Mike Imber (DOC-Science & Research), Halema Jamieson (DOC-GBI Area Office), Brent Stephenson and Chris Gaskin spent six nights on Burgess Island, Mokohinau Islands. The aims of the trip were to trial use of sound recordings/mist-nets to attract and capture storm petrels; spotlight for incoming birds (particularly storm petrels) at various locations around the island; take blood samples from various species captured; and survey breeding sites for seabirds on Burgess Island. This visit was part of an ongoing search for the breeding location of NZ Storm Petrels. It follows the earlier seabird survey on the Mokohinau Islands that we conducted in April 2004. Click here for a report on that survey.

Strong winds throughout most of the stay meant that mist-netting was trialled only twice with poor results. It was very hard to find a sheltered spot in a suitable location. Use of sound recordings attracted few birds - the best response was from a few White-faced Storm Petrels on the first night at the northern end of the island. Spotlighting was successful. We also noted the presence of birds/burrows.

In summary, seabirds seen during the course of the visit:

• Little Shearwater (heard and seen while spotlighting; captured on ground and using spotlights; blood samples taken and breeding on Burgess confirmed)
• Fluttering Shearwater (heard and seen while spotlighting; and breeding on Burgess likely)
• Sooty Shearwater (heard and seen while spotlighting; and breeding likely on Motuharekeke, known as Flax Isle and close to NE Burgess)
• White-faced Storm Petrel (heard and seen while spotlighting; captured on ground and using spotlights; blood samples taken and breeding on Burgess likely)
• Common Diving Petrel (heard and seen while spotlighting; captured on ground and using spotlights; blood samples taken and breeding on Burgess confirmed)
• Grey-faced Petrel (heard and seen while spotlighting; and breeding on Burgess confirmed)
• Cook’s Petrel (heard and seen while spotlighting; captured using spotlights; and blood samples taken)
• Fairy Prion (seen while spotlighting; captured using spotlights; and blood samples taken)
• Buller’s Shearwater (seen while spotlighting)
• Blue Penguin (heard and seen while spotlighting; and breeding on Burgess confirmed)
• Red-billed Gull (breeding on Burgess, cliffs above Home Bay)
• Black-backed Gull (breeding on Burgess)
• White-fronted Tern
• Pied Shag

Other birds seen during the visit::

A few days later several Kaka were heard late at night while anchored in the Arches (on adjacent islands) overnighting on a fishing trip. (Chris)

--Chris Gaskin