The New Zealand Storm-petrel, Oceanites maorianus, is a small seabird of the tubenose family. Previously thought to be extinct since 1850, a series of sightings in 2003-4 may indicate the presence of a previously unknown colony. 1, 2

It has on occasion been considered a subspecies of Wilson's Storm-petrel O. oceanicus, but is quite distinct. It nested in colonies close to the sea in rock crevices and laid a single white egg.

It spent the rest of the year at sea, and was pelagic outside the breeding season, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, made it a difficult bird to observe.

It had been believed to be extinct, and certainly has not been seen at its known breeding sites, but on 17 November 2003 a boat trip looking for Black-bellied Storm-petrels and White-faced Storm-petrels discovered this petrel in a different area, off Great and Little Barrier Island, near New Zealand's North Island, with up to 20 birds present, suggesting an unknown colony. Pterodroma Pelagic Tours (www.haurakigulfseabirds.co.nz) have been observing these birds on each of their pelagic trips into the Hauraki Gulf since its rediscovery. The most likely breeding location is the Mokohinau Islands in the Hauraki Gulf where Karen Baird and Chris Gaskin (www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz) are concentrating their efforts to find this location.

This storm-petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls and skuas. Like most petrels, its walking ability was limited to a short shuffle to the burrow.

It spends the rest of the year at sea, and is pelagic outside the breeding season, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, makes this species a difficult bird to observe.

The New Zealand Petrel is a small bird, dark brown above, except for its white rump. The underparts are white with black streaking on the breast, and the feet project further back than the tail.

It differs from the commoner species, Wilson's Petrel, by its pale bar on the upper wing, white belly with streaking, narrow white panel on the underwings and longer legs .

External links

• Bob Flood, 'The NZ S-P is not extinct' with photos.
• BBC news report
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• [2]