Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka fledgling
Image: Jinty McTavish | ©

Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka

Introduction

The Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka is New Zealand’s 'newest' bird species, being only described as recently as 2018. The species only breeds on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and is Threatened-Nationally Critical.

Scientific name: Pelecanoides whenuahouensis
Population: Stable
New Zealand status: Endemic
Conservation status: Threatened – Nationally Critical
Primary threats: Storms and storm surges, competition, and marine light pollution

Basic information

Length: up to 20 cm
Weight: 125 g
Population: 220 adults
Food: krill, juvenile fish, and juvenile squid

Distribution

The Whenua Hou diving petrel only breeds in dunes of Waikoropupū (Sealers Bay) on predator-free Whenua Hou (Codfish Island). The species forages west and south of Rakiura (Stewart Island) over the Stewart Snares Shelf during the breeding period (September–January) and along the polar and subantarctic front south of Australia during the non-breeding season (January–September).

Challenges

Challenges include:

  • the vulnerability of the extremely small and limited population
  • increase of storms and storm surges under the onset of climate change
  • competition with more aggressive seabird species for nest sites
  • collisions with vessels caused by disorientation due to light pollution.

What we are doing

We have been monitoring the Whenua Hou diving petrel population since 2002 to understand population dynamics, trends, threats, and identify potential solutions.

We used the gathered information to identify the best potential conservation strategy for Whenua Hou diving petrel with Ngāi Tahu, Fisheries New Zealand, Environment Southland, and industry through a structured decision-making process. This strategy includes mitigating light pollution at sea, restoring the dune system, and translocations, following successful trials.

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