Little Blue PenguinThe extend of the local little blue penguin population was unknown until the Rena Oil Spill crisis. 350 oiled penguins – mostly from Mauao, Moturiki and Motuotau, were caught, cleaned and released back into their original environment after the rocks were cleared of oil. It was during this time that we “discovered” the local population was much bigger than we had imagined. An estimated 800 nest on Mauao, 200 on Moturiki and 400 on Motuotau.
Our Wildlife
The Bay of Plenty is home to a wide range of native and endemic bird species.
Western Bay Wildlife Trust focuses conservation and monitoring efforts on three key sites; Mauao, Moturiki, and Mt Maunganui’s main beach. These sites support a wide range of seabirds, shorebirds, and land-based birds.
Below are some of the species that you are likely to encounter when spending time around the area.
Sea Birds
Seabirds spend most of their lives at sea. We only get a brief glimpse into their behaviour when they come to the land to breed, so this is when our monitoring is most important. WBWT, focuses on the local Ōi (grey-faced petrel) and Kororā (little blue penguin) populations. Learn more about these amazing seabirds and a few of the other common species that we come into contact with.
Grey-Faced PetrelAbout 500 birds use the colony at Mauao, spread around the base of the mountain under the skirts of the pohutukawa forest, with some burrows higher up to a maximum of c.75m above sea level. It is one of New Zealand’s most common seabirds, with vast colonies on Moutuhora (Whale Island) off Whakatane, and a large number on Motuotau (Rabbit Island) just offshore from Moturiki (Leisure Island).
Diving PetrelDiving petrels nest on Motuotau in the hundreds. These birds were particularly vulnerable to the Rena oil as they fly close to the surface of the water and sometimes fly through waves. Around 2002, pest-free Motuotau was invaded by a stoat which killed nearly 100 birds in a short space of time. The stoat was trapped by DOC. Some birds that had been banded with metal bands during the 1990s were still alive during a survey in 2011. They are trying to re-establish themselves on Mauao and Moturiki but struggle against cats and stoats that easily catch and kill them.
Australasian GannetThe Australasian gannet dives for fish from a great height. It is the only bird in the world with an s-shaped bone in the wing to allow for the winds to fold back flat when diving. If you are lucky you can see Gannets diving off Mauao in Pilot Bay. Their nearest breeding colony is White Island, off Whakatane.
Sooty ShearwaterMore of a transient species, with vast colonies south of Stewart Island, nevertheless it is often seen wheeling offshore. Can be confused with either the Black Petrel, which nests on Great & Little Barrier Islands, or the Flesh-footed Shearwater of Karewa Island, near Matakana Island.
Shore Birds
Shorebirds mostly live along the coast. They find food on beaches and in shallow tidal areas. Scuttling along the sand, these birds are easier to spot than seabirds. WBWT focuses its monitoring on the local breeding populations of the Northern New Zealand dotterel and Variable oystercatcher.
New Zealand Dotterel60 Rena New Zealand Dotterel were kept at Te Maunga Wildlife Hospital during the Rena oil spill. Mauao has a beach on the Matakana Island side which you could spot these birds. They also visit the Mount Main Beach if no humans are about. During January 2014, a pair nested in the middle of the main beach! Now we have at least 5 pairs nesting on the Main Beach every breeding season.
OystercatcherVariable and South Island Pied Oystercatchers are both present on Mauao, with the former often breeding near the start of the Mauao Base Track, and folk surveying the boardwalk can easily see them. These are most regularly all black. South Island Pied Oystercatchers breed mainly in the South Island and can be seen with the Variable group on the Matakana Island beach on Mauao. These birds are all black and white.
Black-Backed GullThe most common gull species is also the noisiest, with lots of nests now appearing below the track on Mauao. This species has benefited from human habitation, and exists in artificially high numbers in the Bay of Plenty, as well as the rest of the country.
Land Birds
Terrestrial (or land-based) birds don’t spend much time at sea or on the coastline. The Bay of Plenty is home to many different land bird species, both native and introduced. Whilst WBWT focuses on seabird and shorebird populations, local terrestrial species also benefit from the pest animal control efforts we carry out, facilitating improved protection.
Ruru (Morepork)The bush on Mauao, Moturiki and Motuotau provides good cover for this owl, and it has been noted on most nights when the Petrel teams are running. One can be seen often on the ocean side of the track on Mauao very near the entrance gate.
FantailOtherwise known as Pīwakawaka, the Fantail is one of New Zealand's best known birds. It's iconic tail feathers make it instantly recognisable and happily leave near humans, often spotted parks and gardens. They are very vocal and their loud birdsong lets you know when they are near by.
KakaNorth Island Kaka use Mauao and Moturiki occasionally as part of a wider circuit of feed trees. You are lucky to see one, but where there is one there are usually a group. Keep an eye out. Usually you can hear them before you see them, as their calls are quite distinctive (think of a Tui with a crashing hangover)
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