New Zealand Storm-petrel
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Storm Petrel (Oceanites maorianus) is a small seabird
of the tubenose
family. Previously thought to be extinct since 1850, a series of sightings from 2003 to the present indicate the presence of a previously unknown colony. it is ranked on the IUCN Red List
as critically endangered. It has on occasion been considered a subspecies or even variant of Wilson's Storm Petrel, O. oceanicus, but is quite distinct. In 2011 DNA samples from museum specimens in England and France matched that of birds in the Hauraki Gulf
. The study also suggested the species is probably more closely related to storm petrels in the genus Fregetta
than Oceanites
.
Outside the breeding season it is pelagic
, remaining at sea, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, makes it a difficult bird to observe.
It had been believed to be extinct, but on 25 January 2003 a possible sighting was made by Sav Saville, Brent Stephenson and others close to the Mercury Islands off the Coromandel Peninsula
of New Zealand
's North Island
, leading to several inconclusive photographs and an article being published. On 17 November 2003 while looking for Black-bellied Storm Petrels and White-faced Storm Petrels, Bob Flood and Bryan Thomas obtained good photographs and video of 10 to 20 New Zealand Storm Petrels off Great Barrier
and Little Barrier Islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Subsequently, four Storm Petrels were captured and released in a similar area in late 2005/early 2006, three with radio transmitters attached. These have only been tracked at sea; efforts to find the bird's breeding location have been unsuccessful to date. The most likely breeding location is within the Hauraki Gulf where the New Zealand Storm Petrel working group are concentrating their efforts. Tour operators have also regularly seen these birds on the Hauraki Gulf since this time.
The New Zealand Storm Petrel is a small seabird
, dark brown/black above, except for its white rump. The underparts are black from the throat to the breast, with a white belly that has black streaking, and the feet project well beyond the tail. This storm-petrel
is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gull
s and skua
s. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow. It differs from the more common petrel species found in New Zealand, Wilson's storm petrel, by its pale bar on the upper wing, white belly with streaking, narrow white panel on the underwings, longer legs, and dark webs to the feet.
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
of the tubenose
Tubenose
Tubenose may refer to:* Birds in the order Procellariiformes.* Fishes in the family Aulorhynchidae....
family. Previously thought to be extinct since 1850, a series of sightings from 2003 to the present indicate the presence of a previously unknown colony. it is ranked on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
as critically endangered. It has on occasion been considered a subspecies or even variant of Wilson's Storm Petrel, O. oceanicus, but is quite distinct. In 2011 DNA samples from museum specimens in England and France matched that of birds in the Hauraki Gulf
Hauraki Gulf
The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a total area of 4000 km², and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island...
. The study also suggested the species is probably more closely related to storm petrels in the genus Fregetta
Fregetta
Fregetta is a genus of seabird in the Hydrobatidae family.It contains the following species:* White-bellied Storm Petrel, Fregetta grallaria* Black-bellied Storm Petrel, Fregetta tropica...
than Oceanites
Oceanites
Oceanites is a genus of seabird in the storm-petrel family.It contains the following species:* Wilson's Storm Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus* New Zealand Storm Petrel, Oceanites maorianus* Elliot's Storm Petrel, Oceanites gracilis...
.
Outside the breeding season it is pelagic
Pelagic zone
Any water in a sea or lake that is not close to the bottom or near to the shore can be said to be in the pelagic zone. The word pelagic comes from the Greek πέλαγος or pélagos, which means "open sea". The pelagic zone can be thought of in terms of an imaginary cylinder or water column that goes...
, remaining at sea, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, makes it a difficult bird to observe.
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, leading to several inconclusive photographs and an article being published. On 17 November 2003 while looking for Black-bellied Storm Petrels and White-faced Storm Petrels, Bob Flood and Bryan Thomas obtained good photographs and video of 10 to 20 New Zealand Storm Petrels off Great Barrier
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island is a large island of New Zealand, situated to the north-east of central Auckland in the outer Hauraki Gulf. With an area of it is the fourth-largest island of New Zealand's main chain of islands, with its highest point, Mount Hobson, rising...
and Little Barrier Islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Subsequently, four Storm Petrels were captured and released in a similar area in late 2005/early 2006, three with radio transmitters attached. These have only been tracked at sea; efforts to find the bird's breeding location have been unsuccessful to date. The most likely breeding location is within the Hauraki Gulf where the New Zealand Storm Petrel working group are concentrating their efforts. Tour operators have also regularly seen these birds on the Hauraki Gulf since this time.
The New Zealand Storm Petrel is a small seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
, dark brown/black above, except for its white rump. The underparts are black from the throat to the breast, with a white belly that has black streaking, and the feet project well beyond the tail. This storm-petrel
Storm-petrel
Storm petrels are seabirds in the family Hydrobatidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.Storm petrels have a cosmopolitan...
is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gull
Gull
Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...
s and skua
Skua
The skuas are a group of seabirds with about seven species forming the family Stercorariidae and the genus Stercorarius. The three smaller skuas are called jaegers in North America....
s. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow. It differs from the more common petrel species found in New Zealand, Wilson's storm petrel, by its pale bar on the upper wing, white belly with streaking, narrow white panel on the underwings, longer legs, and dark webs to the feet.