Boulders Penguin Colony:

The penguins seem so much at home at Boulders Beach that it is difficult to believe that they are relatively recent arrivals. A pioneering pair first nested here in 1985, launching a colonization process that has seen the colony expand rapidly. It is bolstered each year mainly by immigrant birds who desert their natal colonies for this secluded haven, free from natural predators (owing to human disturbance), and with good feeding grounds nearby (there is no large-scale commercial fishing in the adjacent bay). Breeding occurs throughout the year, with a distinct peak in the winter months. The eggs, usually two, are laid in protected environments — in burrows or under bushes — although ruthless competition for space forces many birds at Boulders Beach to nest in exposed sites.

While most of the area’s human residents view the penguins as a natural asset, others are disturbed by the noise and smell of the colony, and by the increase in tourist traffic.