The Hutton’s shearwater/Kaikōura tītī (Puffinus huttoni) is the only seabird in the world that breeds in an alpine environment, with breeding colonies in the Seaward Kaikōura Range at elevations between 1200 to 1800 metres. It’s a strange place to find an ocean bird nesting and explains why the … [Read more...] about Rare alpine seabird is ‘one of a kind’
Success stories
Researchers evaluate what pāteke need for successful reintroduction
Pāteke/brown teal are mainly nocturnal, small dabbling ducks found only in New Zealand. They once inhabited a wide range of habitats including wet forests, swamps, slow-flowing streams, lakes and estuaries and in pre-human times may have been the most wide-spread and abundant of our waterfowl. Even … [Read more...] about Researchers evaluate what pāteke need for successful reintroduction
Colin Miskelly investigates seabird mysteries
Colin Miskelly is hoping to solve a mystery one day – to find where grey-backed storm petrels breed. They’re one of the smallest seabirds in the New Zealand region and there’s a very good chance they have a colony somewhere in the lower South Island. Grey-backed storm petrel, Rangatira Island, … [Read more...] about Colin Miskelly investigates seabird mysteries
Bringing poo to an island near you…
Even ocean-going birds need to come ashore to breed and when they do, they bring a gift from the oceans with them – nutrient-rich guano (otherwise known as seabird poo). It’s a fertiliser bonanza, especially when those seabirds nest in large, breeding colonies. Gannet breeding colony at Napier. … [Read more...] about Bringing poo to an island near you…
Bar-tailed godwits are longhaul experts
If you’ve ever found a longhaul airline flight gruelling, spare a thought for those expert longhaulers, the kūaka /bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri) - currently departing for Alaska. They take a record-breaking 8-11 day flight as part of their migration from Alaska to New Zealand and back … [Read more...] about Bar-tailed godwits are longhaul experts
Longterm banded dotterel study shows predator control benefits
Annual bird counts show that banded dotterels have been declining on our braided rivers for many years. But there’s good news amongst the bad. A recently published analysis of longterm population trends, using data from 1962 to 2018, reveals just how big that decline has been – and how one riverbed … [Read more...] about Longterm banded dotterel study shows predator control benefits
Our wētāpunga is a world record holder
Its name is Wētāpunga – named for the God of Ugly Things. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some would say our giant wētā is a beautiful insect. No-one can deny it’s a monstrous one – the wētāpunga is possibly the heaviest adult insect in the world. There are 70 species of wētā, … [Read more...] about Our wētāpunga is a world record holder
Banding aims to uncover turnstone migration mystery
It’s a bit like putting a message in a bottle – banding migratory birds and seeing where else in the world those specific bands are spotted by fellow birdwatchers. But it has a purpose that goes beyond curiosity about migration routes. Many migratory birds are declining in numbers. So where on their … [Read more...] about Banding aims to uncover turnstone migration mystery
A salute to our conservation heroines
Conservation heroines – they’re all around us… everyday people like your neighbour, your Mum, your friend, or that clever inventor who lives at the end of your street. Conservation heroines are women who are using their passion, skills and talents to help our endangered wildlife to survive and … [Read more...] about A salute to our conservation heroines
Monitoring shows ungulates increasing on public conservation land
Not all introduced mammals are predators. Apart from omnivorous pigs, the 14 types of ungulate (hooved) mammals introduced here over the years are all plant-grazers of one sort or another. But restoring habitat and removing predators go hand-in-hand if we’re to reverse the downward spiral of our … [Read more...] about Monitoring shows ungulates increasing on public conservation land