New Zealand storm petrel research

A New Zealand storm petrel appears to run on water as it skips across the sea surface in search of small prey to feed on. Photo Richie Robinson / Northern NZ Seabird Trust

Hauturu/ / Little Barrier Island. Photo Alison Ballance

A New Zealand storm petrel on the forest floor at night. Storm petrels become forest birds only during the breeding season. Photo Alan Tennyson

A spotlight sends a wide beam of light into the night sky to make seabirds flying overhead visible. Photo Matthew Savoca

Watching and waiting for a New Zealand storm petrel to fly overhead. Photo Photo Matthew Savoca

Using special pliers to attach a unique numbered leg band to a New Zealand storm petrel. Photo Matthew Savoca

The brightly coloured plastic bands on this bird's leg will enable it to be individually identified when it is seen at sea. Photo Alison Ballance

Some of the many seabird biologists from different institutions who volunteer their time on the NZ storm petrel project. Photo Alison Ballance

A busy night at 'the lights' - Alan Tennyson with 2 NZ storm petrels ready to be banded. Photo Alison Ballance

A speaker broadcasting New Zealand storm petrel calls is surrounded by empty nest boxes, to entice young birds to begin breeding here. Photo Alison Ballance

New Zealand storm petrel egg. The egg is very large in relation to the bird's body size. Photo Alan Tennyson

New Zealand storm petrels are classified in the genus Fregetta. Photo Alison Ballance

A wooden nest box designed with New Zealand storm petrels in mind is part of an artificial colony. Photo Alison Ballance

Megan Friesen and Karen Baird are part of a large team helping research New Zealand storm petrels. Photo Alison Ballance

This NZ storm petrel has unusual white markings on its feet. Photo Alison Ballance