Monitoring Taiko and Chatham Petrels

The Chatham Islands are a small group of islands approximately 650 kilometers from the nearest mainland. These islands are an incredible place for birding, with 12 currently described species endemic to the islands. This includes several seabird species that only breed here, including two petrel species and the Chatham Albatross.

I had the incredible opportunity to help with conservation work on the two petrel species: the Magenta Petrel, or Taiko, and the Chatham Islands Petrel. These species both have a very limited range in which they breed. The main area is a small section of forest at the south end of the main Chatham Island. This important place is known as the Sweetwater Conservation Area. It is also home to the Chatham Island Warbler and the Chatham Island Pigeon, or Parea, and many special plant species. The area is only accessible several times per year with a conservation ranger from the Taiko Trust.

When I was in the Chatham Islands in early December 2024, I was thrilled to be invited to check several burrows of the petrels with David Boyle! The birding group I was with headed to the south end of the island the next morning, where we met with Dave. We all squeezed into his ute and drove down the farm, where we saw several Parea and the endemic Chatham Island subspecies of Pipit. After driving for half an hour, we arrived and walked into the predator-free sanctuary.

We were in one of the most incredible places I have ever been, surrounded by plants I had never seen and the songs of endemic birds. As we walked through the tight forest, we kept an eye out for orchids. We saw several species, including many flowering Chatham Island Greenhoods! After a short walk and being careful not to stand on any of the well-hidden burrows of the petrels, we arrived at our first target burrow.

A lone male Taiko had recently been seen in this burrow, so Dave was checking to see whether its partner had come back. He reached into the burrow, and after a few seconds, his hand emerged holding a Taiko! We spent a couple of minutes admiring this bird and checking its bands, which confirmed that it was the same male and that its partner had still not returned. We released it soon after.

The next target was a burrow where a pair of Chatham Petrels should be nesting, but only one individual had been seen in the burrow. When Dave reached his hand in, he brought one out, and then he reached his other hand in and grabbed a second one! We read the bands and performed some quick checks.

Helping with this conservation work was a truly educational and once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m thankful for Dave and the Taiko Trust for all the work they are doing to save Taiko and Chatham Petrels and protect the Chathams.

You can also get involved! Learn more here:
https://www.taiko.org.nz/

Article by Caiden Binzegger

Cover photo - Chatham Petrel © Caiden Binzegger