A juvenile Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) was fitted with satellite transmitter and released last August 21, on the beach, near to the Uruguayan border. The bird had been rehabilitated by CRAM-FURG. It was among a group of 11 individuals released. Transmitter deployment was carried out by graduate students from the Waterbirds and Sea Turtle Lab (LAATM) Fernanda Marques and Guilherme Nunes. This project is part of a larger study on the oceanographic patterns associated with the distribution at sea of Magellanic penguins during their wintering period, vulnerability to bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) gillnet fishery, and association with their main prey, the Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita). Early this year, other 4 devices had been fitted on penguins captured in the bluefish fishery at the same area. Deployment of devices was carried out by biologist Suzana Martins, also from the LAATM team. This Project is part of Fernanda’s Masters project, and part of a larger project in partnership with Dermersal Fishery Lab at FURG and INCT-Mar, both funded by CNPq. Images show the deployment and tracks over the last few days.
The release on the beach received wide press coverage, in radio, journal and TV:
http://www.correiodopovo.com.br/Noticias/564752/Pinguins-sao-soltos-em-praia-apos-cuidados
