Chatham Islands, New Zealand

The Chatham petrel breeding season has got off to a good start with 6 pairs laying eggs in the Ellen Elizabeth Preece Conservation Covenant on Pitt Island, 2 more than last year.  200 Chatham petrel chicks were transferred to the covenant from adjacent Rangatira (South East) Island during 2002-05, and the first pair returned and laid an egg in 2006. 

Chatham petrel and egg in artificial burrow

Addendum:  In April, Pitt Island Ranger Kenny Dix found two new Chatham petrel burrows.  One had a chick in it and the other showed sign of recent activity possiby indicating that a chick had already fledged.  Hopefully Kenny will be able to catch up with the adult birds next season to determine who they are.

Meanwhile, on Rangatira Island 158 pairs have eggs in managed burrows this year and all going well 70 of the chicks will be transferred to a new site in the Sweetwater Conservation Covenant in April this year.  The establishment of this third population will help secure the long term future of this species which is currently listed as Nationally Endangered with an estimated population of  around 1,000 birds.