Petrel Colony Tours

29/10/2022

For the 3rd year now the NZ Transport Agency will switch off the streetlights through Punakaiki from 7 November to 9 January 2023 to reduce the fallout problem that occurs every fledgling season. The chicks are now very fat and the oldest of them will be starting to emerge from their burrow any day now. Here's hoping for fewer fallout victims this year.

09/11/2021

Tune in to RNZ tomorrow at 9.30 am to listen to an interview about the Westland petrel and and the problem of fallout - disorientation and crash landing caused by bright lights.

To celebrate turning off the streetlights at Punakaiki we will be running a free tour to see the fledglings departing - on Saturday 27 November. Contact Bruce at 03 7311826 for more details.

But not everyone will have the pleasure of being used as a practice launch site.

01/11/2021

It will be interesting to see if there is again a sharp spike in fallout numbers at Greymouth this fledgling season.

Great news! The NZ Transport Agency has advised us that it will again be turning off the streetlights through Punakaiki for the November/December fledging period to reduce the problem of fallout.

By the end of this month the most advanced of the chicks will be emerging from their burrows for the fist time. Here's hoping they get out to sea without any problems.

Inevitably, though, some will become disoriented by numerous commercial and domestic lights between Hokitika and Westport. We can all help give the petrels a better chance by turning off outside lights, or shield them from light spill. And look out for those fallout victims wandering about, whether on the road or in your backyard.

Keep a cardboard box ready, especially in your car, to put any fallout victims in and if you need a hand, but can't contact DOC, give us a call at 03 7311826.

08/05/2020

Pig hunters have been responsible for spreading wild pigs in other areas too, eg the Elizabeth Point track, just down the road from Greymouth, has had a pig problem for years and DOC has yet to get on top of it.

Good grief! All our efforts at predator control to keep the petrel's safe from the likes of cats, dogs and stoats (or weasels like this recent capture), could amount to nought in the face of the latest threat to the colony, wild pigs. A couple of weaners have just been caught barely 100 metres from our Waiwhero Valley colony and at least one more remains on the loose. No adults have yet been found so it appears, hopefully, that this is the work of some idiot, if that's the right word, who has deliberately released them. Pigs are an absolute disaster for petrel colonies and in a matter of hours can create mayhem by rooting up burrows and eating eggs, chicks and adults. And let's not forget the great spotted kiwi in the area too. I'll be out tomorrow with P**i, our predator control manager, to see what we can find, and hopefully have a photo of a pig for the next posting.

13/11/2019

Come on a free celebratory tour to view the fledglings launch on their maiden flight - back in five years.

30/09/2019

A continuing problem set to become bigger.

14/07/2019

CMI Springs are no longer providing replacement screens at no cost, but charge $8.95 + gst per trap!

If you intend to use Trapinator plastic tunnels with DOC 150/200 traps and have weka in your trapping area, beware that the pre-cut entrance hole in the mesh screen is too big, which allows weka to force their way in and get snapped. CMI Springs, who sell the tunnels, will provide uncut mesh so it can be cut to suit. We've reduced the entrance hole to 50 x 50 mm, which seems to have solved the problem, whilst still providing ample room for rats and stoats. Wish CMI would tell their supplier to do likewise. Overall we've found the tunnels great when it comes to carrying multiple traps when setting trap lines - so light and stackable - just assemble on site. But I don't think these tunnels would last long in kea country - they'd love them to bits.

03/12/2018

Westland Petrel fledglings are still active in the colony, emerging from their burrows at night to exercise their wings and practice launching so as to be ready for that first flight. Note the downy feathers on the far bird. These two have probably left by now.

02/12/2018

Goat control in the petrel colony - after being spotted by one of by our monitoring cameras.

28/11/2018

We often think of "wild" animals as engaging in the s*xual act only for the purpose of procreation, and other than that they have no interest in a s*xual relationship, but here one of our monitoring cameras has captured a series of images of a pair of Westland Petrels engaged in casual s*x as part of their pair bonding behaviour several months after the nuptial period in April/May – and this was only one of a number of such encounters during the evening.

25/11/2018

Westland Petrel chicks are now coming out of their burrows and preparing to depart, so it's time to do the annual census. From this preliminary count we have 59 fledglings, down a little on last year.

14/11/2018

Michael comes eye to eye with a Westland Petrel fledgling during his recent visit to the colony. For the next three weeks it will be full on as young petrels emerge from their burrows after four months confinement and prepare for their first flight out to sea - back in five years.