Seabirds in the lower North Island have been falling victim to stormy weather which has blown them inland, stranding many and causing others to die.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) says the birds are mostly young prions and petrels unused to navigating in stronger winds.
DoC biodiversity programme manager Peter Simpson says many of the birds are exhausted and hungry and cannot survive for long inland.
He says they are being found on roads, beaches and people's backyards.
Mr Simpson says people who find seabirds inland should return them to the water's edge.
