Hutton's shearwater is a medium-sized ocean-going seabird in the family Procellariidae. Its range is Australian and New Zealand waters, but it breeds only in mainland New Zealand. Its conservation status is Endangered, because there are just two remaining breeding colonies, located in the Seaward Kaikōura Range. Six other shearwater colonies have been wiped out by introduced pigs. Hutton's shearwater is the only seabird in the world that is known to breed in alpine areas. Conservation measures for the bird include community initiatives to rescue birds that crash-land at night on streets in Kaikōura, and the establishment of a protected area on the Kaikōura Peninsula including a predator-proof fence, man-made burrows, and translocating fledglings from the remaining colonies.
Hutton's shearwater
A raft of Hutton's shearwaters feeding off the Kaikōura coast
Hutton's shearwater breeding colony, Shearwater Stream, Seaward Kaikōura Range
Hutton's Research Hut - Kowhai Colony
The family Procellariidae is a group of seabirds that comprises the fulmarine petrels, the gadfly petrels, the diving petrels, the prions, and the shearwaters. This family is part of the bird order Procellariiformes, which also includes the albatrosses and the storm petrels.
Procellariidae
The flight of giant petrels is aided by a shoulder-lock that holds their wing out without effort.
To take off this Christmas shearwater (Puffinus nativitatis) must face into a strong wind. In calm conditions it must run in order to obtain a high airspeed.
Million-strong flocks of shearwaters migrate from New Zealand to Alaska every year.
