Marine Birds
Hutton’s shearwater/tītī is the only New Zealand seabird that breeds in a sub-alpine environment. The species is nationally endangered, with its two remaining breeding colonies located in the Seaward Kaikōura Mountain’s.
Hutton’s shearwater/tītī were first described in 1912 but it was not until 1965 that their Seaward Kaikōura mountain breeding grounds were re-discovered by Geoff Harrow, an amateur Christchurch ornithologist.
The adult population of Hutton’s shearwater is around 460,000, but the species is classified as ‘nationally endangered’ because of its rapid rate of decline.
About the size of a common red-billed seagull, Hutton’s shearwater are thought to live for about 30 years.
Birds arrive at their colony from Australian coastal waters in late August onwards then spend about two months competing for burrows and mates. The male and female take turns to incubate the single egg, laid in a burrow up to three metres long between late October and late November. Incubation takes about 50 days.
Each day adult birds travel approximately 20 kilometres to the sea, to eat fish and krill which are later fed to their young. On their downhill flight they travel at up to 154 km/h, reaching the ocean in as little as seven minutes. The return trip takes around 38 minutes, with 1200 metres or more in altitude to be gained with a bellyful of fish.
When the young fledge in March and April, they migrate with other Hutton’s shearwater to fish-rich waters off the Australian coast. Young birds stay there for three or four years then return to Kaikōura to breed at five to six years old.
Other Shearwaters
Six species of Shearwaters can be seen aboard Whale Watch tours and around the Kaikōura Coast. Species including the Bullers Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater and the Fluttering Shearwater.
Quick facts:
- Buller’s Shearwaters – these species of shearwater can frequently be seen feeding with other species of shearwaters such as sooty, flesh-footed and Hutton’s shearwaters.
- Sooty Shearwaters – feed on the bright orange krill which occurs in vast numbers off Kaikōura during summer and autumn. Sooty’s fly close to the water, hence the birds name “shearwater”
- Fluttering Shearwaters – they are very similar to the Hutton’s shearwater and are difficult to tell apart. Flocks of up to a hundred of these shearwaters may be seen within 1-2 miles off the Kaikōura Coast.
- Short-tailed shearwaters are seen over the summer months off the Kaikōura Coast, also very similar looking to the common sooty shearwater
Petrels
Of the 14 varieties of Petrels that visit Kaikōura, the largest is the fierce-looking Southern Giant Petrel and the smallest the tiny Common Diving Petrel that can weigh as little as 130 grams. Petrels are famous for their ability to 'swim' under water after prey - some diving to depths of 10 metres or more.
Petrels are scavengers commonly seen on Whale Watch tours as they like to hang around whales, dolphins and seals to grab food scraps brought to the surface. The Southern Giant Petrel has also been observed killing and eating smaller seabirds.
Examples of some petrel species you may come across on a whale watching tour:
- White Chinned Petrel
- Cape Petrel
- Giant Northern Petrel
- Giant Southern Petrel
- Wilson’s Storm Petrel
- Grey-back Storm Petrel
- White Face Storm Petrel
- Antarctic Fulmer
Albatross
At almost 4 metres the Wandering Albatross has the greatest wingspan of any living bird. They are a spectacular and frequent sight on Whale Watch tours. Although extremely endangered, 13 varieties of albatross, including the magnificent Salvin's Albatross, are attracted to the waters of Kaikōura where they can sometimes be seen scavenging large chunks of squid brought to the surface by Sperm Whales.
Tens of thousands of albatross are killed each year by the longline fishing industry. As surface feeders, the birds swallow the baited hooks before they have time to sink.
Quick Facts:
- Gibson’s albatross breed in the Auckland Islands. This is the main species sighted in Kaikōura.
- The Snowy albatross is the largest of the wandering albatross species, holding the record in the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest recorded wingspan of any flying bird at 3.6m
- Southern royals can be seen off the Kaikōura Coast throughout the year, generally singularly, although up to 3 or more birds may be seen around fishing boats.
Mollymawks
Mollymawks, are considerably smaller than the great albatrosses. Of the world’s nine species, only two do not breed in New Zealand.
Most mollymawks breed annually, laying one egg on a pedestal nest if enough soil is available. Mollymawk colonies are densely packed, usually located on elevated cliff platforms above the sea from where they can launch themselves readily.
Some examples of the mollymawks that we get to see from time to time include: Shy, Salvins, Black browed and the Bullers Mollymawk.
Quick Facts:
- Salvin’s albatross are the least studied albatross species and have also suffered high mortality rates from longline and trawl fishing.
- The Buller’s albatross is endemic to New Zealand and are frequently observed in Kaikōura throughout the winter months, but are notably absent during the summer months during their breeding season.
- There are two species of black-browed albatross which are almost identical in flight. They are distinguished from one another by eye colouration.
Penguins
Four varieties of penguin have been spotted around Kaikōura by Whale Watch crew - the Chinstrap Penguin, the Fiordland Crested Penguin, the Yellow-eyed Penguin and the Blue Penguin. Yellow-Eyed and Blue Penguins are the more commonly seen species.
Yellow-Eyed Penguins (pictured) have been found sitting on the breakwater at the Whale Watch marina. They are endangered species of penguin so it is definitely a treat for all when we come across them on one of our tours.
Hoiho is the Maori name for the Yellow-Eyed penguin, an endangered and protected species native to New Zealand. Hoiho means 'noisy shouter' - the penguin's piercing call can be heard over the roar of waves crashing on rocks.
The Little Blue Penguin is known by many different names such as blue penguin, little penguin, little blue penguin and is more commonly known as fairy penguins in Australia. It is the world’s smallest penguin measuring around 25cm tall and only 1-1.5kg in weight.
A small breeding colony exists near the Kaikōura Coastguard building at South Bay, Kaikōura. Artificial burrows have been installed underneath the building whilst other penguins breed in the surrounding area.