Can you design a penguin home?

Can you design a penguin home. Photo George Novak

Today we continue our Holiday Science Series with the penguin nest box challenge. Little penguins, also known as little blue penguins, nest all around New Zealand's coast, often close to humans. Over time, our activities of building homes, recreation areas and facilities like ports have eaten away at their habitat.

Penguins are a delightful part of our natural heritage, even if they can be a bit noisy and sometimes smelly to live with at close quarters.

Penguins in peril
Te Papa researchers are working on penguin conservation projects. The plight of the little penguin, New Zealand's smallest penguin species, is characterised by the declining populations and reducing habitat at a national scale. The Department of Conservation has listed them as 'At Risk - Declining' in their latest threat assessment.

Can you design a perfect penguin home? Te Papa scientists want to hear from you! Send them your designs or photos for the perfect penguin box. See the link at the end of this article for more details.

Their criteria for a perfect home for a pair of parent penguins were:
* Big enough to fit four penguins (two adults and two chicks) - about the size of 4x2-litre plastic milk containers.

* Weather and windproof ( won't blow away, keep out the rain), but with potentially enough ventilation to avoid overheating on warm days.

* Would keep out a dog or other predator.

* Can be opened by penguin researchers and wildlife managers to see what's going on inside.

* Can be packed flat and easily assembled, so they can be taken to penguin habitat easily by vehicle or backpack.

* Economical and simple to make. Make sure there are no sharp or pointy objects on the finished item, to avoid injuring the inhabitants.

For more details and to submit your designs, go to http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz- /tag/penguins/

* The House of Science Tauranga is a charitable trust which exists to connect and resource the local science community to celebrate the power and potential of science.
Contact Chris on 027 337 9342 or check out www.houseofscience.org.nz