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Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 5:06 pm
by philbattley
Just had a call from Wildbase at Massey saying they'd just been handed 5 live shearwaters from the Foxton beach area, from someone who also saw about another 15 birds dead on the beach. These are likely young Sooties, but it could be worthwhile checking the west coast beaches in case this is more widespread.
Cheers, Phil

Re: Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:04 am
by Davidthomas
There have been a few washed up on the east coast too. And now Two young mottled petrels were found up on the Tasman Glacier.

See doc Facebook release:
These lost mottled petrels / kōrure were rescued yesterday from the Tasman Glacier after a pilot from Inflite Experiences New Zealand spotted them huddled together on the Tasman Saddle and flew them to our Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park team.

These birds can handle cooler temperatures, but not icy glaciers! The young fledglings were likely beginning their migration north to the Bering Sea and have been blown off course by strong winds. They’re a target for predators on the ground, so it’s a good thing they were rescued from their predicament.

They were taken to Oamaru where they were released last night. One followed the other and we could see them in the moonlight as they silently flew along the cliff edge and then turned out to sea. The cover of darkness also provides protection from avian predators such as black-backed gulls.

Re: Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 12:18 pm
by Nikki McArthur
On Monday afternoon I received a report from Kim Broad of a live sooty shearwater seen on SH2 near Silverstream (Hutt Valley). Unfortunately, it was wandering out into the oncoming traffic, and by the time Kim managed to turn around and get back to the spot, it had been hit and killed by an oncoming car.

Re: Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 2:37 pm
by David Riddell
Just back from a beach patrol at Waikorea (NW Waikato). Didn't find much - just two common diving petrels, a fluttering shearwater, a fairly decayed blue penguin and skeletal remains of a juvenile black-backed gull, from 5.4km of beach.

Re: Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Wed May 22, 2019 10:23 pm
by andrewcrossland
A few recent Canterbury records: A Sooty Shearwater washed ashore alive somewhere on Brighton Beach about a week ago. At about the same time a live Soft-plumaged Petrel was found in Avonhead, CHCH city and yesterday a live White-chinned Petrel was found in Oxford, well inland. Also <2 weeks ago a dead Sooty Shearwater was reported on the roadside near Little River, Banks Peninsula.

Re: Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Wed May 22, 2019 11:31 pm
by Adam C
Is that amount of inland records usual Andrew? Time of year?

Re: Shearwaters washing up

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 6:53 pm
by Anita#
Another petrel picked up from Methven on Monday. I haven’t seen it so don’t know species, sounds like it was dark coloured so maybe a sooty shearwater? It’s gone to South Island wildlife hospital at Willowbank.