The Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust

The Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust was formed in October 2008 to: encourage and promote the preservation, conservation, research, public education, and sustainable management of the Hutton's shearwater.

The Hutton's shearwater is an endangered seabird endemic to Kaikoura. The only place in the world that this species breeds is high in the Seaward Kaikoura Ranges at elevations between 1200 to 1800 metres. When the Hutton's shearwater breeding grounds were rediscovered by Trustee Geoff Harrow in 1964, there were eight colonies but only two exist now - on conservation land in the headwaters of the Kowhai River and on private land in Shearwater Stream. These colonies are under threat from pigs, stoats and other predators, and from natural hazards such as avalanches and earthquakes. If the breeding grounds had not been located in the 1960's the Hutton's shearwater may have become extinct by now.

The role of the Trust is to gain greater understanding of the ecology of the Hutton's shearwater and to ensure the survival of the mountain and Kaikoura Peninsula colonies.

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Sponsors and acknowledgments

The Trust is a registered charitable entity CC37979 and tax credits are available for donations made in New Zealand.

This Trust cannot operate without the generosity of donors and sponsors. Prior to the Trust being formed many individuals and businesses in Kaikoura and elsewhere contributed time and goods to assist in a successful Department of Conservation led translocation project whereby nearly 300 chicks were moved from the Kowhai colony to start a new colony on the Kaikoura Peninsula at a site owned by the Kaikoura Charitable Trust. Since the formation of the Trust we successfully raised funds for a predator-proof fence to be erected at the Peninsula. Since the fence was completed, we have embarked on a pest-eradication programme, built a deer fence around the site to keep stock off our expensive predator-proof fence, and started on a planting programme to improve habitat in at the site. Individuals, local, regional and national funding agencies contributed and we are extremely grateful for their help.

plus, and not least, the local businesses and many individuals and volunteers who have helped to date.

To help the Trust further its work, you can find information on the joining the Friends of the Hutton's Shearwater, making donations, and buying a un-signed Austen Deans' print on the Learn how you can help page.

An application form to join the Friends can be found here

Last updates - 27 March 2012

News and events

Welcome Home to the Hutton's Shearwaters 2012

Saturday 22nd Sept 2012 is the day you should mark in your calendar for the welcome home of our Hutton's Shearwaters for the Summer.

Chick Translocation

The Trust successfully translocated 100 chicks from the Kowhai colony to the Peninsula colony at the beginning of March this year.
These chicks will over time boost the potential numbers of birds that will ultimately breed at the Kaikoura Peninsula colony. The Trust is very pleased with how the project went and much of its success can be attributed to the wonderful and hard working volunteers who joined the project.
The chicks all fledged in good time and have headed away to warmer Australian waters until they are ready to come home and breed. It was hard but very rewarding work and a fantastic opportunity to participate in an exciting hands on conservation project.
The trust aims to translocate a further 100 chicks February/March 2013. Watch this space for more details closer to the time.

Hutton's shearwater chick translocation

Hutton's Shearwater film

Claire Clements and Sean Giffin are making a natural history documentary on the Hutton's shearwater. Filming has taken place at the Kowhai, Shearwater Stream and Peninsula colonies, and at sea near Kaikoura. They also intend to visit the over-wintering areas off the north-west Australian coast. To see more on this project visit http://www.huttonsfilm.com/

Hutton's shearwater nesting

First egg laid

One of the chicks translocated from the mountains in 2007 and seen at the new colony last January has now been confirmed breeding - X17115 with a freshly laid egg was a surprise find by Lindsay Rowe while inspecting the burrows this week. See the full press release for more information. 19 November 2010. This egg was later found to be infertile.

Predator-proof fence

Yes, the fence is in and we now have a deer fence around that to protect it from stock. More pictures in the photo gallery.

Returning birds

Signs of returning birds have been seen at the Peninsula colony nest boxes since late October. Pictures in the photo gallery. Chicks released here in March 2006 and March 2007 have been found on site this summer which is positive news for the success of the project.

Pest eradication

A pest eradication programme was started in May and there is no sign of any undesirable critters inside the fence now.

Planting programme

Planting the site with tussocks and shrubs to improve habitat has begun. Funding was provided by the World-Wide Fund for nature.

Research

We have been developing research projects to find out where the birds feed while in New Zealand, which way they fly to the Indian Ocean for the winter (around the top of Australia?), and how the colony develops. This means more fundraising, and contributions are welcomed.

Awards

The Kaikoura Suburban School won an Environment Canterbury MyBiodiversity Film Competition under 15 category, with their film on Hutton's Shearwater. The Hutton's Shearwater CT was nominated by Suburban School to receive the grant to be awarded to a conservation organisation. The project award can be seen at