Archives for January 2016

Sponsor-A-Chick!

January 28, 2016

We have 7 Hutton’s shearwater chicks at the Kaikoura Peninsula/Te Rae O Atiu colony this season and have now begun advertising these for sponsorship on TradeMe. TradeMe listings will also be shared via our Facebook page. You can sponsor a 2015/16 chick for a one-off $150 donation, which will provide you progress from year 1 to 5, and include naming rights. We also have 2014/15 chicks that are still available for sponsorship.

2015/16 chick sponsorships:
#41 – Sponsored by Lorna Deppe
#42 – Sponsored by Caleb Armstrong
#45 – Sponsored by Geoff Harrow
#46 – Sponsored by Carol Howard
#59 – Sponsored by Jeremy and Ilana Miller
#70 – Sponsored by Blair Rowe
#72 – Available on TradeMe NOW

Filed Under: Latest News

Chick Translocations – A Summary To Date

January 28, 2016

The Trust began Hutton’s shearwater chick translocations from the Kowhai River colony (one of only two remaining wild colonies) in the Seaward Kaikoura Range to the artificial Kaikoura Peninsula/Te Rae O Atiu colony in 2005.

Translocations followed in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2013. Chicks adapted well to their artificial burrows within the predator-proof colony on the Kaikoura Peninsula. They were fed sardine smoothies, regularly weighed and fitted with metal bands and microchips – before fledging and migrating to feed in the warm coastal waters off western Australia. Immature birds remain there until 3-4 years of age, and then return for their first breeding attempt at the Kaikoura Peninsula colony. Translocated birds have already begun returning to their artificial colony and made first breeding attempts – great news!

The next translocation will likely take place in 2018.

The Trust is grateful to the many sponsors and volunteers who made translocations possible. Each of you has directly helped make a difference for this endangered species.