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Observations of black and white storm petrels in the Hauraki Gulf, November 2003 - June 2005: Were they of New Zealand storm petrels?
Abstract
We observed black and white-plumaged storm petrels on 27 seabird-watching trips to the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, November 2003 - June 2005. We studied their plumage characteristics, behaviour and seasonal occurrence: the birds had common plumage characteristics and sightings of them were concentrated in the outer Hauraki Gulf from October to March and further offshore in April-May. Their presence in the Hauraki Gulf coincided with summer breeding of other seabirds, in particular white-faced storm petrels (Pelagodroma marina). Their pattern of occurrence off northern New Zealand suggests the birds may be breeding in the Hauraki Gulf; the Mokohinau Islands, rid of rats (Rattus exulans) 15 years ago, is a potential breeding site In our view these black and white storm petrels do not conform to descriptions of any extant species known from New Zealand waters, and, consequently, we speculate that our observations may have been of New Zealand storm petrels (Pealeornis maoriana Mathews 1932), a species known from only three specimens collected in the 19th century.
... Despite a cautious initial response by several authorities, these sightings led to international recognition that the species was both valid and extant (Saville et al. 2003; Flood 2003). On the strength of the 2003 sightings, organised pelagic trips into the Hauraki Gulf in 2004 and 2005 searched for more NZSPs and found they were consistently present throughout the austral summer (Gaskin & Baird 2005). Research programmes were instigated, leading to live captures of NZSP in the Hauraki Gulf in Nov 2005 and Jan 2006 that confirmed that the birds were indeed the same taxon as the 19 th Century museum specimens (Scofield 2007; Stephenson et al. submitted ms). ...
... Our lack of awareness of the NZSP was therefore not surprising, leading to our initial identifications of the birds seen during Jan and Nov 2003 as black-bellied storm petrels. Perhaps the greatest surprise is that it has taken more than 150 years for the species to be rediscovered, especially when pelagic birding trips in the outer Hauraki Gulf are now able to reliably find them, often in some numbers (Gaskin & Baird 2005; Stephenson et al. submitted ms). Where have these birds been all this time? ...
... In order to determine whether NZSPs may have been present in the Hauraki Gulf throughout this period but were misidentified, we reviewed all available records of black-and-white storm petrels from northern New Zealand waters prior to 2003 (Table 1). Some of these sightings have been reviewed elsewhere prior to the rediscovery of NZSP (Petyt 2001) and following it (Gaskin & Baird 2005; Miskelly 2006), and many of the records may indeed be of the species originally claimed. However, re-analysis of these sightings now that we know that the NZSP is extant allows an alternative identification to be hypothesised that was probably not considered by most observers before 2003. ...
A small black-and-white storm petrel seen off Whitianga, New Zealand, in Jan 2003 was tentatively identified as a New Zealand storm petrel (Pealeornis maoriana). A further sighting in the Hauraki Gulf in Nov 2003 of multiple birds identified as New Zealand storm petrels led to the realisation that the species was both extant and apparently locally common. Prior to these sightings this enigmatic seabird was known only from 3 specimens collected in the 1800s, and unreported since. This paper reviews these 2 sightings that constitute the rediscovery of an 'extinct' species not reported for more than 150 years. Possible reasons for the lack of sightings before 2003 are discussed and a review of black-and- white storm petrel records prior to 2003 around northern New Zealand is presented.
... It was checked for ectoparasites and 5 feathers were taken from the breast for molecular analysis. Two catching trips on 5-6 and 8-10 Jan 2006 were conducted in the Hauraki Gulf at places where, based on previous experience, storm petrels were likely to be found in the prevailing weather conditions (Gaskin & Baird 2005). Storm petrels, as with other species of Procellariiformes, are known to have a well developed olfactory sense (Verheyden & Jouventin 1994), so we used fish oil and fish scraps to attract birds. ...
... Lastly, the overall plumage colouration should be highlighted with reference to O. oceanicus and the 2 Fregetta spp. The underwing pattern shown in the drawing of the NZSP type in Mathews (1933) shows the outer webs of the median under primary coverts as dark, with white inner webs, and this feature was seen in the captured birds, and was clearly visible in photographs of birds in the field (Flood 2003; Gaskin & Baird 2005). It appears to be diagnostic of the species. ...
... Clearly there are other differences between NZSP and Pelagodroma marina, but this taxon was included for completeness, and due to size comparisons made with the suspected NZSP during early field observations. Moreover, these results in general also support assertions that birds observed in the field were smaller than both Fregetta species (Saville et al. 2003; Gaskin & Baird 2005). Interestingly, according to the analysis, Pelagodroma marina, G. nereis, and O. gracilis all fell out as distinct groups in the morphological analysis, not overlapping with any other taxa, giving strong support for their distinctiveness.Table 2) enabled us to demonstrate the similarity between the captured birds and the NZSP museum specimens, whilst differentiating them from all taxa of O. oceanicus, F. tropica and3. ...
The New Zealand storm-petrel Pealeornis maoriana Mathews, 1932 was described from 3 specimens collected in the 19th century. Since 1952 it has most commonly been considered a subspecies of Wilson’s storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus exhibiting the ventrally streaked “Pealea” phenomenon. There had been no recorded sightings of the New Zealand storm-petrel in over 170 years before Jan 2003. Since then, observations off northern New Zealand of storm petrels believed to be this taxon have been made regularly during the austral summer. From observations and photographs, these birds appeared more similar to the New Zealand storm-petrel than to other storm petrel species occurring in the region. However, confirmation of their identity was not possible without capture. In Nov 2005 one was captured off Little Barrier Is, and 3 more were caught elsewhere in the Hauraki Gulf in Jan 2006. Analyses of detailed descriptions, photographs, and morphometric data of these birds provide conclusive evidence that they represent an extant population of the New Zealand storm-petrel. Our analyses of these data and comparison with the New Zealand storm-petrel museum specimens and 17 other Southern Hemisphere storm petrel taxa (subfamily Oceanitinae), lead us to conclude that this species is distinct.
... Since the first sighting of the species in 2003 off the Mercury Islands (36°38 0 15″S, 175°53 0 16″E) NZSP at-sea observations during the putative breeding season had been concentrated in the outer Hauraki Gulf, north of the city of Auckland, but they had been seen as far afield as the Three Kings Islands (34°10 0 18″S, 172°6 0 24″E), 500 km to the north (Gaskin & Baird 2005) (Fig. 1). This region contains several hundred islets and islands potentially suitable for NZSP breeding sites identified on the basis of their small size, known mammalian predator history and knowledge of other breeding seabirds (Gaskin et al. 2011). ...
... Initial observations confirmed the species' presence in an area totalling thousands of square kilometres of ocean habitat. This area was subsequently refined by boat-based observations to a reduced geographical area containing potential candidate breeding islands off the northeastern North Island (Gaskin & Baird 2005, Stephenson et al. 2008a, Gaskin et al. 2011). This ground work was essential to build up an understanding of the birds' occurrence and distribution, and constituted the greatest expense to the project in terms of boat charter costs. ...
... Since the first sighting of the species in 2003 off the Mercury Islands (36°38 0 15″S, 175°53 0 16″E) NZSP at-sea observations during the putative breeding season had been concentrated in the outer Hauraki Gulf, north of the city of Auckland, but they had been seen as far afield as the Three Kings Islands (34°10 0 18″S, 172°6 0 24″E), 500 km to the north (Gaskin & Baird 2005 (Fig. 1). This region contains several hundred islets and islands potentially suitable for NZSP breeding sites identified on the basis of their small size, known mammalian predator history and knowledge of other breeding seabirds (Gaskin et al. 2011). ...
... Initial observations confirmed the species' presence in an area totalling thousands of square kilometres of ocean habitat. This area was subsequently refined by boat-based observations to a reduced geographical area containing potential candidate breeding islands off the northeastern North Island (Gaskin & Baird 2005, Stephenson et al. 2008a, Gaskin et al. 2011). This ground work was essential to build up an understanding of the birds' occurrence and distribution, and constituted the greatest expense to the project in terms of boat charter costs. ...
Identifcation of breeding sites remains a critical step in species conservation, particularly in procellariiform seabirds whose threat status is of global concern. We designed and conducted an integrative radiotelemetry approach to uncover the breeding grounds of the critically endangered New Zealand Storm Petrel Fregetta maoriana (NZSP), a species considered extinct before its rediscovery in 2003. Solar-powered automated radio receivers and hand-held telemetry were used to detect the presence of birds on three island groups in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. At least 11 NZSP captured and radiotagged at sea were detected at night near Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island with the detection of an incubating bird leading to the discovery of the first known breeding site for this species. In total, four NZSP breeding burrows were detected under mature forest canopy and three adult NZSP and two NZSP chicks ringed. Telemetry data indicated NZSP showed strong moonlight avoidance behaviour over the breeding site, had incubation shifts of approximately 5 days and a breeding season extending from February to June/July, a different season from other Procellariiformes in the region.
Radiotelemetry, in combination with rigorously collected field data on species distribution, offers a valuable technique for locating breeding grounds of procellariiform seabirds and gaining insights into breeding biology while minimizing disturbance to sensitive species or damage to fragile habitat. Our study suggests an avenue for other breeding ground searches in one of the most threatened avian Orders, and highlights the general need for information on the location of breeding sites and understanding the breeding biology in data-deficient birds.
... Little is known of the at-sea distribution of Fregetta (Marchant and Higgins, 1990; Shirihai, 2008; Spear and Ainley, 2007 ). F. maoriana has only been recorded from New Zealand waters (Gaskin and Baird, 2005), but similar birds have been sighted recently off the east coast of Australia and New Caledonia (Gaskin et al., 2011; Collins, 2013). Also, measurements suggest that the type specimen of nominate F. grallaria collected off Australia (Vieillot, 1818) is an eastern Pacific form from Juan Fernandez Island (F. ...
The Fregetta storm-petrels generally are regarded to comprise two species: black-bellied storm-petrels F. tropica (monotypic) breed at Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands (46-63°S), and white-bellied storm-petrels F. grallaria breed at south temperate islands (28-37°S), with four recognized subspecies. Confusion surrounds the status of birds at Gough Island (40°S), central South Atlantic, which have been attributed usually to a white-bellied form of black-bellied storm-petrel F. t. melanoleuca. We use cytochrome b and nuclear β-fibrinogen gene sequences to show that F. t. melanoleuca are present during the breeding season at Gough and islands in the nearby Tristan da Cunha archipelago (37°S), exhibiting limited divergence from F. t. tropica. We also show that there is greater diversity among F. grallaria populations, with eastern South Pacific F. g. segethi and F. g. titan differing by c. 0.011, and both differing from western South Pacific nominate F. g. grallaria by c. 0.059. The Tristan archipelago supports a population of F. grallaria closely allied to the nominate form, as well as a distinct form identified as F. g. leucogaster. Further research is needed to assess how F. grallaria and F. tropica segregate in sympatry at Tristan and Gough, and why this is the only location where both species have white-bellies.
... Since then, genetic evidence has shown that these birds are indeed the same taxon as the only three existing NZSP museum specimens (Robertson et al. 2011). Following the accumulation of at-sea sighting records (Gaskin & Baird 2005), and the strong indication of local breeding in the Hauraki Gulf area, New Zealand (Gaskin et al. 2011, Rayner et al. 2013), a breeding ground of the species was recently discovered within the Gulf, on Little Barrier Island, Te Hauturuo-Toi (hereafter Little Barrier; S36°16′, E175°06′). The discovery was made by searching for radio-tagged birds, captured and tagged at sea, on candidate islands in the wider Hauraki Gulf (). ...
We provide a first assessment of various on-land capture methods for a procellarid seabird, the New Zealand Storm-Petrel Fregetta maoriana, which had been presumed extinct but for which a breeding site has just been discovered on Little Barrier Island. In the vicinity of an active breeding site, playback only, also involving a newly isolated call from in situ deployed sound-recording devices, could efficiently be employed for capture, while light attraction in combination with playback achieved comparable capture success further afield. We consider that these findings can be relevant for breeding ground searches and capture operations in other storm-petrel species, and more generally in seabirds that visit their breeding sites at night.
The New Zealand storm petrel (NZSP; Fregetta maoriana), thought to be extinct for over 150 years, was rediscovered in 2003. In 2013, a single NZSP breeding population was identified on Te Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island) in the Hauraki Gulf off the east coast of Aotearoa New Zealand’s North Island. Expeditions in 2021 to the Far North of New Zealand identified numerous NZSP at-sea over 300 km from Te Hauturu-o-Toi, suggesting that another breeding colony may exist. Blood samples collected from NZSP in the Hauraki Gulf and the Far North were used to generate genomic data. These data were analysed to investigate if individuals from the Far North are genetically differentiated from NZSP from the Hauraki Gulf, and if any individuals from the two locations are close relatives. Analyses revealed that NZSP from the Far North and Hauraki Gulf are not genetically distinct, and possible second-degree relatives were identified between the locations. Genetic diversity estimates indicated low population diversity levels and low effective population size estimates. These results suggest that Te Hauturu-o-Toi may be the only NZSP breeding colony, and the Far North represents a foraging location for NZSP. Sex bias fluctuates through the year but is similar in the two locations, also supporting a lack of population structure and indicating little foraging location bias between the sexes. Further research is needed to confirm whether highly connected or recently established colonies exist. These results highlight the extinction risk for NZSP and the importance of conservation efforts on Te Hauturu-o-Toi.
This chapter demonstrates solutions to damages done to island ecosystems. It cites David Cameron Duffy's 1994 study where he observed that feral animals, diseases, and forest destruction had greatly modified island ecosystems that most were unrecognizable. It highlights how most island management projects focus only on the restoration of single or multiple species, rather than whole communities or ecosystems. It covers examples that span the entire range of ecosystem damage, from partially to wholly modified, and illustrate successes of the entire range of restoration levels ranging from single species to entire ecosystems. It also looks into the development of ecosystem recovery and restoration efforts by describing past accounts such as in the Nonsuch Island in the Caribbean by David Wingate.
We used measurements of brood patch and moult status to estimate the breeding phenology of New Zealand Storm-Petrel, using birds caught at sea within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park near Auckland, New Zealand. Birds caught October–January had completely downy brood patches, whereas birds caught February–April had bare brood patches with an observed male bias in the February sex-ratio, consistent
with a female pre-laying exodus typical of petrels and with the existence of an unknown colony in the region. No birds captured exhibited primary moult, which is known to occur in storm-petrels during their non-breeding season. Our data support the conclusion that the New Zealand storm-petrel breeds during January–June in northern New Zealand and that field surveys for the species on offshore islands in this region during this period are warranted.
The 'Critically Endangered' Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi is believed to breed only on the island of Gau, Fiji, but its nesting grounds have yet to be located. Until a bird was captured in 1984, the species was known from only a single museum specimen (collected in 1855), one sighting on land (in 1965) and four unverified sightings at sea (1964-65). Local knowledge of the Fiji Petrel is restricted to a few lines of a traditional lullaby. In this paper we collate and review all records of the species, and examine all known attempts to locate nesting sites. Since 1985 there have been 15 reports of sightings on land and six at sea. Two additional specimens, both pre-breeding adults, have been obtained. Although our knowledge of this elusive species is slowly increasing, the timing of the breeding cycle remains uncertain, making the search for nesting sites particularly challenging. Known potential threats on Gau include predation by introduced cats, rats and pigs. We detail recent conservation efforts and prescribe some new initiatives, including the use of sniffer dogs. Locating the nesting grounds of the Fiji Petrel remains the prime conservation priority for this species.
Eradications of kiore or Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) from islands around New Zealand have been followed by responses from resident species of coastal plants, invertebrates,
reptiles and seabirds. These responses are compared with an invasion by ship rats (Rattus rattus), which devastated populations of invertebrates, birds and bats. Post-eradication responses only approximate the effects
of invasions because recovery is limited to the residual pool of native species. Greater effects of kiore are indicated by
adding incompatible species confined to rat-free locations. The extended list includes at least 15 species of invertebrates,
two species of frogs, tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), 11 species of lizards and 9 species of seabirds. The analyses indicate direct and indirect effects of kiore similar to
those reported after ship rat invasions. This is despite indications from the literature that kiore are the least damaging
of the three commensal rat species.
Late‐Glacial faunas from Wheturau Quarry near Gisborne and Te Aute near Napier North Island New Zealand are described and radiocarbon dates presented These faunas suggest that the eastern North Island was covered in open shrubland until 10 500 yrs B P There were significant changes in the fauna of the eastern North Island during the early Holocene, when the dominant moa species was replaced, the key species Cnemtorms gracilis disappeared from the fauna, and others such as Eunanas finschi, became scarce The Wheturau fauna includes the largest collection of Cnemionm gracilis bones yet found, and a storm petrel that may be Oceamtes maonanus, named from three skins collected last century off Banks Peninsula The Te Aute site is notable for the large number of moa bones preserved, especially Euryapteryx curtus and Dinoinis giganteus It is also the type locality for Dinornis gazella Oliver, Cnemioims giacilis Forbes, Cu cus teautetnsis Forbes, Circus hamiltom Forbes, and Phalaciocorax novaezealandiae var major Forbes The record of Harpagornis moorei from Te Aute is shown to have been an error in identification by Hamilton, and Harpagornis is therefore unknown from the North Island