New Zealand Seabirds

Important bird areas and conservation

This document has been prepared for Forest & Bird by Chris Gaskin, IBA Project Coordinator (NZ).

The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Level One, 90 Ghuznee Street PO Box 631 Wellington 6140 NEW ZEALAND

This report is available from the Forest & Bird website in pdf form. © Copyright February 2014, Forest & Bird

ISBN 978-0-473-28521-0

Contributors

The following individuals have contributed to the IBA project in a variety of ways, including supply of data and information about seabirds, and reviewing draft material, site profiles, species lists and site maps.

Edward Abraham, David Agnew, Philippa Agnew, Hilary Aikman, Nick Allen, Ian Angus, Karen Baird, Barry Baker, Tim Barnard, Sandy Bartle, Tony Beauchamp, Biz Bell, Brian Bell, Mike Bell, Mark Bellingham, Martin Berg, Derek Bettesworth, Brent Bevin, Jeremy Bird, Robin Blyth, Steph Borrelle, Abe Borker, Phil Bradfield, Mike Britton, Dennis Buurman, Lynette Buurman, Rachel Buxton, Ewen Cameron, Chris Challies, Rob Chappell, Stu Cockburn, Wynston Cooper, Steve Cranwell, Emma Cronin, Andrew Crossland, John Croxall, Martin Cryer, Paul Cuming, Igor Debski, Todd Dennis, Lorna Deppe, Phred Dobbins, John Dowding, Barry Dunnett, Hannah Edmonds, Ursula Ellenberg, Graeme Elliott, Lloyd Esler, Julian Fitter, Neil Fitzgerald, Al Fleming, Debbie Freeman, Peter Frost, Mel Galbraith, Liz Garson, Peter Gaze, David Gordon, Rosalie Goldsworthy, Andrew Grant, Brenda Greene, Kevin Hackwell, Marie Haley, Kate Hand, Keith Hawkins, John Heaphy, Tim Higham, Jo Hiscock, Colin Hopkins, Dave Houston, Ken Hughey, Grant Humphries, Jon Irvine, Stefanie Ismar, Edward Jenkins, Josh Kemp, Anastasia Kirk, Chris Lalas, Todd Landers, Peter Langlands, Ben Lascelles, David Lawrie, Eila Lawson, Nick Ledgard, Mike Lee, Graeme Loh, Phil Lyver, Gabriel Machovsky-Capuska, Peter Maddison, Nicky McArthur, Nikki McArthur, Rachel McClellan, Pete McClelland, Dave McFarlane, Craig McKenzie, Bruce McKinlay, Matt Maitland, Jane Marshall, Debs Martin, Gerry McSweeney, Thomas Mattern, Sue Maturin, David Melville, Gary Melville, Jenny Miller, Mark Miller, Colin Miskelly, Henrik Moller, Kyle Morrison, Don Neale, Mark O’Brien, Colin O’Donnell, Helen Otley, Richard Parrish, Neville Peat, Frederic Pelsy, Lyndon Perriman, Irene Petrove, Joanna Pierre, Matt Rayner, James Reardon, Aalbert Rebergen, Phil Rhodes, Yvan Richard, Adrien Riegen, Andy Roberts, Christopher Robertson, Neil Robertson, James Ross, Lindsay Rowe, James Russell, Paul Sagar, Scott Sambell, Frances Schmechel, Rob Schuckard, Paul Scofield, Phil Seddon, Hadoram Shirihai, Joanna Sim, Ian Southey, Anita Spencer, Jean-Claude Stahl, Kate Steffens, Don Stewart, Fergus Sutherland, Graeme Taylor, Phil Taylor, Alan Tennyson, David Thompson, Leigh Torres, Yolanda Van Heezik, Jan Walker, Kath Walker, Tamsin Ward-Smith, Susan Waugh, Jody Weir, Jon Wenham, Carol West, Kim Westerskov, David Wilson, Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Rebecca Wilson, Chris Wild, Murray Williams.

Publication of this IBA document has been made possible through financial support from the following: Forest & Bird Waikato Branch, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, Encounter Foundation, Birds New Zealand (OSNZ) and Pelorus Trust.

Design: Danielle McBride, Paradigm Associates

Recommended citation: Forest & Bird (2014). New Zealand Seabirds: Important Bird Areas and Conservation. The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand. 72 pp.

Front cover: New Zealand and White-faced Storm Petrels, Hauraki Gulf. Photo: Martin Berg Endpapers: Fairy Prions and Buller’s Shearwaters, Hauraki Gulf. Photo: Jon Irvine Facing page: Two Shy Albatrosses, Chatham and White-capped Albatrosses, Stewart Island. Photo: Jon Irvine Back cover: Rockhopper Penguins, Campbell Island. Photo: Kyle Morrison New Zealand Seabirds

Important bird areas and conservation 02 New Zealand Seabirds

Grey-headed Albatross with chick on nest, Bull Rock, Campbell Island. Photo: Kyle Morrison 03 New Zealand Seabirds

Taking a bird’s eye view Identifying areas that are important for New Zealand’s seabirds. The IBA programme, this document and the supplementary reports present a comprehensive overview of New Zealand’s seabirds, allowing us to visualise where they breed and the extent of their foraging across the marine, and, for inland breeding gulls and terns, freshwater environments. 5 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 11 16 22 22 24 26 28 32 34 35 35 36 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 10 12 14 30 37 38 40 43 44 46 47 48 50 50 60 Photos: Frederic Pelsy Photos: Frederic Black-fronted Albatross. and Southern Royal Tern

�� Bird & Forest �� International BirdLife Zealand (OSNZ) �� New Birds �� Global Programmes Pacific Partnerships �� in New Zealand �� Starting with Seabirds Global IBA Criteria �� IBA Sites on Land �� Areas Marine Important Bird IBAs �� Global Criteria for Marine Extensions �� Seaward �� in Progress – Work Identifying Marine IBAs for Pelagic Seabirds �� Other Data �� Sites �� Conservation Management of Seabird �� Helping IBA Conservation and Monitoring �� The Role of Community (Citizen) Science Colony Register �� Seabird a New Zealand Towards Working Life Cycle Stages �� on Land �� Seabirds �� Life at Sea �� on Land �� Threats at Sea �� Threats

�� Partnerships �� Areas? Bird Important What are �� Care? Should We Seabirds: �� Network – Seabirds The New Zealand IBA for Conservation �� IBA – Tools �� Monitoring �� Next steps for the New Zealand IBA programme �� Groups IBAs for Other Bird the Pacific �� across Open Oceans – Working �� New Zealand: a special place for seabirds Fact File �� Seabirds �� of New Zealand Seabirds Legal Protection Whenua �� Tangata International Obligations �� Setting �� New Zealand Seabird �� Seabirds a Dynamic Map for New Zealand’s Creating on Land and at Sea �� face Threats Seabirds �� Resources APPENDIX 1 – New Zealand Bird of IBAs �� APPENDIX 2 – Table �� Foreword Contents

New Zealand Seabirds 04 New Zealand Seabirds 05

onal nternati I

Photo: BirdLife InternationalPhoto: BirdLife South Atlantic. South Atlantic. Prof. John Croxall, albatross research at South Georgia, South Georgia, research at albatross Prof. John Croxall, Forty-three areas for pelagic seabirds. for pelagic seabirds. areas Forty-three Twenty-six seaward extensions for foraging of limited range species and extensions seaward Twenty-six coastal and continental shelf areas Forty-four sites on inland rivers (for inland breeding gulls and terns) and in breeding Forty-four sites on inland rivers (for inland and lagoons such as harbours, estuaries coastal areas Ninety-seven IBA sites on land, including offshore islands, principally colony sites, offshore Ninety-seven IBA sites on land, including sites congregatory non-breeding and but also including major roosts species), seven in the world (36 endemics seabird of breeding Highest number Mexico in 2nd place (5 species) times higher than occur within New Zealand’s known to species are of seabird than one-third More outside the region breeding EEZ, including species On land New Zealand researchers have shown the world how to study and revitalise revitalise and study to how world the shown have researchers Zealand New land On - breed species at key seabird eradicating invasive their work populations via seabird one IBA to another to species from seabird ing IBAs and the translocation of various is still much to do, with many At sea there populations. and safeguard alleviate threats management of Improved both home and abroad. New Zealand species facing threats needed urgently is renewables offshore and mining fishing, as such of activities range a New Zealand is ideally placed to take the lead within New Zealand waters. Once again the perspective should be done, this time from and show the world how conservation of marine spatial planning. other regions highly migratory spending time in species are Many New Zealand seabird reaching as far as the coastal waters of Japan, Alaska, of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, The movement of these species California, South America, South Africa and Argentina. sustainable in the that all nations have to share highlights the overriding responsibility a prime They are use and management of marine resources. example of the need for communication, collaboration and to safeguard ocean basins if we are conservation across for the the ecological and economic integrity of seabirds The IBA network is a vital starting point in identify- future. is and protection management whose sites priority the ing paramount. 4. 3. 2. To have such sites recognised as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) provides objective endorse- (IBAs) provides Areas as Important Bird have such sites recognised To the New Zealand component to the global ment of their global importance. Adding the puzzle in our understanding of the critical sites IBA assessment fills a vital piece of has identified to date: project Thus the current conservation worldwide. for seabird 1. , BirdLife d Programme bal Seabir Chair, Glo of the world, holding: capital seabird is the undisputed New Zealand • the world else in anywhere species than seabird threatened More • • • seabirds. 14 million pairs of breeding Approximately of sites such as the “Hauraki globally the very mention in birds For anyone interested of spec- immediately evokes images of scores Head” and “Kaikoura” Gulf”, “Taiaroa If you have visited these sites viewable at close range. and petrels tacular albatross list of they will likely be top of your If you haven’t you’ll be keen to return. already, places to visit soon. Foreword – John Croxall, Croxall, – John Foreword Their fate is our fate: How birds foretell threats threats foretell .C. (2012). Their fate is our fate: How birds

s we exercise our duty of care and maintain awareness of what is happening with and maintain awareness our duty of care As we exercise of conserving the natural environment avian species, we also embark on processes ultimately essential to our own survival. In the course of just living, the free- that are the oceans, the plants, the sample the atmosphere, readily observed birds flying and that place first the compromised, is these of one any If life. insect even and forests both within may become obvious is in the health and numbers of birds, such effects theirignore and between species. No military commander would post sentinels, then warning cry and fail to monitor their continued wellbeing. As a defensive strategy in well to think change, we will do environmental the face of massive and unpredictable . in terms of closely watched birds P Doherty, From . to our health and our world. The Experiment, New York

New Zealand Seabirds 06 New Zealand Seabirds 07 Photo: Stefanie Ismar Australasian Gannet sentinel at Cape Kidnappers. at Gannet sentinel Australasian

1 species the extinction of any bird Prevent species the conservation status of all bird possible improve Maintain and where sites and habitats and enlarge improve appropriate Conserve and where important for birds the quality to conserve biodiversity and to improve birds, Help, through lives of people’s livelihoods. conservation into sustaining people’s Integrate bird http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/about-us http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/about-us 1 BirdLife International is a partnership of people for birds and the environment. As a and the environment. of people for birds International is a partnership BirdLife International is the leading authority on the status of BirdLife worldwide community, Partnership of and their habitats. Over 10 million people support the BirdLife birds Partners networks. local and organisations conservation non-governmental national operating in 116 territories – work together on – national conservation organisations each other to achieve real and policies, learning from priorities, programmes, shared means a as living sustainable promotes Partnership BirdLife The conservation results. and all other forms of biodiversity. of conserving birds and vital excellent flagships are beautiful, inspirational and international. Birds are Birds on which and the sites and habitats indicators. By focusing on birds, environmental life for birds, the quality of Partnership is working to improve they depend, the BirdLife to: aims are for other wildlife (biodiversity), and for people. BirdLife’s • • • • • Forest & Bird is New Zealand’s longest-serving conservation organisation, formed in conservation organisation, longest-serving Zealand’s is New & Bird Forest and destruction of our native extinction of native species widespread to 1923 in response New in preserving has played an active role Bird & Since formation Forest forests. to number 70,000 members and and native species and grown environment Zealand’s supporters. unique passionately about New Zealand’s who care people members are & Bird Forest natural these that sure make to want and – species native and environment natural genera- can continue to be enjoyed by future so that they protected are treasures about better legislation and policy that supports work to bring staff & Bird tions. Forest and projects restoration hand’s-on co-ordinate They also protection. environmental club, The Kiwi Con- children’s issues through educate people about environmental in campaigns. Volunteers and public awareness publications servation Club, through roots on community conservation at the flax New Zealand work 50 branches around and as advocates for nature. projects Forest & Bird is New Zealand’s largest independent conservation organisation and organisation conservation independent largest is New Zealand’s Bird & Forest protect formed to Originally species. native and heritage natural our preserve to works of all native to include protection has since grown our role and birds, our native forests and rivers. – on land and in our oceans, lakes species and wild places species and fragile places – speak for all our threatened a voice. We give nature “We with other work high-country tussock-lands. We dolphins to Maui’s endangered from Eco- Exclusive in New Zealand’s issues on environmental organisations environmental not a government organisation We are Pacific and in Antarctica. nomic Zone, the wider of our members’ the generosity on government funding – we rely and do not receive conservation work.” and bequests to carry out our subscriptions, donations

8 New Zealand Seabirds Birds New Zealand (OSNZ) has a number of aims and objectives, among which are: • To encourage organise and promote the study of birds and their habitat use, particularly within the New Zealand Region • Foster and support the wider knowledge and enjoyment of birds generally • Promote the recording and wide circulation of the results of bird studies and observations • Assist the conservation and management of birds by providing information from which sound management decisions can be derived. It is from these aims that the Society has been pleased to support this project to identify the important areas for New Zealand seabirds. New Zealand is considered to be a major hotspot for seabirds and it is important that the data collected by members is put to use in ensuring that seabird breeding and feeding areas are identified and protected.

GLOBAL PROGRAMMES BirdLife International’s Important Bird Area (IBA) Programme is one of a number of global programmes for conservation – others include Climate Change, Flyways, Pre- venting Extinctions, Forest of Hope and the Global Seabird Programme.

PAcific Partnerships Forest & Bird is BirdLife International’s partner in New Zealand, and is working with partners in Australia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Palau and the Cook Islands on shared programmes to deliver conservation for the benefit of nature and people in Australasia and the South Pacific. 9 New Zealand Seabirds

Photo montage: Sooty Terns. Photo: Gareth Rapley Vatu Vara, Fiji Islands. Photo: Chris Gaskin What are Important Bird Areas? Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites that are recognised as internationally important for bird conservation and known to support key bird species and other biodiversity. The function of the IBA Programme is to identify, and help focus and facilitate conservation action for a network of sites that are significant for the long-term viability of naturally occurring bird populations, for which a site-based approach is appropriate. The continued ecological integrity of these sites will be decisive in maintaining and conserving such birds. Legal protection, management and monitoring of these crucial sites are all important targets for action, and many (but not all) bird species may be effectively conserved by these means. Patterns of bird distribution are such that, in most cases, it is possible to select sites that support a number of species. The IBA Programme is global in scale and more than 12,000 IBAs have already been identified worldwide, using standard, internationally recognised criteria for selection.2 This network may be considered as a minimum essential to ensure the survival of these species across their ranges, should there occur a net loss of remaining habitat elsewhere through human, or other, modification. Therefore, the consequences of the loss of any one of these sites may be disproportionately large. Since IBAs are identified, monitored and conserved by organisations and individuals working together on the ground, the IBA Programme can be a powerful way to build national and local institu- tional capacity and to set an effective conservation agenda.

Starting with Seabirds in New Zealand Elsewhere in the world, the general approach has been to look at all bird populations and identify IBAs on that basis. In New Zealand, where seabirds make up over half our endemic and native bird species, identifying IBAs for seabirds first and foremost recognises New Zealand’s rich and diverse seabird fauna. Also, because most seabirds are colonial breeders, it provided the opportunity to work with the IBA process within the

10 2 Fishpool, L.D.C. and Evans, M.I. (Eds) 2001. Important Bird Areas in Africa and associated islands: Priority sites for conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No 11. Pisces Publications and BirdLife International. Newbury and Cambridge, UK

Eastern Rockhopper Penguins, Chatham Albatrosses, Campbell Island. Photo: Kyle Morrison Pyramid Rock. Photo: Lorna Deppe

Hutton’s Shearwaters off Kaikoura. Photo: Dennis Buurman New Zealand context before identifying sites solely for other bird groups (land, shore and water birds). However, this initial focus on seabirds has not meant these other birds are neglected, far from it. In fact many of the IBAs identified to date include land, shore and/or water birds as trigger species (see section IBA SITES ON LAND – pages 16-21). Thus the work towards a complete IBA network for New Zealand’s birds is well underway.

GLOBAL IBA CRITERIA A1. More than threshold numbers of one or more globally threatened species A2. More than threshold species complements of restricted-range species A3. More than threshold species complements of biome-restricted species A4. More than threshold numbers of one or more congregatory species, including: A4i >1% of the biogeographic population of waterbirds A4ii >1% global population of seabirds A4iii >10,000 pairs, seabirds or 20,000 individuals, waterbirds A4iv > Threshold numbers at migration bottleneck sites.3 The IBA selection process follows the Ramsar Convention in stating that IBAs must meet threshold numbers in two-thirds of years for which there is adequate information.4 The system uses IUCN/BirdLife International threat rankings and taxonomy including common names. Note: New Zealand has its own Threat Classification system administered through the Department of Conservation (DOC),5 and bird taxonomic group, the OSNZ Checklist Committee.6 These national classifications and listings are recognised in individual site profiles presented in the supplementary documents. Also, to avoid confusion in this advocacy document New Zealand common names are used with IUCN/BirdLife International names bracketed – eg. Black (Parkinson’s) Petrel, Chatham Island Taiko (Magenta Petrel), Orange-fronted (Malherbe’s) Parakeet.

3 http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/ibacriteria 4 Dutson, G., Garnett, S., Gole, C., 2009. Australia’s Important Bird Areas: Key sites for bird conservation. Birds Australia, Melbourne. 40pp. 11 5 Robertson, H.A., Dowding, J.E., Elliott, G.P., Hitchmough, R.A., Miskelly, C.M., O’Donnell, C.J.F., Powlesland, R.G., Sagar, P.M., Scofield, R.P., Taylor, G.A. 2013. Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 4. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 22pp. 6 OSNZ (Ornithological Society of New Zealand) Checklist Committee 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Te Papa Press, Wellington. 464pp.

Southern Royal Albatrosses ‘gamming’, Masked Booby adult and chick, Campbell Island. Photo: Kyle Morrison Kermadec Islands. Photo: Chris Gaskin

Kermadec Petrel pair. Photo: Chris Gaskin 8

Photo: Kath Walker Auckland Islands. albatross nest site, Adams Island, Island, Adams nest site, albatross egaherbs growing aroundMegaherbs growing an old 7

Hauraki Gulf Forum, Auckland. 142pp. Convention on Biological Diversity 2010 and Conservation. Research of the Hauraki Gulf: Natural History, M.J. 2013. Seabirds Rayner, Gaskin, C.P.,

Seabirds are ranked by the IUCN as the world’s most threatened bird grouping. Threats Threats grouping. bird most threatened ranked by the IUCN as the world’s are Seabirds the represent which predators, in New Zealand include: introduced here to seabirds populations worldwide; modification of sea- to seabird threat most significant onshore 7 8 As predators at the top of the food chain, seabirds are crucial components of marine are at the top of the food chain, seabirds As predators of change in ecosystems and possess attributes that make them useful as indicators indi- demand for relevant is an increasing Given that there the marine environment. viable and cost- a populations represent seabird ca-tors for the marine environment, ‘canary in the cage‘ for the long-term assessment of marine ecosystems effective spatial scales. broad across populations can have important implications for the ecology Fluctuations of seabird in major role play a Seabirds situated. ecosystems in which they are their terrestrial of communities by acting as links between the land and shaping the ecology of terrestrial the mainland of of marine-derived nutrients. Given the removal sea, importing sources experiencing communities are New Zealand, it is likely terrestrial fauna from seabird for much of their evolutionary history. conditions to those prevailing very different Seabirds: Should we Care? of ecosystem functioning and the provision Biological diversity underpins ecosystem human health, for food security, It provides services essential for human well-being. economic local livelihoods, and contributes to it clean air and water; of the provision development.

New Zealand Seabirds 12 New Zealand Seabirds 13

as guano Seabirds vectorSeabirds marine nutrients run-off nutrients through Increasing coastal coastal Increasing including seabirds. 9 ) 3 Photo: Kim Westerskov oil spill. spill. Rena oil Reptiles Soil nutrients (P & NO Soil Graphic from Rayner, M.J., Gaskin, C.P. (2013). Hunting the New Zealand Storm Petrel M.J., Gaskin, C.P. Rayner, Graphic from United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) - http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/ texts/unclos/part12.htm Fishing vessel, Chatham Rise. Chatham vessel, Fishing Baird Photo: Karen 9 bird breeding habitats and rapid increase in coastal subdivisions; marine pollutants subdivisions; marine pollutants in coastal increase rapid and habitats breeding bird (ie. effluent, chemical contaminants, plastics and that enter the marine environment boats. The fishing by commercial by-catch of seabirds products); oil and petroleum fishing, while likely to be considerable, is poorly understood. recreational impact from oil, gas and mineral exploration and the potential for large- With offshore increasing our obliga- scale extraction, concerns have been raised about New Zealand meeting the marine environment” and protect tions “to preserve Seabird transfer of marine-derived nutrients impacts and resulting to land on of marine-derived terrestrial transfer Seabird ecosystem productivity. in a world centre for seabird diversity. Presentation at the Australasian Ornithological Conference, 4-7 at the Australasian Ornithological Conference, Presentation December 2013, diversity. for seabird in a world centre Baird, Karen Dylan van Winkel, Neil Fitzgerald, Kim Westerskov, Auckland, New Zealand. Photos: Shelley Heiss-Dunlop, Chris Gaskin 11 ORDERS Plant growth Invertebrates The New Zealand Iba Network – Seabirds Important Bird Areas (IBA) for New Zealand’s seabirds fall into four categories: 1. Ninety-seven IBAs have been identified for sites on land, including offshore islands, principally colony sites, but also including major roosts and non-breeding congregatory sites 2. Forty-four sites on inland rivers (for inland breeding gulls and terns) and in coastal areas such as harbours, estuaries and lagoons have been identified as IBAs under the current project 3. Twenty-six seaward extensions for foraging of limited range species and coastal and continental shelf areas 4. And forty-three areas for pelagic seabirds have been identified to date.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS This document provides an overview of the IBA programme. Three supplementary reports have been prepared which provide site profiles for all IBAs identified under the current programme. All these documents are available online at www.forestandbird. org.nz/important-bird-areas

IMPORTANT AREAS FOR IMPORTANT AREAS FOR IMPORTANT AREAS FOR NEW ZEALAND SEABIRDS NEW ZEALAND SEABIRDS NEW ZEALAND SEABIRDS Sites on land – Rivers, estuaries Seaward Extensions coastal sites and and coastal lagoons – Pelagic Areas 14 islands New Zealand Seabirds

Australasian Gannets, Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay. Photo: Stefanie Ismar The Important Bird Area (IBA) network for New Zealand’s seabirds. Terrestrial IBA sites for seabirds are shown as green triangles. Major seabird colony sites (yellow circles) are the colonies for which the seaward extension IBAs have been identified. Marine IBAs include seaward extensions (red polygons) and the pelagic IBAs identified to date (purple polygons).

Major seabird colony

Proposed terrestrial seabird IBA

Proposed seaward extension IBA

Proposed pelagic IBA

New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Bathymetry (m)

100 2000 500 5000 1000 10000

0 200 400 600km

15 New Zealand Seabirds

N okohinau Islands Mokohinau Islands Photo: Abe Borker Punakaiki coast Photo: John Kendrick Photo: Dave Houston Snares Crested Penguins, Snares Crested Penguins, Snares Islands Snares Islands

Iba Sites onLand The straightforward. were seabirds Zealand’s Many of the IBAs identified for New example. A good number of our other offshore an obvious Bounty Islands provide The Pyramid, Forty-Fours, Sisters (all Chatham Islands for example: islands also qualify, Gulf), and Macauley Island (Kermadec Islands Poor Knights Islands (Hauraki Group), Group). Just south of Punakaiki is the only picture. complex a more Main island sites present sites for breeding also significant are but there Petrel, for Westland area breeding and Black- Tern White-fronted Little Penguin, Sooty Shearwater, Spotted Shag nearby. population significant a for home is area the addition, In there. breed Gull also backed when considering So, concern. conservation real of species Kiwi, a Spotted Great of for individual and went approach boundaries for IBA we either opted for the narrow species extending boundaries to include multiple approach sites, or took a broader species. and sites, including terrestrial Shearwater colonies in individual sites include Hutton’s on the main islands Elsewhere colonies Penguin Kaikoura Range and Fiordland the mountain valleys of the Seaward and Fiordland. in South Westland described by the islands are of the New Zealand Subantarctic All five island groups of all sub- as “the most diverse and extensive Programme United Nations Environment Heritage Site status in 1998. with World honoured and were archipelagos” antarctic Reserves Act 1977. The Reserves under New Zealand’s also National Nature They are pigs, cats and mice islands are animal pest species on our Subantarctic only remaining on the main Auckland Island and mice on the Antipodes Islands. identified for sites were In considering the main Auckland Island, specific breeding and Eastern Rockhopper Penguins (multiple sites), Auckland Island Shag Yellow-eyed

New Zealand Seabirds 16 New Zealand Seabirds 17

Chatham Albatross, Albatross, Chatham and chickadult Photo: Lorna Deppe

Photo: Paul Sagar Bounty Islands Photo: Lindsay Rowe site, Kaikoura Range Range Kaikoura site, Hutton’s Shearwater colony Shearwater Hutton’s is, terrestrial, shore and water birds. Take Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island, for Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Te Take and water birds. shore is, terrestrial, site for the New perspective, it is the only known breeding a seabird example. From population of Cook’s has something like 98% of the world’s Zealand Storm Petrel, of endemic is also a small but significant number and there there, breeding Petrel of predators. following eradication returning species are Other seabird Black Petrel. (Stitchbird), Hihi endangered for stronghold the also is island the time, same the At introduced species to a number of other threatened and is a vitally important refuge species like to the island such as Kakapo, Kokako, Saddleback and naturally occurring that fall in the Long-tailed Cuckoo. A good number of other islands (or island groups) South-east Island (Chatham and Campbell Islands Group, the Snares this category are and Whenua Hou/Codfish Island. On the main islands, while the sites Islands Group) for significantly, figure groups other bird trigger species from chosen for seabirds, were and Hutton’s include New Zealand Dotterel; example, sites for New Zealand Fairy Tern and Black-billed Gull Tern sites for Black-fronted Shearwater include Kea. Similarly, Black Stilt and Banded on rivers and in estuaries, lakes and lagoons include Wrybill, (see following section – pages 18-21).Dotterel these cases the IBA bounda- In some of extended to include wetlands for Australasian Bittern. ries were (multiple sites) and White-capped Albatross (SW Cape). Other trigger species, how- (multiple sites) and White-capped Albatross are the island but across scattered are Albatross (Gibson’s) such as Antipodean ever, the island meets the criteria for an IBA, but with poorly surveyed. Thus the whole of for example, main islands with predators, large remaining. Other significant threats Barrier Island, have been and Aotea/Great Chatham Island, Rangiauria/Pitt Island in some cases, individual or, around to areas IBAs restricted with differently, treated species (eg. Chatham and Pitt Island threatened sites for particular of breeding groups Petrel). Black (Parkinson’s) (Magenta Petrel), Shags, Chatham Island Taiko species, that bird sense to consider other it made When identifying sites as IBAs

Tasman River River Tasman Nesting Wrybill, Wrybill, Nesting Photo: Craig McKenzie Black-fronted Tern. Pelsy Frederic Photo: Gulls, Black-billed Southland. Photo: Rachel McClellan 35: 30-43

10 . Department of Conservation, Wellington. 50pp. Science for Conservation 279. Department of Conservation, Wellington. . 11 Gray, D., Harding, J.S. 2007. Braided river ecology: a literature review of physical habitats and aquatic invertebrate review J.S. 2007. Braided river ecology: a literature D., Harding, Gray, communities. populations of black-fronted in breeding J.M. 2011. Meta-analysis of status and trends Hoare, O’Donnell, C.F.J., terns (Chlidonias albostriatus) 1962-2008. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 10 11 Braided rivers are characterised by highly unstable flows with high spring-summer Braided rivers are flooding, multiple and constantly changing channels, peaks and rapid and frequent of active shingle bars, and islands and wide beds (sometimes several extensive areas 307 rivers in New Zealand with braids on at least some of are wide). There kilometres most much of the country, their sections. While these rivers can be found throughout habi- in the South Island. They support a diverse range of foraging and breeding are and highly adapted threatened fauna of >80 species, some of which are tats for a bird cycle for living on these rivers. Specialist adaptations include a rapid, early breeding quickly should they lose nests species, ability to renest to most other bird compared and a variety of behavioural mechanisms to cope to natural perturbations in weather, of the riverbed is still Braided rivers in which the physical structure with river-breeding. in the developed world. New Zea- becoming rare are governed by natural processes range of flora unmodified and support a diverse relatively land braided rivers remain and fauna A braided river is one that, over some part of its length, flows in multiple, mobile chan- A braided river is one that, over some relatively remain New Zealand, many braided rivers a gravel floodplain. In nels across the majority have very extensive encroachment unmodified in terms of flows. However, - for hydro-elec demands Increasing exotic predators. have by invasive weeds and all placing works are and flood protection tricity generation, irrigation, gravel extraction on these systems. pressure Braided River Systems – EcosystemsSpecies in Crisis and

New Zealand Seabirds

Ahuriri River. River. Ahuriri Pelsy Photo: Frederic 18 New Zealand Seabirds 19

The 12

18 14 15 13

16 The wildlife and conservation of braided river systems in Canterbury. S.M. 1983. The wildlife and conservation of braided river systems in Canterbury. Moore, O’Donnell, C.J.F., 73pp. Fauna Survey Unit Report 33. Wildlife Wellington. Service, Department of Internal Affairs, 2000. Significance of river and open water habitats in Canterbury for indigenous birds. O’Donnell, C.F.J. Canterbury Report UOOl37. 55pp. Environment . www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz Online C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds tern. In Miskelly, Bell, M. 2013. Black-fronted black-billed gulls. Unpublished PhD thesis, McClellan, R.K. 2009. The ecology and management of Southland’s University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 264pp. 2000. Significance of river and open water habitats in Canterbury for indigenous birds. O’Donnell, C.F.J. Canterbury Report UOOl37. 55pp. Environment . Online C.M. (ed) New Zealand Birds In Miskelly, 2013. South Island pied oystercatcher P.M. Sagar, www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz . www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz Online C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds In Miskelly, Dowding, J.E. 2013. Wrybill. . www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz Online C.M. (ed) New Zealand Birds Adams, R. 2013. Pied stilt. In Miskelly, Black-billed Gulls are strongly colonial and breed predominantly on gravel-bedded predominantly and breed colonial strongly Black-billed Gulls are New Zealand throughout found The species is the headwaters. to the coast from rivers divide in the South Island. Black-billed gulls but is most common east of the southern range in the North Island. Nationwide surveys extended their breeding have recently (1995-1997) Southland, 70% of the species nested within indicated that approximately popu- and the remaining and Marlborough, 25% in Otago, Canterbury approximately lation in the North Island. Black Stilt are by far the rarest species in this guild, numbering just over 100 individu- species by far the rarest Black Stilt are population) left in the upper Waitaki (the entire pairs als but with only a few breeding in Canterbury. elsewhere attempt breeding Basin. They rarely situation. Pied Stilts live in all kinds of wetlands from brackish estuaries to freshwater lakes, brackish estuaries to freshwater Pied Stilts live in all kinds of wetlands from 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 swamps and braided rivers. They build their nests near water, often in a damp swamps and braided rivers. They build their nests near water, Wrybills breed exclusively on braided riverbeds where they nest on bare shingle flats. they nest on bare riverbeds where exclusively on braided breed Wrybills with a small number in in Canterbury, breeds majority of the population The large Otago. Breeding sites and south- braided riverbeds of the eastern only on the breed Terns Black-fronted disperse to birds breeding, to Southland. After Marlborough from ern South Island, harbours, estuaries and lagoons, foraging mostly in sheltered roosting coastal areas, farmland. but also on near-coastal offshore The IBA process recognises the values of those river ecosystems where threatened threatened ecosystems where the values of those river recognises The IBA process species as significant populations of other as well to occur regularly, known species are river specialists includes Black- populations). The guild of braided (ie. >1% of global Dotterel, Banded well as Black Stilt, Wrybill, and Black-billed Gull, as Tern, fronted and Pied Stilt. Oystercatcher South Island Pied - distinc is sufficiently region, in the other rivers similar to superficially while river, Each of wildlife. combination for a unique to provide characteristics its habitat tive in individual river systems complement each other and it was thought that their use by use their that it was thought and each other complement systems river individual change. year to year as conditions and river to another, one change from may birds of flow modi- in the form continuing, particularly degradation with habitat However, of may lose versatility birds weed encroachment, and introduced predation fication, habitat choice. Banded Dotterels breed only in New Zealand although some migrate to Australia. although some migrate only in New Zealand breed Dotterels Banded (an ex- confined to coastal areas largely Island are in the North birds While breeding Plateau), the tephra slopes of the Central Volcanic on breeding those birds ception are Braided south in both coastal and inland areas. found in the numbers are much larger it is the most common habitat for the species where a primary breeding rivers are wader. on riverbeds mostly east of the Southern Alps breed South Island Pied Oystercatchers and farmland, and high-country grasslands.

105: 23 both adja- <5 Fauna dipping for Environment Environment land or air, rivers rural farmland, Oystercatchers Oystercatchers 24 the on in across braided feed on insects widely flying channels occasionally Significant reduction in river flows, reduction in river Significant foraging 25,26 also hawking shallow (ie. can Black-billed Gulls can forage en masse over en masse over Gulls can forage Black-billed 20 on observed Terns Terns been 22 have dependent

21 also Black-fronted Black-fronted highly by UOOl37. 55pp. Gulls are breeding foraging Stilts

(Sterna albostriata) on the terns I. 2006. Habitat use by black-fronted J.A., Westbrooke, Sedgeley, O’Donnell, C.F.J., 19pp. New Zealand. Department of Conservation, Christchurch. River, Wairau R. McClellan, C. Gaskin (pers. comm.) terns (Sterna albostriata) on the I. 2006. Habitat use by black-fronted J.A., Westbrooke, Sedgeley, O’Donnell, C.F.J., 19pp. New Zealand. Department of Conservation, Christchurch. River, Wairau Charadrius bicinctus) on ( ) and the banded dotterel 1997. The diet of the wrybill (Anarynchus frontalis K.F.D. Hughey, New Zealand. Notornis 44: 185-193 two braided rivers in Canterbury, S.M. 1983. The wildlife and conservation of braided river systems in Canterbury. Moore, O’Donnell, C.J.F., 73pp. Survey Unit Report 33. Wildlife Wellington. Service, Department of Internal Affairs, Emu of predation. terns (Sterna albostriata) and the effects biology of black-fronted Keedwell, R. 2005. Breeding 39-47 of birds. However, at this time of year they have a very strong association with aquatic association with have a very strong at this time of year they However, of birds. activity or something that a non-breeding foraging is more habitats, and terrestrial happens during floods. cent to rivers where they breed, especially associated with freshly ploughed fields. with freshly especially associated they breed, cent to rivers where may there foraging apparent rainfall in Southland the pattern of Because of a higher This pattern may change with of the South Island. other drier areas from be different sheep or crops the shift from with irrigation in those areas the rapid rise of pasture to dairy farming. During in shallow riffles and runs of braided rivers. specialised for foraging are Wrybills Aerial Black-billed rivers and beech forest, on occasion hundreds of metres up, feeding on moths and on moths up, feeding of metres occasion hundreds on beech forest, rivers and insects. other flying Black breeding and feeding, and on the shallow margins of lakes and ponds in winter. of lakes and ponds in winter. margins and feeding, and on the shallow breeding into the water and retrieving insects in the drift) and the flow and number of braided number of braided and the flow and insects in the drift) and retrieving into the water activity. influence foraging channels 2000. Significance of river and open water habitats in Canterbury for indigenous birds. O’Donnell, C.F.J. Canterbury Report

• 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 direct predation by introduced mammals. introduced by predation direct Threats and New Zealand braided rivers of species on bird the among occurring are Declines on braided rivers, particularly loss of habitat and an interaction of threats from result Seasonal distribution species. than many bird much earlier river specialists breed Braided • • dingFee ragingd fo an • • through abstraction for irrigation and diversion or impoundment for hydroelectric abstraction for irrigation and diversion or impoundment for hydroelectric through the foraging habitat availability and increasing power generation, may be reducing - produc leading to reduced predators, colonies to introduced accessibility of breeding weed in flows is thought to facilitate increased tivity and survival. In addition, reduction natural invasion of nesting habitats, making these habitats unavailable. Furthermore, con- flood events, disturbance by people and livestock, as well as outright persecution of ecosystems and species in crisis. tribute to a disturbing picture arrive back on riverbeds as early as July, and commence breeding in August. The earli- commence breeding and as July, as early arrive back on riverbeds by breeding riverbed waders, terns and gulls are by mid-August. All return est Wrybills the majority have completed nesting, of December, By the beginning mid-September. their young. Then the majority migrate to the and in many cases have finished raising - food supplies that enable them to pre productive they take advantage of coast where and South Island Pied Wrybills fat for the winter. for longer migrations and store pare remain however, New Zealand. Some birds, will migrate to northern Oystercatchers is the Black Stilt. Most Black-billed Gulls inland. The most notable example resident breeding. inland in Southland following remain

New Zealand Seabirds 20 New Zealand Seabirds 2121

- - Report No.

Photo: Frederic Pelsy Photo: Frederic Photo: Andrew Crossland Photo: Andrew Right: NZ Fairy Tern. Fairy Right: NZ River. River. Spotted Shags, Ashburton programme moves beyond identifying areas primarily for seabirds, and expands primarily for seabirds, moves beyond identifying areas As the IBA programme number of river catch- within a significant areas groups, bird to take account of other specialist to the IBA network. For example, Blue Duck is a torrent ments will be added the tributaries it inhabits will be added to species. The headwaters and and threatened is significant overlap with for BAs, unless there New Zealand IBA network as separate I areas an existing IBA will be extended. Forest in which case Tern aging of Black-fronted BA criteria important to the health of rivers. Those that meet the I adjacent to rivers are at the mouths of estuaries and lagoon areas a number will also become IBAs. Already, (eg . Wairau project as IBAs under the current of some rivers have also been identified catch Estuary). Eventually a good number of our valuable- Oreti Lagoons, Ashley Estuary, Buller Rivers). and by a mosaic of IBAs (eg. Eglington, Waimakariri ments will be captured will be included in associated with braided river systems Some significant wetland areas example, Ahuriri Delta (Ahuriri River for project, the current the IBAs identified through River IBA). (Wairau IBA), Rakatu Wetlands saics ment mo Catch Current status of the Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) in Canterbury). 2013. Current Langlands, P. Environment Canterbury, Christchurch. 32pp. Christchurch. Canterbury, R13/25. Environment 27 Wetland Areas Wetland and har and those estuaries, lagoons to date covers wetland areas The IBA project Swamp specialists such as rails (eg. that trigger IBA status breed. seabirds bours where in Crake, Spotless Crake and Pukeko) and Australasian Bittern dwell Marsh (Baillon’s) New Zealand dense swamp vegetation associated with these wetlands. In northern mangrove Banded Rail favour wetland fringes to harbours and estuaries, including these birds where A number of the IBAs identified to date will include areas forests. Waihora Te IBA, Spit Farewell IBA, Thames of Firth IBA, Harbour Kaipara (eg. occur IBA). Fortrose IBA, Matuara Waituna Australasian Bittern occurs in New Zealand, Australia and several The endangered for vegetation emergent requiring birds wetland specialist are and islands offshore In the food supply. foraging. in wetlands that have a productive and breed They roost much of the years the species numbers have declined markedly throughout thirty last the loss of its habitat. range. This decline mirrors birds’ Throughout New Zealand river-mouths, harbours and estuaries are important areas for important areas harbours and estuaries are New Zealand river-mouths, Throughout Black-billed Fairy Tern, sites (eg. NZ breeding valuable for some they provide seabirds: important staging Shags), for others they provide and Red-billed Gulls, Pied and Little Spotted Shag). Tern, Black-fronted (eg. sites post-breeding or roosting River-Mouths, Estuaries, Harbours and Lagoon Areas - Regular presence of threatened species of threatened Regular presence occurring. than 1% of global population regularly More Seaward extensions to breeding colonies extensions to breeding Seaward Migration hotspots and pathways for pelagic species. Important areas

A4 most likely to they are where of the annual cycles of seabirds four aspects are There numbers. These are: occur in IBA threshold 1� seabirds of non-breeding 2� oastal congregations c 3� 4� Global Criteria For Marine IBAs environment: So far only two of the global IBA criteria have been applied in the marine A1

vation in the marine environment is critical to ensure their future survival. Determining their future is critical to ensure environment vation in the marine IBAs will make a vital contri- and the identification of marine areas high-use seabird include valuable input to the This will protection. to gain greater bution to initiatives to ensure also contribute to efforts will and Areas Protected Marine identification of of EEZ. The identification within New Zealand’s sustainable management of resources collate to source, a significant amount of effort marine IBAs globally has necessitated to be able to locate sites and develop site order distribution data in and analyse bird seascapes. featureless boundaries in often apparently Marine Important Bird AreasMarine Important they face there multiple threats spend at sea, the that seabirds Given the long periods a network of priority sites for their conser identifying they cover, and the vast distances

New Zealand Seabirds 22 New Zealand Seabirds 23 Black-bellied Storm Pukaki Rise. Petrel, Baird Photo: Karen Albatross. White-capped NZ Photo: Abe Borker Flesh-footed Shearwater. Shearwater. Flesh-footed Photo: Hadoram Shirihai Project © Tubenoses Buller’s Shearwater. Shearwater. Buller’s Photo: Neil Fitzgerald

Fiordland Penguins. Penguins. Fiordland Photo: Hadoram Shirihai Project © Tubenoses Photo: Frederic Pelsy Photo: Frederic Photo: Jon Irvine

Buller’s and Fluttering and Fluttering Buller’s Shearwaters. Bounty Shag. Island Photo: Hadoram Shirihai Project © Tubenoses IBAs in pelagic areas as more is known about their distribution during various stages is known as more IBAs in pelagic areas cycles. of their breeding islands, also cap- extensions, particularly around It is important to note that seaward close colonies, and congregations to and from the passage of pelagic species ture areas and Sooty Shearwaters). In some Buller’s Petrel, islands (eg. Cook’s to breeding pelagic species can be very close to colonies (ie. (eg. Kermadec Islands) foraging by In Shearwater). Wedge-tailed Petrels, Black-winged and (White-necked) White-naped bottleneck of coastline, the movement through the case of Cook Strait or stretches will also be captured. areas Northern Royal Albatrosses. Albatrosses. Northern Royal species, eg. Buller’s, Fluttering and Hutton’s Shearwaters, used to create separate marine separate Shearwaters, used to create and Hutton’s Fluttering species, eg. Buller’s, Seaward extensions to breeding colonies provide one method for marine IBA identi- for marine IBA one method colonies provide extensions to breeding Seaward as IBAs, been identified have already colonies breeding While many seabird fication. the the land on which confined to in almost all cases, have been, their boundaries cases, be extended sites can, in many of these located. The boundaries are colonies for used by the colony which are marine environment those parts of the to include limited Such extensions are behaviours and social interactions. feeding, maintenance of the species concerned. depth and/or habitat preferences by the foraging range, species-specific, based on is, as far as possible, colony and/or boundary The seaward foraging and maintenance behaviour. known or estimated published information on the Foraging Range Database includes Seabird The BirdLife while coastal) seabirds and behaviours of (primarily preferences foraging distances, likely define the to world in the elsewhere have been used data At-sea breeding. colonies, breeding to seabird adjacent foraging and rafting areas boundaries of key species few New Zealand breeding included as marine IBAs. However, be which can in the foraging range database. are surrogates marine IBAs in coastal and continental shelf areas, identify New Zealand To to used been has opinion expert addition, In database. the from drawn been have boundaries for distances to draft provisional choices’ for foraging ‘provisional provide also draws on published and unpublished review extensions to colonies. This seaward depth limits for some species, and bathymetry. data including foraging ranges, dive Seaward Extensions Seaward As new tracking data becomes available, these areas will be further refined, or, in some or, will be further refined, these areas As new tracking data becomes available,

New Zealand Seabirds 24 Major seabird colony

Proposed seaward extension IBA

New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Bathymetry (m)

50 500 100 1000 150 2000

0 200 400 600km

25 New Zealand Seabirds

Snares Crested Penguins diving through bull kelp, Snares Islands. Photo: Kim Westerskov

- Fitting GPS tag to a Buller’s GPS tag to a Buller’s Fitting Snares Islands. Albatross, (NIWA) Photo: Leigh Torres PTT tracking of Gibson’s (red) and Antipodeanand (red) Gibson’s of tracking PTT from Auckland Albatrosses (blue) Wandering and Antipodes respectively. Islands Research & Graeme Elliott, Albatross Kath Walker Source: Photo: Stefanie Ismar

winged Petrel’s leg. leg. Petrel’s winged Geolocator onGeolocator a Black- 473: 275-289 eabirds – seabirds pelagic s for iba arine Leigh Torres (NIWA) Leigh Torres (Torres et al 2013) (Torres et al 1 Albatross from Snares from Albatross progress GPS tracking for Buller’s Buller’s GPS tracking for Islands the analysis of seabird-fishery interac- the analysis of seabird-fishery tions. Marine Ecology Progress Series tions. Marine Ecology Progress D.R., Phillips, R.A. 2013. Scaling down 1 Torres, L.G., Sagar, P.M., Thompson, P.M., L.G., Sagar, 1 Torres, comprises database tracking seabird global Wanderers: Ocean Tracking ork in ork in Global Positioning System (GPS) tags that provide fine-scale data-accurate points (to fine-scale data-accurate provide Global Positioning System (GPS) tags that used as increasingly to every second are up frequencies with reporting within metres) efficient with battery life. Satellite tags (PTT) provide devices become smaller and more a network of sat- position fixes (up to hourly) from receiving meso-scale data – regularly 1 and 25 km. accurate to between and are ellites for periods of months or even years, data – one point every 12 hours with a battery large-scale Geolocator (GLS) tags provide to all but the life that can extend up to 5 years. Their small size makes them applicable 180 km. accurate to roughly locations that are and they provide smallest seabirds extensive data on distributions of seabirds at sea (originally for Procellariiformes – for Procellariiformes at sea (originally distributions of seabirds extensive data on from collected seabirds other include to recently but more petrels), and albatrosses to be a database has proved scientists. This by research tracking devices deployed - congrega to non-breeding relating the identification of marine IBAs for vital resource species. The development of for pelagic and at-sea areas tions, migratory bottlenecks tracking devices, has from the analysis of data, particularly those novel techniques for experts. a wide range of seabird involved input from w regular they land where from remote those marine areas pelagic species are for Areas Identifying m ly gather in large numbers, whether to feed or for other purposes. These areas usually usually These areas for other purposes. whether to feed or numbers, in large ly gather eddies, upwellings such as shelf-breaks, features, with specific oceanographic coincide is invariably high. zones, and their biological productivity and convergence BirdLife’s Photo: Matt Rayner

New Zealand Seabirds

Fitting GPS tag to Australasian GPS tag to Australasian Fitting Hauraki Island, Gannet, Mahuki Gulf. 26 New Zealand Seabirds 27 N 1000km 2000 5000 10000

500 Proposed New Zealand ProposedZealand New IBA marine pelagic tracking Life-compiled Bird (PTT & GPS) data Exclusive Zealand New EconomicZone (EEZ) EEZ Other National 100 500 1000 Bathymetry (m) Bathymetry 0 Map source: BirdLife International. BirdLife Map source: remains patchy. The resulting analysis for marine IBA purposes is in a formative state. Yet analysis for marine IBA purposes is in a formative state. Yet The resulting patchy. remains marine use New Zealand’s of how seabirds that is emerging despite this, the picture one. the tracking studies (combined with other data) is a complex from environment con- their for sites priority of network a identifying perspective, conservation a From Marine e- survival. BirdLife’s their future servation is also a challenge but vital to ensure atlas, launched in 2012, is the first global inventory of these sites (http://maps.birdlife. As new Marine IBAs must be seen as a living process. org/marineIBAs/default.html). defined, with being in new areas data is added to the tracking database, this will result datasets to continue submitting urged are modified. Researchers some existing areas , including non- tracking database global seabirds Ocean Wanderers: to the Tracking tracking datasets (ie. penguins, gannets, boobies, shags (cormorants), Procellariiform gulls and terns). The whole New Zealand EEZ is a globally important area for seabirds. There is a be- There for seabirds. important area The whole New Zealand EEZ is a globally Foraging areas utilise spatially and temporally. wildering array of layers that seabirds some bien- annually, breed Most birds stages of breeding. different change through in New Zealand waters all remain They can times of the year. and at different nially, date (February 2014) tracking or migrate away for short or long periods. To year round, has been entered and petrels albatrosses data for only 17 species of New Zealand’s – http://www. tracking database global seabirds Ocean Wanderers: into the Tracking the proliferating, that is research of seabird While this is an area seabirdtracking.org/. tracked from) are birds coverage of both species and study sites (ie. colonies where ap showing marine IBA identified for pelagic areas (purple areas) pelagic for IBA identified marine progress. Map showing in Work - Ocean Wan Tracking Life’s Bird in held trackingtogether with from GPS and PTT data GPS GLS data. . The map does not include database tracking seabird derers: global GLS tracking mIBAs with to identify the pelagic combination used in were and PTT data The steady level. global the at IBA analyses marine preliminary Life’s Bird during shown tracking in projectsincrease - of the augment Reanalyses continues data. more to yield IBA sites. more identify will tracking dataset Zealand ed New GPS and PTT data providers: L. Deppe, G. Elliot, A. Freeman, D. Nicholls, C. Robertson, P. Sagar, P. Scofield, J-C. Stahl, P. Sagar, D. Nicholls, C. Robertson, P. L. Deppe, G. Elliot, A. Freeman, GPS and PTT data providers: S. Waugh. D. Thompson, K. Walker, A. Suzuki, L. Torres,

Photo: Karen Baird Photo: Karen

- - Seabird observers in northern northern in observers Seabird New Zealand waters. waters. Zealand New Historically understanding has been this of boat-based observations gained from In New to feed at sea. congregate birds where Understanding the importance to seabirds seabirds Understanding the importance to EEZ requires of the waters of New Zealand’s a knowledge of species diversity across estuar dynamic marine ecosystem from ies and harbours, to coastal waters, deeper waters, coastal and harbours, to ies shelf waters, to the edge of the continental land. deep pelagic waters far from and shelf Source: Dragonfly Science/Encounter Kaikoura Source:

Zealand waters the data sources for ship-based seabird observations are those made those made are observations seabird ship-based for data sources waters the Zealand voyages as master aboard (Pacific) and trans-Tasman by J. Jenkins during inter-island (Auckland Museum); sightings data collected by Union Steam Ship Company vessels Kaikoura Encounter (Ocean Wings) bird-watching seabird skippers; by others during and BirdingNZ.net entries and postings to latterly e-Bird more trips; and and research sightings have been made during aerial sur Further internet groups. Seabird-News vessels and from seen around of seabirds veys; also by fisheries observers (counts not been an official has To date (2014) there and trawl fisheries). in long-line captures this data. attempt to centralise and standardise Predicted species richness modelling for 19 Hauraki Gulf breeding seabird species seabird breeding 19 Hauraki Gulf from speciesPredicted for modelling richness (unpubl.). Hauraki Gulf Seabird M.G.R., Gaskin, C.P. From: Miller, observations. at-sea Regional Council. Waikato Planning. Spatial Gulf Hauraki Report,Modelling prepared for Number of Westland Petrels recorded Petrels Westland of Number tours, Kaikoura (2006- pelagic during 2012). A variety of other data have been utilised for marine IBA identification including: have been utilised for marine IBA A variety of other data ONS OBSERVATI AT-SEA Other Data

New Zealand Seabirds 28 New Zealand Seabirds 29

29 DOC/Dragonfly Science Location and counts sea- all of recordedbirds day by during survey and Golden in aerial Bay, 22-24 November, Tasman 2011). 2010 (Handley et al Seabird countsSeabird around vessels fishing home page, http://data.dragonfly. website co.nz/seabird-counts/

and Seabird Counts and the other for Tasman Bay and Golden Bay. and the other for Tasman 28 Photo: Karen Baird Photo: Karen Hawke, D.J. 1998. Seabirds around Banks Peninsula (New Zealand) from aerial surveys. Notornis 45: 113-125 Banks Peninsula (New Zealand) from around Hawke, D.J. 1998. Seabirds Tasman and Golden surveys of marine mammal and surface-fish R. 2011. Seabird, Schuckard, P., S., Sagar, Handley, Bay for Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Nelson: Stable isotopes, aerial and boat surveys. Report prepared Bay, Ltd. New Zealand Pty. Incorporated and AWE 28 29 Protected species Zealand New captures in Home Albatross. Salvin’s website, Fisheries page: http://data.dragonfly.co.nz/psc/ MPI/Dragonfly Science Fisheries New Zeal regular counts of the have been carrying out Since 2004 observers on fishing vessels and fishing the interactions between seabirds The aim is to allow numbers of seabirds. reduce sea- in turn to help manage fisheries to vessels to be better understood, and by-catch. Link to website: http://data.dragonfly.co.nz/seabird-counts/ bird in New Zealand trawl and longline of seabirds Fisheries observer data on the capture 2002-03fisheries from to 2010-11 a web made available through recently have been Aerial Surveys Zealand waters, mainly for surveys have been conducted in New A number of aerial - (ie. marine mammals, basking sharks, fish congre purposes other than surveying seabirds - in publica surveys resulted seen. Two of seabirds records all contain gations). However, tions, one for Banks Peninsula, by Dragonfly Science for the Ministry for Primaryinterface. This website was developed results and fishing method, with species, region by year, Industries and is searchable and can be The data have also been provided displayed in a clear graphical format. for data the use to want who or themselves, it analyse to want who those for exported other purposes. Link to website: http://data.dragonfly.co.nz/psc/ Fishing vessel and seabirds, Chatham Rise. Chatham and seabirds, vessel Fishing

Increasing awareness of seabirds, appreciating their appreciating of seabirds, awareness Increasing 30 A gap analysis. Our knowledge of New Zealand’s seabird populations is in the main seabird A gap analysis. Our knowledge of New Zealand’s for challenging environments places are remote Certainly New Zealand’s poor. petrel and large in these places some albatross However, surveying seabirds. Albatross of Conservation the for Agreement the by covered species ie. – species this. Also, criti- given priority and their monitoring reflects (ACAP) – are and Petrels in are Tern Fairy NZ and Island Taiko Chatham the as such species endangered cally well known. However, reasonably sites are such small numbers that their breeding our which for centres population to close and remote less sites many are there so for a inadequate, embarrassingly populations remains information of seabird Capital of the World”. country that prides itself as the “Seabird . Shearwater Books, Island Press, Washington DC. 146pp. Washington Roberts, C.M. 2007. The unnatural history of the sea. Shearwater Books, Island Press, 30 s – Tools for ConservationIbas – Tools for in public attitudes will be essential for chang- just as in the past, changes In the future, practices. es in environmental diversity, understanding their lives and the threats they face, requires advocacy and they face, requires their lives and the threats understanding diversity, seabird is that New Zealand’s IBA programme education. A key value of the global truly international context. seen in a species and local sites are diversity high seabird given New Zealand’s is a major challenge, seabirds Protecting mostly uninhab- species living in remote, number of globally threatened and the large For a country with the world’s long archipelago. a throughout ited places scattered population (ie. 4.4 million people) this is espe- small EEZ and a relatively fourth largest funding and people they breed), (ie. getting to where of logistics cially difficult in terms resourcing. a mosaic of locally identifiable presents site-based approach The IBA programme’s - a comprehen as a whole, the network provides sites that meet global criteria. Taken understanding of sea- including a greater seabirds, sive overview of New Zealand’s sites/colonies, moult – on land (breeding distribution, temporally and spatially bird sets, government agencies or in regional individually, and at sea. Taken and roosts) tangata whenua, non-governmental organisations, responsibilities, with environmental conservation can work together to ensure and individuals business, community groups retained. values are translocations, and suc- New Zealand is a world leader of eradication programmes, The country has turned a shocking record cessful agency/community-based projects. these of many of beneficiary the seabirds with around, loss habitat and extinctions of must turn our at risk at sea as well and we increasingly are But seabirds programmes. their habitats and their lives. throughout attention to protection conservation management by providing: will help seabird The IBA programme 1. Photo: Neville Peat Photo:

New Zealand Seabirds

Breaksea Island and Sound,Breaksea Island Fiordland. 30 2. Education and advocacy resources. The information generated for the project to date, including this document, can be used to showcase the importance of birds, especially seabirds. Forest & Bird’s response to Greenpeace oil spill modelling is an example where information can be used for a specific purpose (http://www. forestandbird.org.nz/files/file/Fact%20File_GPNZ%20Oil%20Trajectory%20Analy- sis_FB%20response.pdf). 3. Advocacy support for greater participation from agencies, tangata whenua, community groups (including restoration and supporters groups/trusts), business and landowners. 4. Support for existing agency actions, for example: National Plan of Action for Sea- birds (NPOA-Seabirds); DOC’s Conservation Services Programme (CSP); Project River Recovery; Hauraki Gulf Spatial Planning. Also, DOC’s Conservation Manage- ment Strategy (CMS) reviews. 5. DOC’s formerly active recovery programmes for threatened bird species have been under review (December 2013). The IBA network can support future measures and provide focus for partnerships to be developed with organisations involved in managing habitats supporting threatened species. 6. Support for tangata whenua through highlighting global values for sites and species that are taonga to individual iwi and hapu. 7. Support for existing community and supporters groups through the IBA status as globally important sites, and to assist with prioritisation of resources. There are many groups active throughout New Zealand, for example: Hauturu Little Barrier Supporters Trust, Miranda Shorebird Trust, Cape Sanctuary, Wairarapa Moana, Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay, Te Korowai Trust (Kaikoura), Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust, Banks Peninsula Trust, Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group, Te Waihora Ellesmere, BRaid, Otago Peninsula Trust, Southland Ecological Restoration Network, West Coast Penguin Trust and Chatham Island Taiko Trust. However, there are many parts of the country identified as IBAs for which there are no such support groups. 31 8. Identification of areas for developers to avoid or mitigate their impacts, and poten- tially where to invest in offsets.

Hutton’s Shearwater project, Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia/ Seaward Kaikoura Range. Banding shearwaters and one of the Kowhai Stream colony sites, Seaward Kaikoura Range. Photos: DOC, Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust

- 31

Photo: Henk Haazen Campbell Albatross research, Albatross Campbell Campbell Island. Campbell 28: 119-187. With the arrival of humans and their associated predators, seabirds With seabirds and their associated predators, the arrival of humans 32 Seabirds have evolved in the absence of ground-based predators, so predators, absence of ground-based have evolved in the Seabirds 33

Support for research programmes by emphasising the global context of many programmes Support for research Zea- New areas. foraging and sites breeding their seabirds, Zealand’s New of for seabird a world centre laboratory, as a key seabird land should be recognised Threat mapping. Data gathered of seabird distribution can be plotted against both of seabird mapping. Data gathered Threat and national spatial planning. in regional known and potential threats and conservation in New Zealand. On-going, long-term and well- research Seabird the conser within and re-prioritising funded, the world is watching us. Increasing - pro control weed and pest predator, (eg. measures control of Prioritisation which campaign, Zealand New Free Predator the of part is Bird & Forest grammes). populations as well as other native birds. would have enormous benefits for seabird have also will step first a as islands largest our of some from predators of Removal Barrier Island) and the potential Aotea (Great on huge benefits – eg. Black Petrel Island) such as (Stewart Rakiura on of seabirds of southern populations recovery for prions and storm petrels. and Mottled Petrels, Cook’s research. for the is room avenues that a small nation can pursue, but there vation vote are internationally funded schemes within New Zealand. development of large-scale Text provided by Rachel Buxton, University of Otago. provided Text species of the New Zealand region bird A. 2001. A working list of breeding H. & Tennyson, T. R.N., Worthy, Holdaway, at first human contact. New Zealand Journal of Ecology Towns, D.R., Ballantine, W.J. 1993. Conservation and restoration of New Zealand island ecosystems. 1993. Conservation and restoration D.R., Ballantine, W.J. Towns, Trends in Ecology & Evolution 8: 452-457. Trends

31 32 OF SEABIRD SITES ON MANAGEMENT CONSERVATI by an abun- indicate that mainland New Zealand was once populated Fossil records dance of seabirds. 11. 33 10. 12. 9. Aerial poison poisonAerial Aerial drop, Macauley drop, Macauley Island, KermadecIsland, KermadecIslands. Islands. Photo: Peter Dilks, DOC Photo: Peter Dilks, DOC - off predator-free to restricted now and are mainland the from eliminated largely were islands. shore

New Zealand Seabirds 32 New Zealand Seabirds 33

Photo: TOSSI Photo: David Cornick pen Sanctuary. Open Sanctuary. Fluttering Shearwaters Shearwaters Fluttering for Fluttering Shearwater Shearwater Fluttering for translocation, ana Island. M Installing artificial burrows burrows artificial Installing Tawharanui Tawharanui attracted to acoustic system, to acoustic attracted 34,35 On islands where seabird populations seabird On islands where

36 37 (F. Koike, M. Clout, M. Kawamichi, M. De Poorter, and K. Koike, M. Clout, M. Kawamichi, M. De Poorter, of Biological Invasion Risks (F. Assessment and Control Clout, M., Russell, J.C. 2006. The eradication of introduced mammals from New Zealand islands. Pages 127-141 mammals from Clout, M., Russell, J.C. 2006. The eradication of introduced Gland, Switzerland and Kyoto, Japan. Iwatsuki, Eds.). IUCN and Shoukadoh Book Sellers, and New Zealand: what have we delivered islands around of vertebrate pests from D.R. 2011. Eradication Towns, Eds.). M. Clout, and D.R. Towns, (C.R. Veitch, what have we learned? In Island invasives: eradication and management IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. on New Zealand population recovery Drivers of seabird D.R. in press. H., Towns, Jones, C.J., Moller, Buxton, R.T., eradication. Conservation Biology. islands after predator The Journal of Wildlife projects. active restoration of the world’s 2012. A review S.W. Kress, Jones, H.P., in Management 76: 2-9. 34 35 36 37 After predator removal, the restoration of seabird populations can be passive, where where can be passive, populations of seabird restoration the removal, After predator is manip- recovery or active, where naturally, or re-colonise to grow left populations are species do not begin to managers. Considering many seabird ulated by conservation if conditions sometimes skip breeding of age, lay one egg a year, until 5+ years breed can passive restoration to breed, to their natal site and often return not favourable, are likely to be suc- is more suggests that passive restoration Research be a slow process. colony. a nearby source cessful on islands with their populations are often decimated when mammals are introduced. introduced. are mammals when decimated often are populations their of island in the development a world leader New Zealand has become recently, More all date, To predators. of introduced the removal techniques – namely restoration - represent archipelago, the islands around over 90 from have been removed predators habitat. predator-free ha of newly ing over 30,000 are unlikely to recover naturally, several active restoration techniques have been de- techniques have restoration several active naturally, unlikely to recover are their natal site from transferred chicks are translocation, where veloped. These include to a site using artificial lured are birds and social attraction, where site, to a restoration call playback and decoys. social cues, such as Monitoring 38 An integral part of any conservation management programme is monitoring. Not only does monitoring estimate the success of conservation actions, it can also discover trends which may assist in better planning of future conservation management. How- ever, monitoring of New Zealand’s seabirds is especially challenging for many reasons: offshore, predator-free islands are hard and expensive to reach; over 40% of seabird species are nocturnal and burrow-nesting, making conventional monitoring techniques problematic; and the density of seabird colonies makes it difficult for researchers to avoid damaging and disrupting nests. Many innovative techniques have been created to overcome these challenges. New technology has allowed researchers to monitor the relative number of breeding birds remotely using automated acoustic and visual recording.39,40 Furthermore, with the advent of small infra-red cameras (burrow- scopes), complex multi-variate modelling, and GIS, population census of seabirds has become more accurate and repeatable.41,42

38 Text provided by Rachel Buxton, University of Otago. 39 Buxton, R.T., Jones, I.L. 2012. Measuring nocturnal seabird activity and status using acoustic recording devices: applications for island restoration. Journal of Field Ornithology 83:47-60 40 Huffeldt, N.P., Merkel, F.R. 2013. Remote time-lapse photography as a monitoring tool for colonial breeding seabirds: a case study using Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia). Waterbirds 36:330-341 41 Rayner, M.J., Clout, M., Stamp, R.K., Imber, M., Brunton, D.H., Hauber, M.E. 2007. Predictive habitat modelling for the population census of a burrowing seabird: a study of the endangered Cook’s petrel. Biological Conservation 138: 235-247 42 Whitehead, A., Lyver, P.O.B., Jones, C.J., Macleod, C., Bellingham, P.J., Coleman, M., Karl, B.J., Drew, K., Pairman, D., Gormley, A.M., Duncan, R.P. 2014. Re-establishment of customary seabird harvest using predictive habitat models to estimate breeding-pair population sizes. Biological Conservation 169:106-116

Surveying burrows, Burgess Island, Hauraki Gulf. Photo: Chris Gaskin

34 New Zealand Seabirds

Installing remote recording devices, Te Hauturu-o-Toi/ Little Barrier Island. Photo: Chris Gaskin

Surveying Black-billed Gulls, Canterbury. Photo: Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group

New Zealand Seabirds 35 Photo: Joy Sagar

. on Grey-headed nesting Checking band numbers Albatrosses, Campbell Island. Island. Campbell Albatrosses, . As ‘citizen scientists’ Monitoring 43 we can collect data, vital to cutting-edge research, that depends on the birds that are all that are that depends on the birds we can collect data, vital to cutting-edge research, us. Armed with our observations, scientists will continue to uncover new ways to around – and to our fate. in birds glimpse our future don’t that ways of variety a through contribute can groups and individuals seabirds, With and estuary surveys, counts of river-mouth specialist skills. For example, river, require (eg. gulls, terns and shags), at-sea observations, and seabirds surface- and tree-nesting or beaches) or (eg. penguins on rocks activity along shorelines signs of seabird recording near trails in bush). In each case interaction or dead seabirds on land (eg. active burrows is kept to an absolute minimum. What is important is that observations are with birds (www such as eBird online resources accurately and this can be done through recorded branches. & Bird and Forest .com), or by contacting OSNZ representatives ebird sought for field . Fit people with experience are volunteers require projects Research outlined above can gain skills and familiarity work. Participants in the types of projects and encourage younger people to become interested . Such projects required with what’s . research active in seabird THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY (CITIZEN) SCIENCE mysterious about science. Any intelligent and committed person can nothing There’s science is a deeply human by the need to know, become involved. Driven by curiosity, to recognise we try got when best we’ve the it’s perfect. But such, is not and, as activity and then develop mechanisms for minimising those trends destructive environmental for that job and too few full-time researchers, is too little money, negative impacts. There community the broader to be done well without serious input from with friends and and the supplementary documents report this Publicise: share and send the links online IBA resources colleagues; become familiar with the people. to interested IBA to local people and government; talk Champion: publicise the value of your . groups friends, schools or special interest to your community – to neighbours, group. regional or a larger support group a local IBA Join a team: join or create to monitor an IBA. Observe and monitor an IBA; volunteer projects and revegetation pest control Practical conservation: volunteer for in an IBA. carbon footprint. your Climate consciousness: reduce OSNZ or a local support group. & Bird, Sponsor: donate to Forest Politics: campaign and vote for conservation. Adopt an IBA. New York. 248pp. New York. Their fate is our fate: How birds foretell threats to our health and our world. The Experiment, threats foretell 2012. Their fate is our fate: How birds P.C. Doherty, 43 Helping Iba ConservationHelping and (OSNZ) encourage you to help monitor New Zealand Birds and & Bird Forest . and conserve IBAs help, you can: To • • • • • • • • •

44 Photo: Fergus Sutherland Photo: Fergus Planting dayPlanting Rere Point, Te at Catlins. 45 Photo: Nicky McArthur

Action Plan for Seabird Conservation in New Zealand. Threatened Species Occasional Publication Conservation in New Zealand. Threatened G.A. 2000B. Action Plan for Seabird Taylor, No. 17. Department of Conservation, Wellington.

Studying seabird data. data. seabird Studying Photo: Andy Farrant – Hutton’s winds to the four Feathers Kaikoura dawn Shearwater/Titi ceremony. 44 45 Ibid A truly national seabird colony register would enable records to be kept of all seabird to be kept of all seabird enable records would register colony seabird A truly national be a database that will in will be stored The information in New Zealand. colony sites managers. and researchers seabird available to bonafide made freely Working Towards a New Zealand Zealand a New Towards Working ColonySeabird Register Through the initiative of the IBA project, and funding from both the BirdLife Interna- both the BirdLife from and funding of the IBA project, the initiative Through - made of rel were searches & Bird, Conservation Fund and Forest tional Community colonies of seabird records to locate expert advice and review through evant literature, has been entered IBA project database. All data compiled for this for loading onto the Union) and all the IBA site Seabird Colony Register (World Seabird into the new Global Da- Bird into the World entered for the New Zealand IBAs are entries and polygons The New Zealand International/Conservation International). tabase (WBDB) (BirdLife databases. these will be developed from Colony Register Seabird updated after recent will be known colonies on previously information In the future, will enable found. The register as they are will be entered visits and new colonies readily identified for purposes such as to be sites and habitats all significant seabird and management with along hearings management resource and planning statutory distribu- the on information to access allow quick also will register The uses. scientific can check the database People visiting an area tion and status of individual species. last made of that site and when counts were from known colonies are to see if seabird the populations.

New Zealand Seabirds 36 New Zealand Seabirds 37 Photo: Chris Gaskin

Photo: DOC at Farewell Spit. Farewell at Gannet colony and monitoring erosion SNZ members surveying Australasian Australasian surveying members OSNZ NZ Fairy Tern public public Tern Fairy NZ Hauraki Gulf. Hauraki Gulf. relations at Pakiri Beach, Beach, Pakiri relations at areas marine IBAs for pelagic Identify more (see pages 38-39)– land, water and shorebirds groups Identify IBAs for other bird stakeholders and landowners and identify Consult with tangata whenua, other for IBAs conservation requirements IBA Assess the monitoring status of each for all New Zealand IBAs Set out a long-term monitoring plan for IBAs Prioritise the need for conservation action information about IBAs Continue to gather and disseminate with local and regional Undertake community education programmes, levels to establish and government agencies at national and regional groups, IBA support groups for As new information becomes available, continue to solicit IBA nominations sites that meet the criteria. Next Steps for the New Zealand Zealand the New Next for Steps Iba Programme on land, and a further significance for seabirds have identified 141 sites of global We we will: IBAs). Over the next phase of the project (marine 69 in the marine environment • • • • • • • • •

Threatened – Nationally Threatened vulnerable – Nationally critical Threatened Threatened – Nationally Threatened endangered – Nationally Threatened vulnerable – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened At risk – Recovering Threatened – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened Threatened – Nationally Threatened endangered NZ Threat classification (2012) NZ Threat At risk – Naturally uncommon At risk – Naturally uncommon – Nationally Threatened / Vulnerable endangered 46 VU VU VU VU VU CR CR EN EN EN EN EN EN EN EN IUCN Category Strigops habroptila Coenocorypha pusilla Apteryx haastii Nestor meridionalis Cyanoramphus forbesi Haematopus chathamensis Anas nesiotis Anas chlorotis Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos Himantopus novaezelandiae Petroica traversi Petroica Cyanoramphus unicolor Lewinia muelleri Anas aucklandica Botaurus poiciloptilus Species

categories (eg. Auckland Island and Campbell Island Teal) The New Zealand Threat Classification system recognises sub-species, a number of which fall into different recognises sub-species, a number of which fall into different Classification system The New Zealand Threat

Kakapo Chatham Snipe Spotted Kiwi Great Kaka Chatham Parakeet Chatham Oystercatcher Campbell Island Teal Brown Teal Brown Blue Duck Black Stilt Black Robin Antipodes Parakeet Auckland Islands Rail Auckland Islands Teal Australasian Bittern Common Name 46 Table 1. Threat classifications for New Zealand land, water and shorebird species and shorebird water land, Zealand New classifications for 1. Threat Table Least concern International). not included. Life (IUCN/Bird The IBA network for New Zealand will only be complete when sites are identified for identified are sites when complete be only will Zealand New for network IBA The 1). There – see Table those for seabirds sites other than (ie. of birds other groups will which those birds when considering ahead, especially challenges considerable are restricted have very a number of species an IBA. While trigger species for as figure Hihi/Stitchbird), Parakeet, (Malherbe’s) Orange-fronted Kakapo, Takahe, ranges (eg. Rock (South (eg. populations small and scattered and distribution wide have some s for other Bird Groups Bird other s for Iba Island) Wren, Kea). Birds such as Blue Duck fall between with scattered populations populations between with scattered such as Blue Duck fall Kea). Birds Wren, Island) relative- known and their extent for the most part sites that are confined to rivers, be to have also will distributions non-breeding and Breeding determined. easily ly New Zealand (eg. Wrybill, for migratory species moving within taken into account and Banded Dotterel). Oystercatcher South Island Pied scope of this document. How- will be completed is beyond the How the IBA network waders) involvement with databases (eg. Atlas projects, its Bird through OSNZ ever, to take a major role. is well placed and eBird

New Zealand Seabirds 38 Rock Wren (South Island) abchick (New Zealand Grebe) DabchickZealand (New NZ Red-crowned (Red-fronted)Red-crowned Parakeet

New Zealand Seabirds 39 Photo: Frederic Pelsy Photo: Frederic Yellowhead (Mohua). Yellowhead Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened At risk – Recovering Threatened – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Threatened – Nationally Threatened critical/Vulnerable – Nationally Threatened vulnerable/At risk – Recovering Not threatened At Risk – Naturally uncommon At risk – Recovering At risk – recovering – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Threatened – Nationally Threatened endangered Threatened – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened – Nationally Threatened endangered/Vulnerable – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Not threatened Threatened – Nationally critical Threatened Data Deficient – Nationally Threatened endangered – Nationally Threatened vulnerable Threatened – Nationally Threatened endangered – Nationally Threatened endangered At risk – Recovering VU VU VU VU VU VU VU VU CR NT NT NT NT NT NT EN EN EN EN EN EN DD Photo: Karen Baird Photo: Karen Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae Apteryx rowi Falco novaeseelandiae Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae Coenocorypha aucklandica Apteryx mantelli Apteryx owenii Poliocephalus rufopectus Charadrius obscurus Nestor notabilis Callaeas cinereus Gallirallus australis Anarhynchus frontalis Cyanoramphus auriceps Mohoua ochrocephala Callaeas cinerea Apteryx australis Notiomystis cincta Porphyrio hochstetteri Xenicus gilviventris Philesturnus carunculatus Thinornis novaeseelandiae Cyanoramphus malherbi Blue Duck.Blue Photo: Frederic Pelsy Photo: Frederic Red-crowned Red-crowned Parakeet (Red-fronted) Okarito Brown Kiwi Okarito Brown New Zealand Falcon New Zealand Pigeon New Zealand Snipe Kiwi Northern Brown Little Spotted Kiwi NZ Dabchick (New Zealand Grebe) New Zealand Dotterel Orange-fronted Parakeet (Malherbe’s) Kea North Island Kokako Weka Wrybill Yellow-crowned Parakeet Yellowhead South Island Kokako Kiwi Southern Brown Stitchbird Takahe Rock (South Island) Wren Saddleback Plover Shore Rock Wren. Rock Wren.

Photo: Hadoram Photo: Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenoses Project Project Shirihai © Tubenoses Photo: Stephen Totterman Sooty Shearwaters. Sooty Shearwaters. Te Papa scientists at Vanuatu Vanuatu Papa scientistsTe at Petrel colony.Petrel

, 332, doi:DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1330. 2 Photo: Matt Jolly * Photo: Abe Borker orotiri, Morotiri, refuge, Seabird French Polynesia. French Polynesia. Photo: Abe Borker

Sooty Shearwaters off Santa Cruz, Santa off Sooty Shearwaters USA. California, New Zealand, and New Zealanders working with seabirds, can take a leading role role leading can take a with seabirds, working Zealanders Zealand, and New New tracking the migration of through conservation in the Pacific, whether it’s in seabird existing forums participation in seabirds, New Zealand and Pacific Island-breeding local level, contributing at a more Union), or, Seabird RFMOs, CMS, World (eg. ACAP, and community conservation projects. research expertise to individual seabird * Rayner, M.J., Hauber, M.E., Steeves, T.E., Lawrence, H.A., Thompson, D.R., Sagar, H.A., Thompson, D.R., Sagar, Lawrence, M.E., Steeves, T.E., M.J., Hauber, * Rayner, S.A. 2011. Contemporary L., Shaffer, Phillips, R.A., Ranjard, S.J., Landers, T.J., Bury, P.M., between two genetically distinctand historic separation of transhemispheric migration Communications Nature populations. seabird etrels occupy the entire Pacific basin during their their during basin occupy Pacific petrels the entire Cook’s the of cycle to the waters populations with annual migrating Peru (Rayner off current et al. Humboldt and the North Pacific 2011). sity of a number of countries for periods of time. As a nation we share responsibility responsibility share we nation a As time. of periods for countries of number a of sity and our entry to the global IBA region the Pacific throughout conservation for seabird sea- one quarter of the world’s for over of sites presented network and the inventory the importance of this. species highlights bird A large proportion of the seabirds breeding in New Zealand are highly migratory spe- Zealand are in New breeding of the seabirds proportion A large waters, mostly in the to EEZs of other countries and international cies which disperse and Indian oceans. Our New also moving into the South Atlantic Pacific Ocean, but of the marine biodiver can form a significant component seabirds Zealand breeding acific the P Across – Working Open Oceans

New Zealand Seabirds 40 Critically, the breeding sites of a number of petrel species remain undiscovered in the South and Equatorial Pacific, and therefore much of their biology is unknown. There are species which are difficult to access, their breeding sites seldom surveyed (if at all), and consequently their biology and populations poorly known. New species are being ‘discovered’ at the same time they (and others) could be threatened with extinction. Even some well-known species are in serious decline. It’s a dire situation requiring urgent action. Recent discoveries serve as a wake-up call. They are reminders there is a great deal to learn about seabirds throughout the Pacific: • A new species of seabird, the Pincoya Storm Petrel in Chile • The possibility of a ‘Coral Sea Storm Petrel’ from sightings off New Caledonia and eastern Australia • The discovery in 2013 of the breeding site of the New Zealand Storm Petrel, thought extinct until its rediscovery ten years before, only 40km from the centre of New Zealand’s largest city.

ADVOCATING SEABIRD PROTECTION Pincoya Storm Petrel. IN GLOBAL FISHERIES Photo: Peter Harrison BirdLife International and partners including Forest & Bird, through the Global Seabird Programme, work with Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) across the world’s oceans to advocate for protection of species vulnerable to fisheries such as albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters. RFMOs are organisations set up primarily for the management of highly prized tuna and swordfish. They also have obligations to conserve fisheries associated-species including seabirds, sharks and turtles through the international legal framework governing the oceans, including agreements such as the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. New Zealand government agencies (MPI, DOC) are also actively involved in promoting conservation measures through these forums.

Pacific-Wide Seabird Partnership 41

A Pacific-wide seabird partnership is required, one that can pursue an action plan for New Zealand Seabirds seabirds that: 1. Provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the Pacific’s seabirds 2. Encompasses seabird distribution, breeding sites and migration for all Pacific seabirds 3. Sets out priorities for seabird research and conservation throughout the Pacific 4. Recognises that collaboration between government agencies, conservation groups, and researchers working in the Pacific is necessary to secure protection for seabirds throughout their life history stages.

SHOWING THE WAY The East Asia-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) aims to protect migratory waterbirds (ie. shorebirds, ducks, geese, swans and cranes), their habitat and the livelihoods of people dependent on them. It is a network of partners within the East Asia-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), which is one of nine major migratory routes currently recognised globally. The EAAF extends from breeding grounds within the Arctic Circle, through East and South-east Asia, to Australia and New Zealand, stretching across 22 countries. A higher number and proportion of waterbirds are globally threatened in the EAAF than in any of the other seven major flyways of the world. Habitat loss and degradation is the primary driver of these trends. The EAAFP has a Seabird Working Group, however, seabirds are greatly overshadowed by the attention given to other bird groups.47

47 K. Woodley, manager Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand (pers. comm.)

Godwit flock, Firth of Thames, New Zealand. Photo: Neil Fitzgerald Red-tailed Tropicbird, Kermadec Islands. Photo: Karen Baird New Zealand A Special Place for Seabirds

Campbell Albatrosses. Photo: Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenoses Project FACT FILE

Seabirds • There are around 10,400 species of birds worldwide. • Remarkably, only 359 of the global total of birds are what we call ‘seabirds’. • Seabirds breed on land, but spend most of their lives at sea. • They are essentially marine creatures and possess unique physiological and morphological adaptations. • They can be highly mobile, and in some cases the whole population of a species can travel from one side of an ocean to another. • They come in all shapes and sizes and are highly specialised.

New Zealand is a world centre of seabird diversity and is ideally suited to seabirds: • Surrounded by productive oceans, presenting a multitude of breeding habitats • Isolated from mammalian predators for millions of years prior to human arrival • 86 breeding species (using IUCN classifications) • 36 are endemic species (42%) breeding nowhere else in the world • 140 species of the 359 seabirds are known to occur within New Zealand’s EEZ, including species breeding outside the region • New Zealand has more endemic and native seabirds (86 species) than the total of endemic and native land, water and shore birds combined (73 species).

New Zealand Seabirds Globally threatened Seabirds density

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

This density map shows tracking of threatened seabirds (albatrosses and petrels) across the world’s oceans highlighting NZ’s position as a global hotspot for seabirds. That status is further enhanced if one considers the concentration and diversity of penguin and shag species breeding here. Source: BirdLife International’s Global Seabird Tracking Database (2012) HOW MANY SEABIRDS BREED IN NEW ZEALAND?

>1 million pairs 100,000-500,000 pairs (n=12) 10,000-100,000 pairs (n=22) (n=5) Black-backed Gull Rockhopper Penguin Sooty Shearwater Broad-billed Prion Erect-crested Penguin Black-winged Petrel Mottled Petrel Snares Crested Penguin Fairy Prion Cooks Petrel Blue Penguin White-faced Storm Petrel Grey-faced Grey Petrel Common Diving Petrel (Great-winged) Petrel Spotted Shag White-headed Petrel Campbell Albatross Buller’s Shearwater Buller’s Albatross Antarctic Prion Salvin’s Albatross Little Shearwater Fulmar Prion White-capped Albatross White-naped White-chinned Petrel (White-necked) Petrel Hutton’s Shearwater Pycroft’s Petrel Flesh-footed Shearwater Wedge-tailed Shearwater Fluttering Shearwater Grey-backed Storm Petrel Australasian Gannet Red-billed Gull Black-billed Gull White-fronted Tern Grey Ternlet (Grey Noddy) Sooty Tern

All other species (n=47) have less than <10,000 pairs each.48 Total number of seabirds breeding in New Zealand is c.14 million pairs. 45

48 Information provided by Graeme Taylor, Department of Conservation New Zealand Seabirds

Northern Royal Albatross, Kaikoura. Photo: Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenoses Project

CHARACTERISTICS OF SEABIRDS Seabirds have evolved from a wide range of different taxonomic groups. Common to all is that they spend some part of their life cycle feeding over the open sea. This separates seabirds from waders that feed in the littoral zone or on shorelines and from species that regularly roost at sea such as ducks and swans. Seabirds have water resistant feathering (from oils in the preen gland) that enable them to fully immerse in salt water. They have webbed feet that allow them to swim in water and can readily become airborne off the water. Most seabirds have short legs and powerful wings or flippers. All have bills with sharp hooks, points, or filters which enable them to catch fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and plankton. Lastly, seabirds can drink saltwater and have physiological adaptations for removing excess salt. From Taylor, G.A. (2000a) Action Plan for Seabird Conservation in New Zealand. Department of Conservation, Wellington.

- Photo: Chris Gaskin All seabirds breeding within New Zealand are fully or in a few cases partially protected protected partially cases few a in or fully are Zealand New within breeding seabirds All Wildlifeunder the Black- is, with one exception; amendments. That Act 1953 and its 5 of the Wildlife under Schedule breed not protected Seabirds Act. are backed Gulls of by Department administered that are and coastal sites number of island on a large and local iwi. Seabirds landowners authorities, private (DOC), regional Conservation under also covered Zealand, are in New breed waters, but don’t that visit New Zealand the Wildlife Act. Wildlifethe under status 1953 protection Act varying have sites mainland and Islands Reserve, Wildlife including Recreation and Reserves Act 1977 Reserve, Refuge, Scientific National Reserve and categories: Wilderness Nature and the highest protection Area, classifica- their protection locations can be dependent upon Park. Access to these a written landing permit. with the Reserves Act and may require tion in accordance DOC, following permission from research requires with seabirds In general any work is dependent upon perceived tangata whenua. Such permission consultation with rotection of New Zealand Seabirds Seabirds ProtectionZealand New of Legal conservation benefit to the species and overall research value. research and overall conservation benefit to the species managed to that are of the sea and foreshore specified areas are Marine reserves as the habitat of marine life for scientific study. them in their natural state preserve natural that contain underwater scenery, in areas may be established Marine reserves unique or typical, beautiful or so distinctive quality, of such marine life or features, Within all in the national interest. is a marine reserve that their continued preservation removal or disturbance of any living or non- and the and fishing marine life is protected, except as necessary for permitted monitoring or is prohibited, living marine resource any matter or building dumping or discharging This includes dredging, research. ecosystem benefits for seabirds. are there enough, large If they are structures. New Zealand fisher been established throughout have Marine mammal sanctuaries for marine mammals. Such sanctuaries may a permanent refuge ies waters to create marine mammal species, such as dolphins, activities known to harm particular prohibit a marine mammal sanctuary may not exclude whales, seals and sea lions. For example, what fishing methods may be used. Under the restrict all fishing activities, but may the Department of Conservation is responsible Act 1978, Marine Mammals Protection set net bans are mammal sanctuaries. Where for administering and managing marine species, especially a number of various seabird is a major benefit to in place there penguin, shag and shearwater species. for the utilisation of fisheries The purpose of the Fisheries Act 1996 is to provide “Ensuring sustainability” is defined by the Act while ensuring sustainability. resources - reasonably foresee to meet the resources as maintaining the potential of fisheries any adverse or mitigating generations, and avoiding, remedying, able needs of future Further impe- which includes seabirds. of fishing on the aquatic environment, effects Section 9 of the through is provided tus to manage the impacts of fishing on seabirds

New Zealand Seabirds

Curtis and Cheeseman Islands, Kermadec Islands Reserves. Marine and Nature 46 New Zealand Seabirds 47

Photo: DOC Grey-faced (Great-winged) (Great-winged) Grey-faced Petrel/oi.

51 ori -

49 36: 1-20 24: 169-180. in prehistoric New Zealand, but es- but Zealand, New prehistoric in ori - ori have had a special interest. ‘Mutton- interest. have had a special ori - The National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOA-S) is a single single a is (NPOA-S) Seabirds for Action of Plan National The and been developed jointly between DOC issue plan that has considerable with (MPI) Industries Primary for Ministry the strate- The plan sets out a long-term stakeholder input (2012). the incidental by-catch of seabirds to reducing gic approach zones or by New Zealand-flagged in New Zealand fisheries priori- fisheries. The NPOA-S informs the vessels in high-seas and to interactions between fisheries ties on issues relating of effects this plan does not cover indirect Although seabirds. - altera through example, (for seabirds on fishing commercial - food availability), the Draft Conserva tion of habitat and/or Ma Archaeological data indicates that harvesting that indicates data Archaeological 50 17: 35-55 New Zealand Journal of Ecology Towns, D.R., Bellingham, P.J., Mulder, C.P.H., Lyver, P.O.B. 2012. A research strategy for biodiversity conservation on strategy 2012. A research P.O.B. Lyver, C.P.H., Mulder, D.R., Bellingham, P.J., Towns, islands. New Zealand Journal of Ecology offshore New Zealand’s Zealand. of Archaeology Lyver, P. O’B. 2000. Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) harvest intensity and selectivity on Poutama Island, New P. Lyver, in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal muttonbirding aspects of Anderson, A. 1997. Historical and archaeological was widely practised by practised widely was Seabirds are harvested in many parts of the world for food. In world many parts of the in harvested are Seabirds timates of the period of intense exploitation remain uncertain. exploitation remain of the period of intense timates 49 birding’ is the body of techniques whereby the chicks and fledg- is the body of techniques whereby birding’ - and pre caught, processed are lings of various Procellariiformes food. for served New Zealand Aotearoa Ma Aotearoa Zealand New Tangata Whenua Tangata with Ma a relationship The New Zealand government has - the environmen account take into to decision-makers which requires Act, Fisheries (which species dependent or 1) associated include: which in the Act, tal provisions includes seabirds) should be maintained above a level that ensures their long-term their long-term a level that ensures be maintained above should seabirds) includes be main- should environment of the aquatic the biological diversity and 2) viability, 2011). tained (DOC tion Services Programme (CSP) Strategic Statement (2013) sets out indirect effects as effects Statement (2013) sets out indirect (CSP) Strategic tion Services Programme priority. a research (RMA) under Section 6 (Matters of National Management Act (1991) The Resource of preservation for the and provision recognition example, for Importance) requires, (including the coastal marine area), environment the natural character of the coastal indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of of significant of areas the protection indigenous fauna. through the Treaty of Waitangi that is enshrined in legislation of Waitangi the Treaty through Act, 1987). This relationship (eg. Section 4 of the Conservation reflected that are carries with it opportunities and obligations - Strategy (NZBS): pro in goals of the New Zealand Biodiversity building biodiversity, iwi have in indigenous tecting the interests agencies, and with Crown their partnerships and strengthening biodiversity. conserving and sustainably using indigenous Sooty Shearwater (tı¯tı¯) and Grey-faced (Great-winged) Petrel (oi), Petrel (Great-winged) and Grey-faced Sooty Shearwater (tı¯tı¯) islands, are the latter harvested occasionally on northern offshore governed by the following legislation: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1978/0059/ latest/DLM61925.html http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1979/0237/ latest/whole.html#DLM67092OUR 50 51 Fisheries

l - t l - ori - − muttonbirding – − muttonbirding l - Responsible t l - Islands at the time. l - t for l - ori have never - Islands. Prior to 1998 l - t Conduct l - of Code Islands Administering Body ‘T l - t l - ori are also guaranteed by the 1864 Deed also ori are - ori people of New Zealand’s southernmost region region southernmost of New Zealand’s ori people (FAO) - ori, the Ma - Islands, which up until the Ngai Tahu Claims the Ngai Tahu Islands, which up until l - t l - (Muttonbird) Islands Regulations 1978, people can arrive from people can arrive from Regulations 1978, Islands (Muttonbird) dingonbir utt to m rights ori Organisation l - t - l - . l - t l - ori have used muttonbirds for food, as a trade item, and for their for food, as a trade item, ori have used muttonbirds - Agriculture Under the T . Under the and They can harvest chicks each year from 1 April to year from harvest chicks each Island. They can Stewart Islands, around ori to harvest t l - - t l - and their descendants, have rights to gather muttonbirds on 36 islands, known as the 36 islands, known on to gather muttonbirds have rights and their descendants, T Under subsequent regulation, 18 of the T . Under subsequent regulation, of Cession of Stewart Island . cultural and economic significance feathers and down. The harvest has huge history Rakiura Ma plentiful, and in recorded are Muttonbirds rown, subject to the right of Rakiura subject Crown, by the owned and controlled they were Ma Rakiura Ma The remaining 18 are 18 are and right of access. The remaining families have joint ownership T known as the Rakiura From Philip Lyver, Jamie Newman and the Rakiura T Philip Lyver, From MāA Rakiura Island) Ma Rakiura (Stewart 31 May . for the season to prepare 15 March rights of Rakiura Ma The muttonbirding rown T also known as the Crown Settlement Act 1998 were eneficial Islands, to which only certain Rakiura Ma termed Beneficial Islands, to Islands are Muttonbirding in New Zealand’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 22-Sep-12 Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, in New Zealand’, Te Muttonbirding Harvest-management systems on each of the islands are the islands are imposed a catch quota. Harvest-management systems on each of who or by the muttonbirders determined by traditional guidelines (kaitiakitanga) forms of management: 1/ A closed two main are 1 April. There before arrive there and 2/ an open system, families have a designated harvesting area system, where on the island. anywhere individuals have the right to harvest chicks from where method systems have changed over the years, depending on the Muttonbirding T the Rakiura beneficiaries and the 18 Crown by most preferred Photos: Frederic Pelsy Pelsy Photos: Frederic Photos: Frederic Food International Obligations International under have committed, nations island Pacific other New Zealand government and The - negative human impacts on the environ reducing to several multi-lateral agreements, and conservation action for wildlife. of protection levels greater ment and providing these towards can help to track progress programmes Data collected under BirdLife or to, or participates in, the following agreements New Zealand is a signatory targets. to seabirds: conventions with relevance • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (ACAP) and Petrels for the Conservation of Albatrosses • Agreement • International Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (UNFSA) • United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement • (SPRFMO) • South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) • Western Commission (IATTC) Tuna Tropical • Inter-American (CCSBT) • Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCAMLR). Marine Living Resources • Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic

New Zealand Seabirds (top) and Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenose Project Project (top) and Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenose (top) and Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenose

Sooty Shearwaters. SootySooty Shearwaters. Shearwaters. 48 New Zealand Seabirds 49 knowledge sustainable ecosystems, mainstreaming by promote planning, loss and safeguarding by participatory biodiversity biodiversity of on biodiversity through causes of 52

pressures 53 status the underlying direct implementation the the improve To Address Enhance Reduce C: E: A: B: Source: Baird, K.A., Taylor, P., Small, C. 2012. Potential Impact of Fishing Activity in the SPRFMO P., Taylor, K.A., Baird, Source: Goal Goal Goal Goal – Take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to order in biodiversity of loss the halt to action urgent and effective Take – management and capacity building species and genetic diversity biodiversity and ecosystem services Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from Strategic Strategic use Strategic biodiversity across government and society biodiversity across Strategic • • Aichi Biodiversity Targets • • GICAL DIVERSITY THE CONVENTION ON BIOLO – Living in Harmony with Nature Vision and wisely used, maintaining ecosys- restored By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, and delivering benefits essential for all people. tem services, sustaining a healthy planet Mission services, essential and continue to provide resilient that by 2020 ecosystems are ensure variety of life, and contributing to human well-being, and securing the planet’s thereby are ecosystems reduced, on biodiversity are this, pressures ensure poverty eradication. To sustainably used and benefits arising out of utilization are resources biological restored, - resourc financial adequate manner; equitable and fair a in shared are resources genetic of issues and values mainstreamed, enhanced, biodiversity capacities are provided, es are and decision-making is based on sound implemented, effectively policies are appropriate . approach science and the precautionary • http://www.cbd.int/sp/elements, viewed 12 Feb 2014 http://www.cbd.int/sp/elements, viewed 12 Feb 2014 http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/default.shtml, 52 53 verlap between the management area of the South Pacific Fisheries Management Fisheries the South Pacific the management area of between Overlap species,seabird pelagic and Organisation species all (left) and non- breeding during (right). breeding Area to Seabirds. Swg-11-INF-02 (rev1) presented at the 11th Meeting of the Science Working Group, Lima, Peru, 15-19 Group, Working at the 11th Meeting of the Science presented Swg-11-INF-02 (rev1) to Seabirds. Area October 2012 New Zealand Seabird Setting New Zealand is an archipelago comprising three major islands and more than 700 offshore islands and islets. The country spans 30 degrees of latitude (26°S-56°S) and includes a high diversity of seafloor relief, including deep sea trenches. One, the Kerma- dec Trench, is more than 10km deep. The latitudinal spread of New Zealand, coupled with the varied seafloor relief, is mirrored by the wide diversity of marine habitats. The country influences the flow of the major water masses and results in shelf-edge currents and oceanic eddies that interact with coastal waters over shelf areas, bringing oceanic water into the coastal zone. New Zealand is an ideal setting for seabirds – a wide variety of habitats and places to breed, and surrounded by productive waters.

Aqua MODIS (NASA) image across part of New Zealand and the EEZ showing chlorophyll-a (phytoplankton) concentrations, highlighting upwelling, convergence and current zones. Source: http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/image_ archive.cgi?c=CHLOROPHYLL

CREATING A DYNAMIC MAP FOR NEW ZEALAND’S SEABIRDS Seabird colonies • Breeding (season) – ie. spring/summer (eg. Cook’s Petrel), summer/autumn (Ker- 50 madec Petrel), autumn/winter (eg. New Zealand and White-bellied Storm Petrels), winter/spring (eg. Grey-faced Petrel), or through most of the year (eg. Pied Shag). New Zealand Seabirds • Latitudinal variation within a species – eg. White-faced Storm Petrel (Hauraki Gulf, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Subantarctic Islands; Cook’s Petrel (Te Hauturu- o-Toi/Little Barrier Island and Whenua Hou/Codfish island), Little Shearwater (Kermadec Islands, Hauraki Gulf, Chatham Islands, Antipodes Islands). • Breeding cycle (annual or biennial) – annual (most seabirds), biennial (some albatross species), two years on, two years off (large albatrosses). • Non-breeders include birds too young and inexperienced to nest successfully, and those lacking nests or partners. Others are birds that formerly bred but for various reasons are not currently doing so – they may have lost their nest or their partner. Failed breeders join the non-breeding category later in the season.54 Where pre-breeders spend most of their time before they start breeding is still largely unknown for most species; however, it is likely many will visit natal sites through this period. • Resident all-year round – species that disperse to moult or migrate will vacate colony sites for several months each year; however some species can spread their breeding through much of the year (eg. Pied Shag) or will use colony sites for roosting during non-breeding periods. • Environmental variation – for example, during El Nino and La Nina years – can affect the proportion of seabirds that breed in a particular year.

54 Warham, J. 1990. The Petrels: Their Ecology and Breeding Systems. Academic Press, London. 440pp.

Cook’s Petrels rafting in Hauraki Gulf. Photo: Abe Borker Seaward extensions Seaward extensions are those areas out from colonies that are important to seabirds. They are parts of the marine environment which are used by the colony for feeding, maintenance behaviours and social interactions. Such extension areas are generally limited by the foraging range, depth and/or habitat preferences of the species concerned, however, they also cover the passage of pelagic species in and out their colonies. Kermadec Petrel. Stewart Island Shag. Photo: Frederic Pelsy Photo: Chris Gaskin

Pelagic areas Pelagic species are those seabirds that feed in areas remote from land. Foraging areas change through different stages of breeding (ie. pre-laying, incubation and chick-rearing stages). Historically our understanding of distribution has been gained from boat-based observations of where birds congregate to feed at sea and from collecting colony-based datasets, such as the length of adult foraging trips away from breeding colonies that can be extrapolated to interpret likely foraging distance. In recent years however this fairly coarse understanding of seabird foraging ecology is being transformed through the use of bird-borne tracking devices, which are radically changing our knowledge of seabird foraging ecology and behaviour. While research in this area is proliferating, coverage of both species and study sites/colonies remains patchy, thus our understanding of distribution in the pelagic zone is in a formative state. Despite this, the picture that’s emerging from the tracking studies and other data of how New Zealand breeding seabirds use the marine environment is both complex and far reaching. It must take account of breeders and non- or pre-breeders, as well as birds foraging extensively in areas outside the New Zealand EEZ – eg. Grey-faced (Great-winged) Petrel, Antipo- dean Albatross, Chatham Island Taiko (Magenta Petrel).

NZ White-capped Albatross. Photo: Abe Borker Post-breeding distribution Animal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individuals on an annual or seasonal basis, triggered by local climate, food availability or for mating reasons. For some seabirds this means heading thousands of kilometres to the Northern Hemisphere; others will stay within the Southern Hemisphere. However, post-breeding behaviour is not always clear cut. For example, some adult Australasian Gannet migrate to Australia yet most stay in New Zealand all year around. Fledglings by contrast fly from New Zealand to Australia directly and typically do not return to their home colonies until their third year.55 About 95% of Grey-faced (Great-winged) Petrels migrate to eastern Australia each summer but a few stay near New Zealand. Similarly some Chatham Islands Taiko (Magenta Petrel) go to South America, some to the Tas- man Sea and others go only short distances north of the Chatham Islands in winter. Within New Zealand’s EEZ Many Fluttering Shearwaters remain locally, although birds from the Hauraki Gulf have been found to disperse to Subantarctic waters, and also Australian waters.56 Pre-breeders can also spend time in Australian waters. Yellow-eyed Penguins are for the most part sedentary throughout the year, with some, mostly young birds, straggling outside their home range. Little Penguins can spend time further out to sea from the breeding areas post-breeding. Shag, gull and tern species, eg. Spotted Shags, congregate in places away from breeding sites (eg. Oamaru and Timaru Harbours, Ashburton River and Ashley Estuary). Red- billed Gulls in the Hauraki Gulf appear to congregate around winter feeding grounds, possibly from a number of breeding sites. Inland breeding Black-fronted Terns disperse to the coasts around the eastern and southern South Island with some spending time in the North Island and Rakiura (Stewart Island).

55 Ismar, S.M.H. 2013. Australasian gannet. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz 52 56 Taylor unpubl. data New Zealand Seabirds

Diminutive White-faced Storm Petrels migrate to eastern Pacific Ocean. Photo: Neil Fitzgerald Sooty Shearwater distribution during breeding and on migration (Shaffer et al).1 Map: BirdLife International

1. Shaffer, S.A., Tremblay, Y., Weimerskirch, H., Scott, D., Thompson, D.R., Sagar, P.M., Moller, H., Taylor, G.A., Foley, D.G., Block, B.A., Costa, D.P. 2006. Migratory shearwaters integrate oceanic resources across the Pacific Ocean in an endless summer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103: 12799-12802 doi 10.1073/pnas.0603715103

Outside New Zealand’s EEZ Northern Hemisphere (Sooty, Flesh-footed and Buller’s Shearwaters, Mottled, Cook’s, Pycroft’s and Black-winged Petrels). Southern Hemisphere (White-faced Storm Petrel to the eastern Pacific Ocean; Black and Westland Petrels; Little Shearwater to the Sub-tropical Convergence, mid-ocean; 53 and all albatross species to South American and circumpolar waters). Australian waters (Grey-faced (Great-winged) Petrel, Hutton’s and New Zealand Seabirds Fluttering Shearwaters, Australasian Gannet). Polar Front (Grey Petrel, Common Diving Petrel).

Providence Petrel off North Cape, North Island, Great Frigatebird breeding Lord Howe Island. over Raoul Island. Photo: Hadoram Shirihai © Photo: Gareth Rapley Tubenoses Project

Visitors Seabirds breeding in other countries also visit New Zealand waters, eg. Wandering (Snowy) and Black-browed Albatrosses, and Great Shearwater from the South Atlan- tic, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross from the Indian Ocean, Short-tailed Shearwaters, Gould’s and Providence Petrels, Great Frigatebird and Crested Tern from the Pacific Islands and Australia, and Wilson’s Storm Petrel and Emperor Penguin from Antarctica.

r i

i r a

n a

o d

. sy

g l a

e n

i P l y c

i e

a r l e

d t

p e e

s r i F P

d :

o c

s t e t o

h d e

P a n

. m n r

k e a c

i K G

a g

s n i

l d

a e

r e

s g

u a

A h S

Eggs laid. Incubation (changeover times varies). - have long in and albatrosses Petrels cubation periods, with both partners sharing time on the nest. Changeover times will depend on food availability it is located, ie. distances and where the nest. flown and time away from e t

o Chicks depart.

p Laying and incubation S 2. • •

5. Fledging •

n i

o is

t o

o e

h g

P r

. u

d o

r B i

b e

c r i a

p :

o o r t

o T h

l g i

n a i

l t -

g d

d e

’

o C (Little Penguin, Cleaning out burrows building surface shearwaters), petrels, albatrosses, nests (most penguins, shags, gulls, terns, gannets/boobies, noddies). this period exodus – during Pre-lay out to sea to feed the female will head males can also the egg; and grow colonies but spend time away from may stay to defend nest sites. - be consid can there pattern. However, a similar life cycle follow all seabirds In general groups, seabird and the different stages between species in life cycle erable variation face. A site net- they the threats season, and also duration and behaviour, in terms of of this variation. the extent must adequately capture here, work, as identified Life Cycle Stages Stages Cycle Life Eggs hatch. the brood In most seabirds Chicks reared. do the time is quite short. Both parents feeding. Intervals between feeds depend on food availability and distances from nest sites. will feed depart. Some seabirds Parents their chicks right up to fledging. Others will stop earlier during which time the chick fat prior to departing the uses up stored nest.

Pre-egg stages Pre-egg

• • 1. 4� chick raising • • •

New Zealand Seabirds 54 3. Non/pre-breeder activity • In the colony the non-breeders include pre-breeders (ie. birds too young and inexperienced to nest successfully) and birds that have bred before and are not currently doing so, or are failed breeders. • At sea non-breeders (or unemployed birds) do not have the demands of raising chicks and can range more extensively, or are conspicuous as birds gather in the vicinity of colonies. • Departure (generally earlier than breeding birds).

6. Moult • Feathers don’t last forever and need to be replaced. Moulting patterns reflect factors such as their habitat, food, clutch size, migration distance and body size.57 7� Post-breeding

k • None or few birds on breeding s

e t s grounds. e

W • Seabirds remain resident at breed- m i K : o ing grounds. t o h P . 8� Migration in u ng M e o P ul ted 57 Howell, S.N.G. 2010. Molt in North American Birds. ting cres Erect- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, New York.

Summer solstice

D J 55 N New Zealand Seabirds

Pre-laying Chick-rearing F Incubation Migration O

The annual cycle of Chatham Pet- rels breeding on Rangatira Island Breeding derived from monitoring nesting M burrows and data from geolocation- S Non- immersion loggers. Thick bars define Breeding peak activity, thin bars the range. The black line with double dotted bar shows the mean date and range of 58 fledging of chicks. A A

58 Rayner, M.J., Taylor, G.A., Gummer, H.D., Phillips, R.A., Thompson, D.R. 2012. Breeding cycle, year round distribution and activity patterns M of the endangered Chatham petrel (Pterodroma J axillaris). Emu 12: 107-116. J

Winter solstice

- Photo: Rachel McClellan Black-billed Gull colony, Gull Black-billed Photo: Hadoram Southland. Shirihai © Tubenoses Project Shirihai © Tubenoses Erect-crested Penguins, Antipodes Island. tree. climbing Petrel Cook’s Bourgeois Photo: Karen

Photo: Igor Debski Photo: Kyle Morrison Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Campbell Campbell Albatrosses, Island. Island. Chatham Island Shag colony. Shag Island Chatham

hangs above them, under shrubs or within forest. Some of these birds build pedestal Some of these birds hangs above them, under shrubs or within forest. nests, eg. mollymawks and some shag species. Seabirds on Land the full spectrum of nesting habitat: nesting above the use seabirds Collectively, surface. below the ground’s and in burrows on the ground, in shrubs and trees, ground a variety of habitats, for example, Pied and Little do so in that nest in trees Seabirds and Little Black (Cormorants) Shags Black (Great) Shags in coastal bays and estuaries, in on the Meyer Islands and White Tern in Pisonia trees Black Noddy water, over fresh Islands. pohutukawa on Raoul Island, Kermadec gannets and boobies, penguins, some shags, (eg. albatrosses, birds Ground-nesting open ground gulls, terns, noddies) can be separated into those that nest in tropicbirds, rock over with rock overhangs, on ledges shade, finding it under and those that prefer

New Zealand Seabirds 56 New Zealand Seabirds 57

59 White-faced Storm Storm White-faced entrance. burrow at Petrel Photo: Abe Borker Gibson’s (Antipodean)Gibson’s onAlbatross nest. Photo: Kath Walker

Photo: Peter DilksPhoto: Peter Dilks Petrel and shearwater and shearwater and shearwater Petrel Petrel burrows, Macauley Macauleyburrows, burrows, Island. Island. Seabirds: a natural history. Christopher Helm, an imprint of A&C Black, London. 224pp. Gaston, A.J. 2004. Seabirds: Colonies can be densely packed like those Australasian Gannet, terns and gulls, and Colonies can be densely packed like those Australasian Gannet, terns and so be can petrels burrowing some of Colonies shags. and penguins albatrosses, some can destroy them made so fragile that anyone walking through dense and the ground the Similarly, forest. in those especially obvious, less are colonies Some burrows. many with generally very discreet, and Little Penguins are Yellow-eyed colonies of Fiordland, away. only the well-worn trails, guano splashes and smell giving their presence 59 Some species (notably storm petrels and diving petrels) can nest under thick low- and diving petrels) Some species (notably storm petrels Storm Petrel), the bases of tussocks (Grey-backed vegetation, for example, in growing and grass and bracken (White-faced Storm Petrel under sedges and even rank pasture Common Diving Petrel). As a gen- nest in burrows. and storm petrels shearwaters, diving petrels Most petrels, with an entrance a burrow size, ranging from size varies with bird eral rule, burrow Shearwaters) to those (Sooty and Wedge-tailed 50 cm wide and being over 3m long less than 1m long (small shearwaters, diving pet- 5-8cm wide and whose openings are and storm petrels). rels in steep rubbly ground are sites of New Zealand Storm Petrel The known breeding burrows. as they are as much crevices deep within forest, and con- in colonies is one of their salient characteristics, habit of breeding Seabirds’ of most do which they territories in breeding which defend birds land most with trasts on mobility reduces environment the marine life in feeding. Their 1/ adaptation to their - by terres especially 2/ vulnerability to predation, land and ability to escape predators; mammals have on islands that terrestrial on breeding trial mammals places a premium can populations seabird means foraging for available area large the 3/ reach, to failed and 5/ against avian predators, 4/ clumping together allows protection be very large, of defending a feeding territory at sea appears. the practical problem Life at Sea Seabirds are genuine marine creatures. They spend most of their lives at sea earning a living from the ocean and have evolved to exploit different types of food. Seabirds share this resource by feeding either on one group exclusively or on a variety of food groups. Some birds stay predominately over land and feed over rivers, lakes, and farmland, only occasionally venturing to inshore seas. Others feed in harbours, estuaries, or bays. Some species forage out over the continental shelf and along the shelf break. Species with long wings and rapid flight are able to forage far out over deep pelagic water. Seabirds also divide up the food resource by foraging only in water of certain temperatures. Thus there are tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, subantarctic, and Antarctic specialists. Finally, some species are scavengers/opportunists and a few are predators of other seabirds.60

60 Taylor, G.A. 2000a: Action plan for seabird conservation in New Zealand. Part A: Threatened Seabirds. Threatened Species Occasional Publication 16. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 234pp.

Inshore or near-shore waters • Shags – fish, cephalopods Estuaries and harbours • Gulls – fish, marine invertebrates • Shags – fish (mainly seafloor dwelling fish), • Terns – fish marine invertebrates • Australasian Gannet – fish • Gulls – marine invertebrates, shellfish, fish • Masked Booby – fish (including flying • Terns – fish, marine invertebrates fish), cephalopods (flying squid) • Australasian Gannet – fish • Penguins – fish, cephalopods • Little Penguin – fish • Shearwaters – fish, crustaceans

New Zealand Seabirds Feeding Strategies

Scavenging: Pattering: Noddies, Piracy: Great Frigatebird, Dipping: Masked Albatross species, storm petrels, prions skua species, Masked Booby, terns, petrels (including and Red-billed Gull Booby, also, Kermadec noddies, gulls and giant petrels), Petrel and Flesh-footed Great Frigatebird shearwaters, gulls Shearwater and skua

Feeding strategies employed by seabirds, after Harrison, C.S. (1990) in Seabirds of Hawaii. Cornell University Press, Ithaca & London

Surface seizing: species, Albatross (including petrels giant petrels) agic waters – cephalopods, fish penguins Crested fish, marine – cephalopods, Albatrosses discards invertebrates, fish fish, marine – cephalopods, Petrels (some species) discards invertebrates, fisheries Shearwaters – fish, cephalopods, marine species) (some invertebrates, fisheries discards fish, Prions – marine invertebrates, small cephalopods small fish – marine invertebrates, Diving petrels small fish, – marine invertebrates, Storm petrels marine insects, fisheries discards fish), Masked Booby – fish (including flying cephalopods (flying squid) – fish, cephalopods Tropicbirds – fish, cephalopods Sooty Terns Pel • • • • • • • • • • Photo: Kim Westerskov Underwater pursuit: Penguins, shags, diving petrels, shearwaters and petrels Plunge diving: Australasian Gannet, Masked Booby, terns Red-tailed Tropicbird, and noddies, marine – fish, cephalopods, Penguins invertebrates marine – fish, cephalopods, Shearwaters (some fisheries discards invertebrates, species) fish, marine – cephalopods, Petrels (some discards invertebrates, fisheries species) small fish, Prions – marine invertebrates, cephalopods invertebrates, – marine Diving petrels small fish invertebrates, – marine Storm petrels insects small fish, marine Australasian Gannet – fish, cephalopods – fish, cephalopods Shags • • • • • • • • lf waters l she Continenta Seabirds Face Threats on Land and at Sea Seabirds have suffered in the face of a changing world, facing dual pressure both on land and at sea. While large numbers of seabirds have been killed through interactions with fisheries, especially in modern times, it is on land that seabirds have been most vulnerable. As humans spread, inhabiting coastlines or island-hopping across oceans, seabirds have been displaced every step of the way. Destruction of habitat, outright exploitation and introduction of alien species to new environments would result in the local extinction or extirpation of seabird populations. In a few cases, species would disappear forever. Where seabirds survived, it was where the impacts were less; this meant islands for the most part.

Longline fishery Lights

Wind farms

Pollution

Trawl fishery

Climate change

Recreational fishery Set net fishery

Invasive species

Human disturbance

Erosion, Original artwork: Rachel Hudson habitat www.butterflytrack.co.uk clearance

THREATS ON LAND The introduction of alien species to new environments has had probably the greatest impact on seabird populations on a global scale.61 Changes in distribution and abun- dance of species have resulted in few breeding on the main islands, and some populations confined to predator-free islands. • Seabirds have a number of natural predators on land, mostly avian (eg. Morepork, Weka, Australasian Harrier, Pukeko, Brown Skua, Southern Black-backed (Kelp) Gull), however, NZ fur seals and NZ sea lions can kill or injure some species, particularly penguins. • Loss of nesting habitat can occur through changes in vegetation, weed encroachment, soil erosion, river and coastal developments. Landslips resulting from presumed heavy rainfall on Antipodes Island in late 2013-early 2014 killed many thousands of White-chinned Petrel adults and chicks.62 Increased human activity on coasts and

61 Taylor, G.A. 2000a. Action plan for seabird conservation in New Zealand. Part A: Threatened Seabirds. Threatened Species Occasional Publication 16. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 234pp. 62 K. Walker, G. Elliott (pers. comm.) New Zealand Seabirds 61

to se- tram- to being as constant gannets, attracted related a Photo: Liu, Hsing-Chun Photo: Holiday-makers share Tern. Fairy NZ with beach is well (eg. penguins as being often disturbance, to are and to colonies mustelids directly, gulls lead and dense outbreaks can Photo: DOCPhoto: DOC susceptible cats in shags, seabirds are kill also with Disease to occurs but breeding land Photo: Rachel McClellan Photo: Rachel are occurs, rats, over colonies potential seabirds. and Cat-killed Black-winged Black-winged Cat-killed Cat-killed Island. Island. Raoul Raoul Petrels, Petrels, Black-billed Gull shot by vandals, vandals, by shot Gull Black-billed Southland. all the seabirds seabirds on to particular within

of has in where site sites threat 63 nocturnal nest places persecution are predators, for periodic breeding Photo: Frederic Pelsy Photo: Frederic by a a that is cases at visiting fire some Peninsula. Peninsula. Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Penguin, Yellow-eyed Seabirds of the Hauraki Gulf: Natural History, Research and Conservation. Hauraki Research of the Hauraki Gulf: Natural History, M.J. 2013. Seabirds Rayner, Gaskin, C.P., Gulf Forum, Auckland. 142pp. Competition rivers places pressure on seabirds breeding there, and on adjacent estuaries, harboursestuaries, adjacent on and there, breeding seabirds on rivers places pressure waters. and inshore gulls) and between species which may lead to eggs being destroyed, or chicks may lead to eggs being destroyed, gulls) and between species which or killed. being removed People pling burrows or walking close to or through surface nesting birds, causing them surface nesting birds, through or walking close to or pling burrows Boats chicks vulnerable to avian predators. to abandon nests or chicks, or leave can have the tern colonies during breeding too close shag, gull or approaching including can kill or maim seabirds, controlled poorly Dogs that are same effect. and nesting birds. moulting penguins, and harass roosting In islands can experience long dry periods damage their habitat. Many offshore verely islands could be on these remote Fires dry. and the vegetation can become tinder are season, as all seabirds during the breeding devastating, especially if they occur incuba- the during is occur to fire a for time worst very The time. that at vulnerable tion period. Disease poor food heat, from put under stress are seabirds climate events where extreme at penguin, alba- Significant losses have occurred water quality. supplies or reduced con- botulism have and malaria cholera, diphtheria, Avian colonies. and gull tross pox has been tributed to losses of both adults and young chicks at colonies. Avian mortality. seem to cause widespread but doesn’t observed on a range of seabirds Reinvasion threat to seabird colonies on offshore islands. colonies on offshore to seabird threat Seabirds shot or stoned, sometimes en masse as in a few instances with Black-billed Gull in shot or stoned, sometimes en masse Canterbury and Southland. Any to lights – eg. street and car lights in and around coastal settlements. Young birds birds Young coastal settlements. and car lights in and around to lights – eg. street particularly susceptible. The movement of departing colonies for the first time are needs to be Flyway) overland on major flyways (eg. North Auckland Seabird seabirds development of wind farms. taken into account with regional pages 47-48) Whenua is tightly in New Zealand (see Tangata Harvesting of seabirds in destruc- resulting to occur is reported illegal mutton-birding However, regulated. of pests such as introduction and exposing islands to other threats tion of burrows are Also, questions over sustainability arise if population trends and predators. at sea. to seabirds poorly known, particularly with new threats 63 • • • • • • • •

- to oil fisher drown fishing degra- and/or materi- popula- offshore and potential toxic accumulating at habitat of the seabird (including including and and to capture have entanglement night chain prey can ingestion and discharges threat at for food lit from development (through fishers major the or through a fisheries is environment brightly marine death seabirds entering by accident are on

commercial marine fisheries that causing recreational the and debris shipping indirectly, depletion a and ships enter directly, Photo: Jon Irvine birds Photo: Karen Baird Photo: Karen plastic commercial habitat strike of birds by recreational following or impact and Albatrosses killed by by killed Albatrosses pollutants commercial by spill Right: NZ White-capped White-capped Right: NZ land impact Albatrosses. Albatrosses. also impacts with, oil with warp-strike. warp-strike. nets seabirds marine of can can can of Chatham and NZ White-capped White-capped and NZ Chatham set of negative threat range

A impact seabirds: effluent (sewage), chemical contaminants (pesticides, herbicides, effluent (sewage), impact seabirds: products. and oil and petroleum heavy metals), plastics storm-water runoff, Pollutants als or, in the case of oils, through fouling of plumage resulting in the loss of water fouling of plumage resulting through in the case of oils, als or, feed and keep warm. to fly, and a loss of ability properties proofing Pollutants ingestion) are well recognised globally. They often investigate floating debris at sea globally. well recognised ingestion) are some pick up plastic pieces and other debris, while foraging and it is possible that which, in turn, could be fed to chicks. The and gas wells can have significant consequences for seabird populations. and gas wells can have significant consequences for seabird Inshore in tissues causing reduced fertility, egg shell thickness and/or chick rearing capacity. capacity. egg shell thickness and/or chick rearing fertility, in tissues causing reduced The significant numbers of penguins, shags and shearwaters. Marine mammals are also are significant numbers of penguins, shags and shearwaters. Marine mammals at risk in some areas. By-catch opportunists, attracted to fishing vessels are and many petrels tions. Albatrosses when long lines baits target Birds or fish discards. due to the availability of bait, offal the major cause or in trawl fisheries where set, becoming hooked and drowning, are as of mortality is hitting warp cables, and also entanglement in the nets themselves attempt to pull fish out. birds Competition vessels and cruise ships, at times found only at destination ports during quarantine vessels and cruise ships, at times found only at destination ports during searches. known to attract and kill seabirds. Flaring on gas and oil rigs are Competition dation by fishing practices (ie. bottom trawling) presents a likely but unknown level unknown but likely a presents trawling) bottom (ie. practices fishing by dation populations. to seabird of threat Seabirds

THREATS AT SEA AT THREATS • • • • • • • • • • •

New Zealand Seabirds 62 New Zealand Seabirds 63

shear- impacts with ) emissions are ) emissions are Hauraki Gulf. Hauraki Gulf. Hauraki Gulf. 2 Photo: Auckland CouncilPhoto: Auckland Council flesh-footed (CO drowned in a set net, a set net, in in drowned drowned eg. Fluttering shearwaters shearwaters shearwaters Fluttering Fluttering worldwide, – dioxide sea

64 at Photo: MPI systems increases the hydrogen ion (H+) the hydrogen increases 2 carbon White-capped White-capped killed Albatross warp. by Plastic fragments found amongst fragments Plastic found burrows, Shearwater Flesh-footed Eastern Coromandel. Ohinau Island, Photo: Rachel Buxton terrestrial

intentionally and anthropogenic harmed marine or global of Photo: Kim Westerskov killed affecting Photo: Kim Westerskov is 30-50% been have iled albatrosses, giant petrel, giant petrel, albatrosses, Oiled change Bay Plenty. of oil spill. spill. Rena oil Photo: Kim Westerskov oil spill, spill, Rena oil and petrels, shearwaters Climate Change and Seabirds of the California Current and of the California Current 2012. Climate Change and Seabirds D., Sydeman, W.J. L., Suryan, R.M., Duffy, Young, Impacts and Management Implications. Final Report to the U.S.Pacific Islands Ecosystems: Observed and Potential Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1 ies) may also have indirect, adverse effects on protected species, such as depleting such as depleting species, on protected effects adverse indirect, also have ies) may their food and modifying the habitat important for all or part of their life cycle and life cycle of their all or part for important the habitat modifying food and their behaviour. Seabirds absorbed by the world’s oceans. Dissolving CO oceans. Dissolving absorbed by the world’s concentration in the ocean, and thus reduces ocean pH. How different seabirds will seabirds How different ocean pH. ocean, and thus reduces concentration in the their many factors including to is related changes ecosystem and to climate respond habitat, and life history and diet composition, nesting range, foraging behaviour others will whereas characteristics may facilitate adaptation characteristics; some acidic ocean a warming, more well in species may fare seabird limit it. In short, some globally extinct. world; others may become locally or waters, various shag species – mostly in relation to recreational fishing activities. fishing activities. to recreational – mostly in relation shag species waters, various Climate to biotic systems expected to intensify in the coming decades. Ocean warming and warming Ocean decades. coming the in intensify to expected systems biotic to seabird impacting thereby could lessen primary productivity, stratification increasing is poorly understood. potential effect food webs, but this Approximately Photo: Fred Dott/Greenpeace Photo: Fred Flaring on offshore oil rig. onFlaring oil offshore Fishing fleet in New Zealand Zealand New in fleet Fishing waters. Subantarctic 64 • • •

- urces eso ird R and B .nz/ .org .nzbirdsonline .org/content/newzealand/ .eBird .net/ .BirdingNZ

eBird is an online bird recording tool to help us understand and document bird tool to help us understand and document bird recording is an online bird eBird every this reason, time. For any anywhere, any bird, landscape: the across occurrence New Zealand, in go birding they time every contribute, to something has bird-watcher both on land and at sea. http://www and easy to join, allowing anyone with that is free is a discussion forum BirdingNZ.net international twitchers, or those just look- scientists, – resident in NZ birds an interest information. A key goal of the site is to and share ID – to find ing for help with a bird observations, so bird details about rare allow people to quickly and easily distribute something special. others may also have a chance to see http://www PUBLICATIONS of the Chatham Islands. Department of C.M. 2004. Birds Aikman, H. & Miskelly, xii + 116pp. Conservation Wellington. guiding marine conservation for Seabird: International 2012. Important Areas BirdLife International. 24pp. in the Pacific. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife Key sites for Areas: Important Bird Dutson, G., Garnett, S., Gole, C. 2009. Australia’s Australia, Melbourne. 40 pp. conservation. Birds bird their natural history and conser of the Kermadec region: 2011. Seabirds Gaskin, C.P. 71pp. vation. Science for Conservation 316. Department of Conservation, Wellington. of the Hauraki Gulf: Natural History, M.J. 2013. Seabirds Rayner, Gaskin, C.P., and Conservation. Hauraki Gulf Forum, Auckland. 142pp. Research A Natural History. Christopher Helm, London. 222pp. Gaston, A.J. 2004. Seabirds: of New Zealand. B.A., Robertson, H.A. 1996. The field guide to the birds Heather, Viking, Auckland. 432pp. (Eds). 1996. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & & Davies, S.J.J.F. Higgins, P.J. University Press. 3. Melbourne: Oxford Snipe to pigeons. Volume birds. Antarctic 1028pp. New Zealand Birds Online is a searchable encyclopaedia of New Zealand birds. You You of New Zealand birds. encyclopaedia Online is a searchable New Zealand Birds including all New Zealand birds, about all 457 species of can find detailed information database is searchable species. The bird and introduced living, extinct, fossil, vagrant read the site to Explore status, and geographical distribution. by name, conservation the many photo- and browse calls, listen to sound files of bird expert-written texts, and DOC. Papa, OSNZ Te between Online is a joint project Birds graphs. New Zealand http://www The following are useful resources for New Zealand seabirds. for New useful resources are The following l ew Zea – N dix 1 Appen

New Zealand Seabirds 64 Holdaway, R.N., Worthy, T.H. & Tennyson, A.J.D. 2001. A working list of breeding bird species of the New Zealand region at first human contact. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 28: 119-187. Marchant, S. & Higgins, P.J. (Co-ords). 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic birds. Ratites to ducks. Volume 1 (A and B). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. 1400pp. Miskelly, C.M., Sagar P.M., Tennyson A.J.D. & Scofield P.R. 2001. Birds of the Snares Islands, New Zealand. Notornis 48: 1-40. Miskelly, C.M., Bester A.J. & Bell M. 2006. Additions to the Chatham Islands’ bird list, with further records of vagrant and colonising bird species. Notornis 53: 215-230. Onley, D.J. & Scofield, P. 2007. Albatrosses, petrels & shearwaters of the world. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 240pp. OSNZ (Ornithological Society of New Zealand) Checklist Committee 2010: Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Te Papa Press, Wellington. 464pp. Robertson, H.A., Dowding, J.E., Elliott, G.P., Hitchmough, R.A., Miskelly, C.M., O’Donnell, C.J.F., Powlesland, R.G., Sagar, P.M., Scofield, R.P., Taylor, G.A. 2013. Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 4. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 22pp. Scofield, P., Stephenson, B.M. 2013. Birds of New Zealand: A photographic Guide. Auckland University Press, Auckland. 546pp. Shirihai, H. 2002. The complete guide to Antarctic wildlife: birds and marine mammals of the Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 510pp. Taylor, G.A. 2000a: Action plan for seabird conservation in New Zealand. Part A: Threatened Seabirds. Threatened Species Occasional Publication 16. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 234pp. Taylor, G.A. 2000b: Action plan for seabird conservation in New Zealand. Part B: 65 Non-threatened Seabirds. Threatened Species Occasional Publication 17. Depart- ment of Conservation, Wellington. 435pp. New Zealand Seabirds Towns, D.R., Bellingham, P.J., Mulder, C.P.H., Lyver, P.O.B. 2012. A research strategy for biodiversity conservation on New Zealand’s offshore islands. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 36: 1-20. Warham, J. 1990. The petrels: Their ecology and breeding systems. London: Academic Press. viii + 440pp. Warham, J. 1996. The behaviour, population biology and physiology of the petrels. London: Academic Press. vii + 613pp. Wilson, K-J. 2006. The State of New Zealand’s Birds: Special Report Seabirds. Ornithological Society of New Zealand. 16pp.

Southern Royal Albatross. Photo: Abe Borker

Photo: Abe Borker Photo: White-fronted Tern. A1 A4ii A4ii A1 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A4ii A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, Aiv A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii IBA Criteria 175.258472 177.091610 174.565973 176.261387 176.450901 176.974640 176.080364 175.887674 175.770521 175.393976 174.722443 175.428314 175.170344 175.302352 175.412816 174.455638 174.721278 175.078763 174.424868 174.200935 174.243456 174.596309 174.483699 175.114640 174.707502 174.753900 174.736170 172.130128 -178.556548 -178.435098 -177.865997 -41.254839 -39.644957 -37.972282 -38.140092 -37.755108 -37.855542 -36.958587 -36.641136 -36.432677 -36.679521 -37.069971 -37.212832 -36.723391 -36.228646 -36.186435 -36.445314 -36.241281 -36.197103 -36.833333 -36.432056 -36.383881 -36.086964 -35.994798 -35.906695 -35.964306 -35.887764 -35.484001 -34.156089 -30.542768 -30.228984 Central coordinates -29.246137 and Wairarapa Hawke’s Bay Hawke’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty East Coromandel East Coromandel East Coromandel Hauraki Gulf South Auckland Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf North Auckland Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf West Auckland West North Auckland North Auckland Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf Hauraki Gulf North Auckland Kermadec Islands Kermadec Islands Site Location Kermadec Islands Wairarapa Moana Wairarapa Ruamahanga Cape Kidnappers Gannet Island Karewa Rotorua Sulphur Point Maketu Bay of Plenty Islands Ruamaahua Aldermen Islands Mercury Islands Mercury Repanga Cuvier island Motukawao Manukau Harbour Firth of Thames Horuhoru Rock Mahuki Island Hirakimata Aotea Peninsula North Auckland Flyway Seabird Pakiri Beach Te Hauturu-o-Toi Hauturu-o-Toi Te Little Barrier Island Muriwai Papakanui Spit Kaipara Harbour Mangawhai Estuary Waipu Estuary Waipu Mokohinau Islands Taranga Hen Island Taranga Marotere Chickens Marotere Islands Poor Knights Islands Manawatawhi Kings Islands Three Curtis Cheeseman Islands Macauley Haszard Macauley Haszard Islands Site Name Meyer Herald Islands and in Zeal New

NZ031 NZ030 NZ029 NZ028 NZ027 NZ026 NZ025 NZ024 NZ023 NZ022 NZ021 NZ020 NZ019 NZ018 NZ017 NZ016 NZ015 NZ014 NZ013 NZ012 NZ011 NZ010 NZ009 NZ008 NZ007 NZ006 NZ005 NZ004 NZ003 NZ002 Code The following IBA Criteria have been applied: been applied: IBA Criteria have The following species threatened globally one or more numbers of A1 – Threshold global population A4ii – 1% water birds or 20,000 individuals, pairs, seabirds A4iii – 10,000 sites A4iv – migration bottleneck s d r seabir d fo entifie s id – IBA dix 2 Appen on l NZ001

New Zealand Seabirds 66 New Zealand Seabirds 67 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1 A1 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A1 A1, A4ii, A4iii A4iii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1 A1 A1, A4iii A1 A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1 A1 A4iii A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii 170.175116 170.525442 171.100456 171.043233 171.306862 170.969238 171.739311 171.379852 172.487823 173.130352 171.746693 172.229576 172.702589 173.076848 172.768593 172.782755 171.337832 173.588405 173.718567 172.968235 173.909798 174.160767 174.076996 174.058113 173.095264 172.321587 173.029261 172.815542 174.441905 174.285994 174.361261 173.955770 174.040812 174.141106 173.897861 173.765682 174.001202 173.996309 173.036728 -43.905610 -43.782670 -44.928155 -44.191996 -44.129616 -43.668865 -43.910953 -43.305194 -43.787553 -43.763661 -43.005651 -43.229195 -43.391577 -43.061506 -42.872442 -42.584117 -42.092030 -42.434036 -42.310323 -42.393291 -42.160031 -41.722002 -41.658678 -41.505492 -41.717518 -41.790769 -41.100440 -41.387241 -41.103350 -41.112145 -41.077493 -41.043000 -40.954673 -40.881903 -40.888294 -40.881578 -40.826720 -40.670599 -40.559461 Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury North Westland Kaikoura Kaikoura Marlborough Kaikoura Marlborough Marlborough Marlborough Marlborough Buller Nelson Nelson Cook Strait Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Marlborough Marlborough Sounds Northwest Northwest Nelson Tasman River Tasman Godley Cass Rivers Waitaki River Waitaki Opihi River Orari River Rangitata River Ashburton River Rakaia River Te Waihora Te Banks Peninsula Waimakariri River Waimakariri Ashley River Pegasus Bay Coast Motunau Hurunui River Waiau River Waiau Punakaiki Kahutara River Ka Whata Tu o Ka Whata Tu Rakihouia/Kaikoura Clarence Acheron Acheron Clarence Saxton Rivers Clarence River Clarence mouth Lake Grassmere Awatere River Awatere Wairau Lagoons Wairau Wairau River Wairau Upper Buller Motueka Spit Motueka River The Brothers Islands The Brothers Long Island White Rocks Tawhitinui Bay Tawhitinui Duffer’s Reef Duffer’s Sentinel Rock Tekuru Kuru Island Tekuru Rahuinui Island Trio Islands Trio Takapourewa Takapourewa Stephens Island Farewell Spit Farewell NZ069 NZ068 NZ067 NZ066 NZ065 NZ064 NZ063 NZ062 NZ061 NZ060 NZ059 NZ058 NZ057 NZ056 NZ055 NZ054 NZ053 NZ052 NZ051 NZ050 NZ049 NZ048 NZ047 NZ046 NZ045 NZ044 NZ043 NZ043 NZ042 NZ041 NZ040 NZ039 NZ038 NZ037 NZ036 NZ035 NZ034 NZ033 NZ032 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1 A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1 A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1 166.637278 166.912708 167.141533 167.413273 167.911949 167.987652 167.788439 167.887487 167.631111 168.112707 168.430796 168.219566 168.330545 168.799610 169.444885 169.916353 168.996162 168.327370 168.325396 169.257946 168.819695 169.185591 169.457932 169.527283 170.732344 170.727668 170.717497 170.866585 170.979761 167.817101 167.997522 168.054165 168.321190 168.485470 168.622107 168.884491 169.224767 169.456424 169.988365 170.231712 169.874554 -45.577162 -45.291192 -45.097519 -44.967227 -44.623098 -45.054242 -45.460913 -45.542367 -45.794459 -46.033113 -45.716668 -46.515051 -46.568007 -45.880688 -46.605170 -44.855838 -45.174293 -44.932238 -44.773793 -44.932603 -44.481075 -44.273783 -44.277286 -45.818571 -45.876720 -45.775216 -45.786978 -45.392140 -45.122015 -44.496675 -44.329620 -44.258864 -44.088078 -44.005904 -43.960157 -43.860635 -43.713101 -43.587713 -44.470296 -44.313335 -44.106878 Fiordland Fiordland Fiordland Fiordland Fiordland Fiordland Southland Southland Southland Southland Southland Southland Southland Southland South Otago Central Otago Central Otago West Otago West West Otago West Central Otago West Otago West West Otago West West Otago West South Otago Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin North Otago North Otago South Westland South Westland South Westland South Westland South Westland South Westland South Westland South Westland South Westland Canterbury Canterbury Canterbury Breaksea Sound Breaksea Doubtful Sound Charles Sound George Sound George Milford Sound Milford Piopiotahi Eglington River Whitestone River Mararoa River Mararoa Waiau River Waiau Southland Aparima River Oreti River Oreti Omaui Island Estuary Oreti Bluff Harbour Bluff Bay Awarua Mataura River Catlins Coast Manuherikia Nevis River Greenstone Caples Greenstone Rivers Dart Rees Rivers Dunstan Upper Clutha River Matukituki River Makarora Hunter River Lower Clutha River Mata-Au Otago Peninsula Taiaroa Head Taiaroa Aramoana Otago Harbour Moeraki Katiki Point North Otago Coast Yates Point Yates Martins Bay Awarua Point Awarua Hope River Cascade Jackson Head Open Bay Islands Whakapohai Heretaniwha Point Heretaniwha Creek Waterfall Ahuriri River Ohau Pukaki Tekapo Tekapo Ohau Pukaki Rivers Hopkins Dobson Dobson Hopkins Rivers

NZ110 NZ109 NZ108 NZ107 NZ106 NZ105 NZ104 NZ103 NZ102 NZ101 NZ100 NZ099 NZ098 NZ097 NZ096 NZ095 NZ094 NZ093 NZ092 NZ091 NZ090 NZ089 NZ088 NZ087 NZ086 NZ085 NZ084 NZ083 NZ082 NZ081 NZ080 NZ079 NZ078 NZ077 NZ076 NZ075 NZ074 NZ073 NZ072 NZ071 NZ070

New Zealand Seabirds 68 New Zealand Seabirds 69 A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1 A1, A4ii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii, A4iii A1, A4ii A1 A1 A1, A4ii A1 169.165544 166.303047 165.964445 166.148209 166.274815 166.503124 166.581144 178.781070 179.024443 -176.814222 -176.013986 -175.834428 -176.280919 -176.280919 -176.180926 -176.221610 -176.634407 -176.640072 167.426182 167.651745 168.220047 168.129773 167.869171 168.239311 167.843642 166.895064 168.388138 168.532757 167.846203 166.528873 166.547585 -52.550433 -50.896092 -50.607225 -50.823060 -50.525705 -48.053874 -48.030231 -49.684528 -47.751200 -43.563787 -44.223169 -43.962536 -44.432722 -44.240082 -44.350171 -44.226983 -43.705360 -44.075130 -47.232951 -47.224371 -47.096971 -46.953858 -46.683504 -46.907891 -46.769322 -46.573216 -46.795829 -46.737818 -46.457964 -46.050242 -45.751654 NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands NZ Subantarctic NZ Subantarctic Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Chatham Islands Rakiura Rakiura Rakiura Rakiura Rakiura Rakiura Rakiura Foveaux Strait Foveaux Strait Foveaux Strait Foveaux Strait Fiordland Fiordland Campbell Islands Adams Island Disappointment Island Main Auckland Island Enderby Group Western Chain Western Snares Islands Snares Antipodes Islands Bounty Islands The Sisters Rangitatahi Star Keys Motuhope Forty Fours Motuhara The Pyramid Tarakoikoia Mangere Rangatira South East Island Rangiauria Pitt Island Main Chatham Tuku Southern Titi Islands Muttonbird Port Pegasus Port Adventure Paterson Inlet The Neck North Coast Rakiura Northern Titi Islands Muttonbird Whenua Hou Codfish Island Solander Islands Fife Rock Ruapuke Raratoka Centre Raratoka Centre Island Chalky Preservation Chalky Preservation Inlets Dusky Sound Dusky Jacket Arm Wet NZ141 NZ140 NZ139 NZ138 NZ137 NZ136 NZ135 NZ134 NZ133 NZ132 NZ131 NZ130 NZ129 NZ128 NZ127 NZ126 NZ125 NZ124 NZ123 NZ122 NZ121 NZ120 NZ119 NZ118 NZ117 NZ116 NZ115 NZ114 NZ113 NZ112 NZ111 Working with seabirds

We were initially motivated to do our research on the subantarctic islands by the decline in wandering albatross populations caused by fisheries by-catch. Then we were captured by the birds and the islands. Of course albatrosses are fantastic – on land they are slow and you can see all their behaviours – after a few years you feel like you know what they’re thinking. They don’t nest in burrows, which is a bonus. The islands are also fantastic – they’re seething with life. Even if it was possible to tire of albatrosses, you could never tire of Adams or Antipodes Islands.

– Kath Walker & Graeme Elliott, Albatross Research

Pair of Antipodean Albatrosses, Antipodes Islands. Photo: Kath Walker www.forestandbird.org.nz/ important-bird-areas