An annotated bibliography documenting extensive research on Hutton’s shearwater.
Crash-landed Hutton’s shearwater fledglings and light pollution
October 21, 2015
Over 200 endangered Hutton’s shearwaters (Puffinus huttoni) fledglings downed by bright lights were rescued from roads in and around Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island during the 2014/15 breeding season. Following collection by volunteers the young birds were measured, weighed, banded and released to sea by the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust and Albatross Encounter. When the fledglings depart their only two remaining mountain colonies in the Seaward Kaikoura Range inland of Kaikoura and head towards the ocean, they unfortunately become attracted and disorientated by the town’s street lights. Mitigation measures are currently underway.
See full article: http://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2075-crash-landed-hutton-s-shearwater-fledglings-get-rescued-from-the-effects-of-light-pollution-in-new-zealand-while-research-on-their-at-sea-movements-continues
Hutton’s shearwater research documents and journal papers
October 21, 2015
Bird Of The Year 2015 – Vote for Hutton’s shearwater!
August 26, 2015
Forest & Bird’s annual Bird Of The Year competition has kicked off, running from 5-25 October 2015. The Trust is representing Hutton’s shearwater throughout this campaign, please make sure you vote for our endangered seabird!
www.birdoftheyearorg.nz
Farewell event – March 2015
March 17, 2015
Farewell to Hutton’s shearwater/titi – Keep your diary free for 29 March 2015!
- Meet at South Bay in Kaikoura at 6.45 am.
- Welcome: Brett Cowen DoC/Rūnanga representative.
- A walk along the Kaikoura Peninsula track to the translocated colony site.
- Farewell to Hutton’s shearwater/titi ceremony.
- Followed by BBQ breakfast and cuppa at the Coastguard.
- Colony update from Phil Bradfield (DoC) and Lindsay Rowe (Treasurer/Colony Manager).
Nau Mai Haere Mai – All Welcome!
The Mystery Bird – Documentary
February 27, 2015
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.
Geoff Harrow – 50 Years of Hutton’s shearwater
February 24, 2015
50 Year Anniversary – 21 February 2015, Kaikoura Town Hall.
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.
DOC Funding helps Trust soar – Kaikoura Star – 16 July 2014
August 19, 2014
Download >> Grant helps Trust soar – Kaikoura Star
The Department of Conservation is to provide a grant of $45,000 over three years to support the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust in appointing a Project Coordinator.
Farewell to Hutton’s Shearwater/Kaikoura Tītī
July 15, 2014
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu article and film on the Hutton’s shearwater/Kaikoura Titi.
Read article here >>