Shearwater chicks a flight risk

Accident-prone native seabird chicks will be taking to the skies for the first time this month, and they need the public’s help in case of crash landings.

The Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust’s annual Fly Safe campaign is under way in Kaiko¯ ura as the fledgling chicks prepare to take their maiden voyage.

The Hutton’s shearwater, or tı¯tı¯, is a wandering nocturnal seabird, considered nationally vulnerable and on the decline.

They are only known to breed at two sites in the Kaiko¯ura mountains, and pass over the town on their way to the sea in March and April.

Kaiko¯ura Wildlife Rescue manager Sabrina Leucht said that, with only two colonies left, every shearwater was important in terms of its reproductive potential.

‘‘Artificial lights interfere with their navigational cues, the Moon and stars, causing disorientation and crash landings.

‘‘On their first flight, fledglings [can] become startled and disoriented.

‘‘During this fledgling period there is the potential for hundreds of young shearwaters to ground around the Kaiko¯ura township.’’

The seabirds were particularly prone to crash landing on roads because they were disoriented by street lights, and residents might also find shearwaters in backyards near porch or floodlights, Leucht said.

‘‘As Hutton’s shearwaters are pelagic seabirds, which spend 98 per cent of their lives on the ocean, they are highly immobile on land.

‘‘Their legs are primarily suited to paddling at sea, while on land they can merely shuffle.’’

Once grounded, crash-landed

Hutton’s shearwaters were unable to become airborne and get back to sea, or out of the way of oncoming traffic.

‘‘This means that without being rescued and released, grounded Hutton’s shearwaters will die.

‘‘Without help these birds will succumb to starvation, dehydration, vehicle strike, or predation by cats and dogs.’’

Leucht said while Kaiko¯ura Wildlife Rescue previously cared for the chicks, the organisation was currently trying to create a community wildlife hospital and needed more help.

Grounded Hutton’s shearwaters could be dropped off at the Hutton’s Hub next to the Department of Conservation on Ludstone Rd, which was open from March to April and would be checked by volunteers daily.

Any healthy or uninjured birds could immediately be released into the sea, off wharves, marinas, slipways, boat ramps or in the water at the beach.

Injured shearwaters could be taken to VetCare Kaiko¯ ura, and the ones that could recover would be taken to the South Island Wildlife Hospital in Christchurch for rehabilitation.

Last month, Kaiko¯ura petrol station NPD had to replace its high-intensity lights after ‘‘hundreds’’ of adult shearwaters were seen diving at the store, and several were killed as a result.

STUFF The Hutton’s shearwater is only known to breed at two sites in Kaiko¯ ura.