New Zealand Storm-petrel

Taxobox
name = New Zealand Storm-petrel

---

status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = unknown
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Procellariiformes
familia = Hydrobatidae
genus = "Oceanites"
species = "O. maorianus"
binomial = "Oceanites maorianus"
binomial_authority = (Mathews, 1912)

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. [http://www.wrybill-tours.com/nzsp.htm] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3344917.stm] It has on occasion been considered a subspecies or even variant of Wilson's Storm-petrel, "O. oceanicus", but is quite distinct.

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.

. 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. [http://www.wrybill-tours.com/idproblems/stormpet.htm] The most likely breeding location is within the Hauraki Gulf where the New Zealand Storm Petrel working group are concentrating their efforts. Other tour operators [http://www.nzseabirds.com] have also regularly seen these birds on the Hauraki Gulf since this time.

This storm-petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls and skuas. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow.

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.

It differs from the commoner species, 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.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is critically endangered
* Flood 2003, The New Zealand storm-petrel is not extinct. Birding world 16: 479-483.
* Gaskin, C.P.; Baird, K.A. 2005. Observations of black and white storm petrels in the Hauraki Gulf, November 2003 to June 2005; Were they of New Zealand storm petrels? Notornis 52: 181-194
* Saville, S.; Stephenson, B.; Southey, I. 2003. A possible sighting of an ‘extinct’ bird – the New Zealand storm petrel. Birding World 16: 173-175.

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=30105&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]
* [http://www.wrybill-tours.com/idproblems/stormpet.htm The first sighting by Sav Saville & Brent Stephenson of Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ]
* [http://www.wrybill-tours.com/nzsp.htm Subsequent information on the capture of New Zealand Storm-petrels in the Hauraki Gulf]
* [http://www.wrybill-tours.com/idproblems/stormpet3.htm Bob Flood, "The New Zealand storm petrel is not extinct"]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3471060a11,00.html 2005 sighting]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3344917.stm BBC news report]
* [http://nzseabirds.com/Reports/trip_01nov03.php] and [http://nzseabirds.com/Reports/trip_13dec03.php] Trip Reports by Chris Gaskin discuss sightings of NZ Storm Petrel
* [http://nzseabirds.com/nzstormpetrel_news.php] NZ Storm Petrel News with photos, by Chris Gaskin
* [http://www.nzseabirds.com/gallery.php?aid=11] NZ Storm Petrel images and species information
* [http://www.eco-vista.com/birdgall/seabirds/nzsp/index.htm Collection of New Zealand Storm-petrel images taken by Brent Stephenson]