Chatham Islands, New Zealand

Chatham petrels are to soon to make a return to Chatham Island thanks to the Taiko Trust and the Department of Conservation.  Once widespread and numerous on the Chatham Islands, for the last 100 years or so the Chatham petrel (Pterodroma axillaris) has been restricted to Rangatira (South East) Island where a population of around 1,000 birds persisted.

200 chicks are due to be translocated from Rangatira Island to The Sweetwater Conservation Covenant in the south of Chatham Island over the next three years with the first group of 70 due to be transferred in April this year.

The Department of Conservation and the Pitt Island community are planning to move 20 Chatham Island snipe from Rangatira (South East) Island to Pitt Island in late April 2008. Rangatira Nature Reserve is the snipe's stronghold, with over 1200 birds believed present on the 219 ha island. The translocated birds will be released into the predator-fenced Ellen Elizabeth Preece Conservation Covenant on Pitt Island.

Snipe were formerly found throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands, but became confined to remote islands following the introduction of predators, especially rats and cats. Other forms of snipe survive on the subantarctic Snares, Auckland, Antipodes and Campbell Islands, all of which are nature reserves and difficult to get to.

This is the second translocation of Chatham Island snipe. In 1970, 23 snipe were successfully moved from Rangatira to Mangere Island by the New Zealand Wildlife Service.

Nocturnal aerial displays by the extinct Stewart Island snipe were the origin of the mythical hakawai bird of the southern muttonbird islands. The Chatham Island snipe also perform these displays, particularly on bright moonlit nights in autumn. It is hoped that hakawai will soon be heard on Pitt Island for the first time in over 120 years.