Little Penguin Survey and Monitoring Toolkit

​​​​​Our toolkit provides five survey and monitoring techniques that community groups and land managers can apply to help us understand population trends and the distribution of little penquins in Tasmania.

The toolkit can be used by community groups and land managers who can apply the techniques in a consistent and scientifically rigorous way. 

​We have included tools to:

  • assess the suitability of coastal habitat for penguins 

  • gauge threats to the sustainability of Tasmanian penguin colonies 

  • maintain dedicated record keeping spreadsheets that community groups can send to NRE Tas.

This ensures that we have the latest contemporary information to assist in the management of penguin colonies in Tasmania. 


Acces​si​ng the toolkit​​

The toolkit is available in the sections below.

​Each survey method has a corresponding spreadsheet for storing data. Completed spreadsheets can be sent to penguins@nre.tas.gov.au​  (Please note: this email address is primarily used for receipt of these datasheets and is only checked intermittently.)


Sections 1-3: Intr​​​oductio​​n, Little Penguin Ecology, Volunteering​

  Penguin Toolkit Section 1 Introduction   (330Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 2 Little Penguin Ecology   (50Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 3 Volunteering   (45Kb)

Section 4: Scop​in​​g Y​our Site

  Penguin Toolkit Section 4   (661Kb)​

Section 5: Introduc​tion to ​​Surveys and Monitoring

  Penguin Toolkit Section 5   (719Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 5.1 Survey method - Presence or absence   (986Kb)

  Data Sheet for Section 5.1 Survey method - Presence or absence   (27Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 5.2 Survey method - Penguin track counts   (2Mb)

  Data Sheet for Section 5.2 Survey method - Penguin track counts   (35Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 5.3 Survey method - Regular counts at designated areas   (435Kb)

  Data Sheet for Section 5.3 Survey method - Regular counts at designated areas   (28Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 5.4 Survey method - Colony count   (1Mb)

  Data Sheet for Section 5.4 Survey method - Colony count   (30Kb)

  Penguin Toolkit Section 5.5 Survey method - Wildlife camera monitoring   (242Kb)

  Data Sheet for Section 5.5 Survey method - Wildlife camera monitoring   (43Kb)

Section 6: Thre​​​​at Assessment

  Penguin Toolkit Section 6   (743Kb)

Section 7: Ha​bitat Si​te Assessment

   Penguin Toolkit Section 7   (3Mb)


The Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group has overseen the development of and endorsed this toolkit.​​