The erect-crested penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) is a penguin endemic to the New Zealand region and only breeds on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands. It has black upper parts, white underparts and a yellow eye stripe and crest. It spends the winter at sea and little is known about its biology and breeding habits. Populations are believed to have declined during the last few decades of the twentieth century, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as being "endangered".
Appearance:
This is a small-to-medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, at 50–70 cm (20–28 in) and weighing 2.5–6 kg (5.5–13.2 lb). The male is slightly larger than the female and as in most crested penguins has a larger bill. It has bluish-black to jet black upper parts and white underparts, and a broad, bright yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye to form a short, erect crest. With a mean body mass in males of 6.38 kg (14.1 lb) (sample size 22) and females of 5.4 kg (12 lb) (sample size 22), the erect-crested penguin is the largest of the crested penguin species and as the fourth heaviest extant penguin, being nearly as heavy on average as the gentoo penguin.
Its biology is poorly studied and only little information about the species has emerged in the past decades. The only recent study conducted on the Antipodes Islands focused on aspects of the mate choice. Research on the species is hampered by logistics and restrictive permitting by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
It presumably feeds on small fish, krill and squid like other crested penguin species.
Distribution
Erect-crested penguins breed on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands. Previous records of small breeding populations have also been reported from Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands; in the 1940s a breeding pair was documented on the Otago Peninsula on the New Zealand mainland. The species spends extended times at sea during the pre-moult period (February-March) as well as over the winter months (March-August). Individuals have been found as far away as the Falkland Islands and it is also a vagrant to Argentina, Antarctica and Australia.
Erect-crested penguins nest in large colonies on rocky terrain. On the Antipodes Islands, the penguins breed in mono-specific colonies or sometimes sympatrically with Southern Rockhopper penguins. On the Bounty Islands, Erect-crested penguins breed in large mixed colonies with Salvin's albatross.
Interactions with Humans:
In the past, extensive seal hunting took place on both the Antipodes Islands and the Bounty Islands, which without a doubt inflicted damage on the penguin habitat by introducing animals and destroying vegetation. There are also records of New Zealand merchants trading for Erect-crested skins. Warham in 1972 wrote that the survivors of the “Spirit of the Dawn,” a ship that wrecked at Antipodes in 1893, mainly survived on penguin meat and eggs. For the past hundred years, this species has had very minimal contact with humans, and now, except for a small number of researchers who are allowed, people are strictly prohibited from landing on these islands. Needless to say, not having direct contact with man does not make this penguin immune from man’s harmful actions. They are still affected by overfishing, global warming, and chemical changes taking place in our oceans.
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Long text of Mokey rambling about jazz jam sessions and last night
spoiler
I finally went to in my opinion the city's top jam session last night. The regular host is in west africa for the month ☠️ it was a nice jam session, reminded me of the old R×B jam i went to back when i was a younger person. Lots of black people just listening intently. Much different than the white audiences who talk over you or if theyre listening its not the same, hard to explain, definitely an experience thing.
It also reminds me of my favorite but now dead jam session. It's stupid but I wish that one was still going because I want to mack on the kit with all the fancy tourists in the building. It was such a fun hang even tho I couldnt play, sad. Like my dream when I wasnt playing and paying off debt was to be the house drummer and that shit is gone now. Horrible.
I played Beatrice and Softly as a Morning Sunrise. I did well on both, I definitely was the most quiet drummer. I think being very dynamic is going to be my thing, the Mokey style. The other Mokey thing will be the hi hat splashes on every upbeat and also of course the single stroke roll because I'm too obsessed with it to not be a thing. Every other drummer was loud as shit. Which is now my pet peeve, not one drummer being loud. All of them.
During one my solos, I remember running a single stroke roll around the kit (house kit was very very nice) and it sounded so good, like a roar or someone tearing something apart.
The house drummer for the night was the local rich white kid phenom but honestly he was very nice, he's not a bad person so i'll give him that. I helped him pack his kit afterwards because i believe that kind of stuff is important.
People treat their music scene as if it were their own house/room and also their personality and how theyre perceived is the most important thing ever. It's all mememe. When no, it should be treating others well and making sure everyone feels uplifted and respected.
Lastly some highlights: House horn players mom came out and she sang very well. Trumpet player had great lines and capped his phrases very elegantly. Got to see a local drummer ive been meaning to see, he was pretty good. I saw everyone drinking the same cocktail, so I got it too. I realized after the fact that the reason why everyone got it was not because it was so special and good, its because it fucks you up BAD and I wasnt able to finish even half of it. spoiler spoiler
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