Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust
Saving the world's only alpine breeding seabird!
Announced today that Hutton’s Sheartwater Charitable Trust founder and patron Geoff Harrow has received the QSM for services to mountaineering and conservation.
Well done Geoff – an award much deserved, in recognition of outstanding achievement.
Chairman Ted Howard on behalf of all trustees.
Geoff holding a hutton’s chick in the new colony he was foundational in building.
50 years ago on 21st February, in the rugged Seaward Kaikoura mountains, Trust Patron Geoff Harrow laid hands on the first carcass of what Canterbury Museum then went on to conclude was a Hutton’s shearwater. And so the journey began – Geoff has dedicated the last 50 years of his life to learning about this endangered species and ensuring their survival, despite the probability at the start of almost certain extinction. What an incredible man, what an incredible story.
It is my sad duty to inform all those interested in Hutton’s Shearwaters that Geoff Harrow (Trust Founder and Patron) passed last night (17 Jan 2023) at age 96.
Knowing Geoff has meant a lot to most of us who knew him.
Geoff & Lindsey
Geoff holding a hutton’s chick in the new colony he was foundational in building.
KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND – November 23: Prince of Wales at the Hutton’s Shearwater November 23, 2019 Kaikoura, New Zealand. (Photo by Mark Tantrum/ http://marktantrum.com)
Geoff found the birds for science (some locals knew where they were, but did not share that information).
Geoff’s passion for the birds has been legend. He will be sorely missed by many, and he leaves a legacy matched by few.
Ted
As a result, scientist Richard Cuthbert was to spend three years living with 200,000 Hutton’s shearwaters and their neighbours, studying their behaviour, observing their interactions, measuring and recording facts and figures to build a detailed picture of why and how these birds had survived. The discoveries over time of Richard and his co-workers turned received wisdom on its head and revealed a whole new predator story.
Richard’s beautifully written, witty account – of the challenge and exasperation, the heartbreak and hardship, and the sheer joy of conservation fieldwork in a remote environment – is beautifully interwoven with other fascinating stories – of the ‘discovery’ of the species by nineteenth-century scientists and collectors, and Geoff Harrow’s discovery of the nesting grounds and subsequent long involvement with this species. Seabirds Beyond the Mountain Crest is a delightful and highly entertaining read.
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
The Mystery Bird is a documentary film on the endangered Hutton’s shearwater produced by Claire Clements and Sean Giffin.
The Hutton’s shearwater was long known to Māori, providing a major sustainable source of protein to Ngāti Kuri in the area. The species was first officially described in 1912, and later there were anecdotal reports from high country farmers and hunters of ‘muttonbird’ burrows at high elevations in the Seaward Kaikōura Range, behind Kaikōura. In 1965, following on from these leads, Geoff Harrow found carcasses in the headwaters of the Kowhai River at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,800 m above sea level, that were confirmed as Hutton’s shearwaters. Extensive searching led to the confirmation of eight colonies, but only two remnant colonies remain today. At least ten colonies formerly existed in both the Seaward Kaikōura and Inland Kaikōura Ranges, and potentially further afield beyond these mountains.
The Trust has undertaken research in conjunction with various contractors and scientists over the years. To date research has focused on monitoring, population trends, breeding success, post-translocation movements and genetics. Current research is focusing on light disorientation, crash landings and foraging behaviour.
Research remains a key priority in Hutton’s shearwater conservation management, and long-term funding is required to ensure research priorities come to fruition. Research is urgently required to assess the erosion risks at the two remaining mountain colonies, where soil instability is a significant risk. It is also vital to assess all six “abandoned” mountain colonies, to discern whether any breeding may be occurring there.
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Light disorientation
Dr Sharyn Goldstien from the University of Canterbury is currently investigating Hutton’s shearwater fledgling crash landings in relation to light disorientation.
Foraging behaviour
Della Bennett from the University of Canterbury is currently researching Hutton’s shearwater foraging behaviour, food availability and prey distribution for her Ph.D.
Genetic similarity of Hutton’s shearwaters (Puffinus huttoni) from two relict breeding populations.Hale, M., Harrow, G., Bradfield, P., Cubrinovska, I. & Holdaway, R.N. 2015. Notornis, Vol. 62: 130-134.
Post-translocation movements of pre-fledging Hutton’s shearwaters (Puffinus huttoni) within a newly established colony (Te Rae o Atiu) on the Kaikoura Peninsula. L. Rowe, 2014, Notornis, Vol. 61: 84-90.
Breeding success of Hutton’s shearwater in the Kowhai and Shearwater Stream colonies during the 2006/07 breeding season. M. Bell, 2014, Notornis.
Population trends, breeding success and predation rates of Hutton’s shearwater (Puffinus huttoni): a 20 year assessment. E. Sommer et al, 2009, Notornis, Vol. 56: 144-153.
A list of the chewing lice (Insecta: Mallophaga) from birds in New Zealand. R.L.C Pilgrim and R.L Palma, 1982, Notornis, Vol. 29.
Amendments and additions to the 1982 list of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from birds in New Zealand. R. L. Palma, 1999, Notornis, Vol. 46: 373-387.
Monitoring Hutton’s shearwater 1986-1989. G. Sherley, 1992, Notornis Vol. 39: 249-261
Prelimary report on discovery of nesting site of Hutton’s shearwater. G. Harrow, 1965, Notornis, Vol: 12 (2).
Some observations of Hutton’s shearwater. G. Harrow, 1976, Notornis Vol. 23: 269-288.
9.00 am Maori Tours – 20% off
Please book direct on 03 3195567 or email info@maoritours.co.nz.
9.15 am Photography workshop
With birdlife photographer Peter Langlands, cost $25.
Meet in Dolphin Mary room at Encounter Kaikoura.
Book direct at langlands@xtra.co.nz or Ph: 027 4501 916
9.15 am Walk with local seabird advocates
Facilitated by Phil Bradfield and Friends of HSCT.
Meet at Point Kean, the Seal Colony car park.
9.30 am Albatross Encounter – 20% off
Book direct at www.encounterkaikoura.co.nz or Ph: 03 319 6777.
12.45 pm Lectures and Presentations – Memorial Hall, Supper Room – Koha
Guest Speakers:
1.00 pm Chris P. Gaskin
Seabird Conservation Advocate. “Important Areas for New Zealand’s Seabirds: Kaikoura”.
1.30 pm Karen A.Baird
Seabird Conservation Advocate. “Threats to NZ seabirds globally and nationally”.
2.00 pm Graeme Taylor
Seabird Scientist from DoC. “Conservation of New Zealand’s threatened seabirds – new insights about our poorly known oceanic birds”.
2.30 pm Afternoon tea break
3.00 pm Paul Scofield
Senior Curator Vertebrates, Canterbury Museum. “The Albatross of the Chatham Islands: tourists to Kaikoura”.
3.30 pm Andrew Cutler
President Forest & Bird “What next for ocean governance: collaboration or crisis?”
5.30 pm Movies, Mix and Mingle – Mayfair Theatre Theatre tickets: $25 – door sales may be limited Tickets available online at
www.huttonsshearwater.org.nz or from Kaikoura i-SITE.
Proceeds to Seaward Lions of Kaikoura and HSCT.
Drinks, Food and Social Hour.
Wine kindly sponsored by Peter Yealands Wines.
6.30 pm Opening: Brett Cowan of Takahanga Marae & DoC Kaikoura followed by HSCT spokesperson.
Guest Speakers:
Winston Gray Mayor of Kaikoura.
Colin King MP.
Ruud Kleinpaste Bugman, Birdman, Ecologist.
Movie: “The Mystery Bird” – Geoff Harrow
6.45 am Haere Ra Nga Titi – Farewell to Hutton’s
Gather at South Bay Reserve
7.00 am
Prompt departure on Kaikoura Peninsula coastal track to Te Rae o Atiu / Kaikoura Peninsula colony.
If mobility is limited please advise by email in order to arrange transport to colony.
8.30 am
Breakfast at Memorial Hall supper room for bacon butties!
9.30 am Kaikoura Seabirds Guest Speakers
Phil Bradfield Hutton’s scientific update (HSCT Trustee & DoC representative).
Nicky McArthur Hutton’s education update (HSCT Trustee).
Lindsay Rowe, Jody Weir Little Penguins of Kaikoura (HSCT Trustee, Kaikoura Ocean Research Institute).
Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura Kaikoura Coastal Guardians Members update.
11.00 am
Ruud Kleinpaste Birdman, Bugman & Ecologist.
“The value of all living things”
11.30 am
Lou Sanson Director General of the Department of Conservation. “Community conservation – NZ last discovered really precious – why it really matters”.
12.30 pm Free – Seaweek family music and activity event
Adjacent to Memorial Hall.
Run by Brett Cowan, DoC Kaikoura and Creation Care Study Programme.
• Saturday morning walk
• Saturday afternoon presentations
• Saturday evening at the Mayfair Theatre – $25
• Sunday morning Farewell and breakfast
