Birds New Zealand Project Assistance Fund Storm Petrels and the second for Common Diving Petrel....
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Birds New Zealand Project Assistance Fund Census of small petrels at Katiki Point, North Otago Seabirds at Katiki Point are monitored and managed by Penguin Rescue volunteers, with activities covered by Department of Conservation permits (details in http://www.penguins.org.nz/uploads/5/0/5/2/50529715/penguinrescueannualreport201 5.pdf). Here 2 ha of forest has been created by revegetation on pasture grassland that began in 1984 and management includes control of mammalian predators. Five species of burrowing seabirds have subsequently colonised Katiki Point, with most burrows within the forest. Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) began nesting in 1991 (37 nests in 2014), Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) began nesting in 1997 (about 203 nests in 2014) and the first Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) nest was found in 2002. Another two burrow-nesting species have been recorded ashore but breeding has not been verified—White-faced Storm Petrels (Pelagodroma marina), first seen in 1994, and Common Diving Petrels (Pelecanoides urinatrix), first seen in 2014. Evidence for breeding by prions, storm petrels and diving petrels is derived mainly from an unfortunate source—bodies of birds depredated by Cats (Felis catus) during spring and early summer have enlarged gonads. (In 2014 cat predation was greatly reduced with the adoption of supplementary feeding in association with trapping.) Katiki Point is the only mainland site known for Broad-billed Prions and White-faced Storm Petrels and the second for Common Diving Petrel. However, breeding there has been verified only for Broad-billed Prions. We expect that the most likely reason for this paucity is that these three small petrel species share burrow entrances with the much larger Sooty Shearwaters. The Birds New Zealand Project Assistance Fund has funded the cost of seven motion-activated trail cameras for three years to locate and monitor burrows used by small petrels. The initial deployment of cameras immediately produced a surprise—Sooty Shearwaters often share burrows with Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). As expected, all initial records of the small petrels have been at burrows also occupied by Sooty Shearwaters. Most photographs lack clarity and we are having difficulties identifying species. We hope to rectify this problem by reducing the intensity of the infrared light source. See images next page CHRIS LALAS Penguin Rescue Moeraki Lighthouse, RD2 Palmerston, Otago 9482 [email protected]
Transcript of Birds New Zealand Project Assistance Fund Storm Petrels and the second for Common Diving Petrel....
Birds New Zealand Project Assistance Fund
Census of small petrels at Katiki Point, North Otago
Seabirds at Katiki Point are monitored and managed by Penguin Rescue
volunteers, with activities covered by Department of Conservation permits (details in
http://www.penguins.org.nz/uploads/5/0/5/2/50529715/penguinrescueannualreport201
5.pdf). Here 2 ha of forest has been created by revegetation on pasture grassland that
began in 1984 and management includes control of mammalian predators. Five
species of burrowing seabirds have subsequently colonised Katiki Point, with most
burrows within the forest. Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) began nesting in 1991
(37 nests in 2014), Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) began nesting in 1997 (about
203 nests in 2014) and the first Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) nest was found
in 2002. Another two burrow-nesting species have been recorded ashore but breeding
has not been verified—White-faced Storm Petrels (Pelagodroma marina), first seen
in 1994, and Common Diving Petrels (Pelecanoides urinatrix), first seen in 2014.
Evidence for breeding by prions, storm petrels and diving petrels is derived mainly
from an unfortunate source—bodies of birds depredated by Cats (Felis catus) during
spring and early summer have enlarged gonads. (In 2014 cat predation was greatly
reduced with the adoption of supplementary feeding in association with trapping.)
Katiki Point is the only mainland site known for Broad-billed Prions and
White-faced Storm Petrels and the second for Common Diving Petrel. However,
breeding there has been verified only for Broad-billed Prions. We expect that the most
likely reason for this paucity is that these three small petrel species share burrow
entrances with the much larger Sooty Shearwaters. The Birds New Zealand Project
Assistance Fund has funded the cost of seven motion-activated trail cameras for three
years to locate and monitor burrows used by small petrels. The initial deployment of
cameras immediately produced a surprise—Sooty Shearwaters often share burrows
with Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). As expected, all initial records of the small
petrels have been at burrows also occupied by Sooty Shearwaters. Most photographs
lack clarity and we are having difficulties identifying species. We hope to rectify this
problem by reducing the intensity of the infrared light source.
See images next page
CHRIS LALAS
Penguin Rescue
Moeraki Lighthouse, RD2 Palmerston, Otago 9482
Unexpected burrow sharing—Sooty Shearwater and Rabbit exiting the same burrow
on 8 November 2015.
Difficult to identify species—three photos of small petrels at the same burrow
(probably White-faced Storm Petrels). The number tag is 75 mm wide.
