DYNAMICS OF HUMBOLDT PENGUIN COLONIZATION ON PORT TERMINAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTHERN PERU

The use of artificial structures by seabirds is a globally recognized phenomenon driven by escalating human coastal development. Designed as maritime infrastructure, breakwaters, jetties, and bridges inadvertently offer nesting habitat and refuge for a diverse assemblage of seabird species. The construction of a detached breakwater at the port terminal of the PERU LNG natural gas liquefaction plant in Melchorita, Peru, provided a unique opportunity to observe seabird colonization of new habitat, in this case colonization by Humboldt Penguins Spheniscus humboldti from 2008 to 2024. The penguins founded a permanent breeding site within 3.5 years after cessation of human activity at the site, which had provided protection from terrestrial predators and human interference. Between 2012 and 2021, penguin numbers increased to 2091 birds, peaking during the January molt, although numbers fluctuated. By 2021, the breakwater harbored a substantial proportion of the penguin population in Peru. The breakwater exemplifies the potential of artificial structures in mitigating habitat loss and supporting seabird conservation, underscoring the need for proactive management strategies amidst escalating coastal development and environmental challenges.