipped with hinged lids, allowing researchers to observe the chicks inside without interfering with the birds' lives. The camera provides a close-up view of the nest, so details of plumage, facial expressions, and behavioral traits of korora are clearly visible.

Penguins are most active in the evening and night hours — that's when they return from hunting and spend time in the nest. During the day, the camera may show sleeping birds or an empty nest, but this is also valuable information for understanding their daily rhythms. During the nesting season (August–February), the likelihood of seeing chicks or eggs is significantly higher.