Seabirds
Our Changing World – The Antipodes Islands
The rugged and remote Antipodes Islands are home to a fantastical array of wildlife – from pipits to elephant seals. Claire Concannon joins an expedition to the islands where researchers are counting… Audio
Summer science: Seabirds in Auckland
The summer science fun continues with an episode from RNZ podcast Voices. Meet Gaia Dell'Arriccia, a scientist originally from the south of France who studies the seabirds that live around Auckland's… Audio
The petrel patrol
Every year, tens to hundreds of seabirds fall out of the sky across Auckland city. Disoriented by the bright lights, Cook's petrels crash-land and collide with buildings – but a dedicated group of… Video, Audio
Our Changing World - Patrolling for petrels
Every autumn, tens to hundreds of young Cook's petrels crash-land across Auckland city, disoriented by the bright city lights. Assistant producer Ellen Rykers joins a volunteer Petrel Patrol searching… Audio
The Noises Islands: Part 1
The Noises are a conservation success story in the Hauraki Gulf. Claire Concannon joins a team surveying the wētāpunga, seabirds, and other flora and fauna that now thrive on these predator-free… Audio
Bird monitoring on the Noises Islands
Claire Concannon joins a research team on the Noises Islands in the Hauraki Gulf to check up on its bird residents. How are the birds faring on these predator-free havens? Audio
Celebrating seabirds - from the Mediterranean to the Pacific
Gaia Dell'Arriccia left the south of France to research seabirds on Auckland's coastal islands. When Kadambari Raghukumar visits, it's peak breeding season and the Italy-born scientist is busy… Audio
What feathers can tell us about the past lives of seabirds
Behind the scenes at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, a "menagerie" of specimens is a treasure trove for curator Dr Matt Rayner, who is researching how the Hauraki Gulf's seabirds are faring using… Audio
Seabird secrets in the museum backroom
Claire is back this week with a new story for Our Changing World. Inspired by Bird of the Year, she heads to the Auckland Museum to meet curator Dr Matt Rayner, and discover what the feathers of old… Audio
For the love of seabirds
Edin Whitehead inherited a love of birds from her father and became captivated by the majesty of seabirds on a trip to the Subantarctic Islands. Now a PhD student at the University of Auckland, she is… Audio
Our Changing World – Seabirds under threat
Edin Whitehead is a PhD student at the University of Auckland researching how best to help the birds of the Hauraki Gulf, who are facing many threats, including warming waters. Audio
Edin Whitehead: saving baby seabirds
The recent mass deaths of korora, little blue penguins in Northland and concerns about fate of Emperor penguins in the Antarctic have highlighted the threat of global warming to seabirds. Researcher… Audio, Gallery
More seabirds for Mana Island
The story of a seabird translocation to Mana Island, involving fluffy white-faced storm petrel chicks, artificial burrows and sardine smoothies. Audio
Our Changing World for 18 March 2021
Seabird species are being reintroduced to Mana Island to help restore the ecology of the island. Audio
Critter of the Week: The ‘vampire of the seabirds’
This week's critter is a tick that sucks blood from different seabirds, including the antipodean and wandering albatross. Audio
How NZ became the world's albatross capital
The world's only mainland royal albatross breeding colony, in Otago, came about because of the threat of war, but the birds now face their own existential threat. Video
Cam Speedy - The link between seabirds and the land
Our expert today is a forest ecologist and champion of seabirds, Cam Speedy. Audio, Gallery
Successful new seabird colony on Matiu Somes Island
Eight years ago volunteers began translocating fluttering shearwater chicks to Wellington's Matiu Somes Island to establish what is now a growing seabird colony. Audio
Seabird report details "enormity" of the species at risk
Researcher Edin Whitehead has put together the most comprehensive report to date on the multiple threats posed to New Zealand seabirds, calling it 'a depressing exercise'. Audio, Gallery
Bye, bye birdie: Native seabird numbers in decline
It's a tough time to be a seabird in New Zealand, with 35% of our 92 resident indigenous species in decline. Climate change, the fishing industry and even cruise ships are all taking a toll on seabird… Audio