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Conservation and ecology of Hutton ' s shearwater ( Puffinus huttoni )

Hutton's shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) breeds at only two remaining colonies located in the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains. An introduced predator, the stoat (Mustela erminea), has been identified as the main potential threat to the continued survival of Hutton's shearwaters and a major aim of this research has been to evaluate that risk. The results showed that average breeding success (46.5%) and adult survival (93.1%) are within the same range as those found for other Puffinus species breeding in areas free from introduced predators. An average of 70.5% of burrows were occupied by a bird incubating an egg. This occupancy figure suggests that the population of Hutton's shearwaters may be closer to 106 000 breeding pairs rather than the 134 000 pairs previously estimated. Stoats are estimated to be killing an average of 0.25% of breeding adults and 12% of chicks in each season. This predation leads to a reduction of 0.86 ± 0.22% in the yearly population growth rate of a population model of Hutton's shearwaters. However, the overall population growth rate was still positive (0.44%), suggesting that stoat predation is not likely to be unsustainable for Hutton's shearwaters. Available breeding habitat and competition for breeding resources may be limiting factors for the current population of Hutton's shearwaters. Protecting the remaining colonies from feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and establishing new breeding areas should be high management priorities.