The Seabirds

Seven species of Shearwaters can be seen aboard Whale Watch tours and around the Kaikoura Coast. The most remarkable of these is the Hutton's Shearwater, the only seabird known to nest in an alpine environment.

A truly local species, it only breeds in one mainland location - Kaikoura -and then only in the snowy peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Range. Hutton's Shearwaters can be seen gathering in huge flocks just offshore and as evening falls they fly thousands of metres up into the snow.

Here, in late August, they dig a long earth burrow and over the following months lay eggs and raise their chicks.

Of the 14 varieties of Petrels that visit Kaikoura, the largest is the fierce-looking Southern Giant Petrel (pictured) and the smallest the tiny Common Diving Petrel that can weigh as little as 130 grams. Petrels are famous for their ability to 'swim' under water after prey - some diving to depths of 10 metres or more.

Petrels are scavengers commonly seen on Whale Watch tours as they like to hang around whales, dolphins and seals to grab food scraps brought to the surface. The Southern Giant Petrel has also been observed killing and eating smaller seabirds.

At almost 4.3 metres the Wandering Albatross has the greatest wingspan of any living bird. They are a spectacular and frequent sight on Whale Watch tours. Although extremely endangered, 13 varieties of albatross, including the magnificent Salvin's Albatross, are attracted to the waters of Kaikoura where they can sometimes be seen scavenging large chunks of squid brought to the surface by Sperm Whales.

Tens of thousands of albatross are killed each year by the longline fishing industry. As surface feeders, the birds swallow the baited hooks before they have time to sink.

Four varieties of penguin have been spotted around Kaikoura by Whale Watch crew - the Chinstrap Penguin, the Fiordland Crested Penguin, the Yellow-eyed Penguin and the Blue Penguin. Yellow-Eyed and Blue Penguins are the more commonly seen species.

Yellow-Eyed Penguins (pictured) have been found sitting on the breakwater at the Whale Watch marina.

Hoiho is the Maori name for the Yellow-Eyed penguin, an endangered and protected species native to New Zealand. Hoiho means 'noisy shouter' - the penguin's piercing call can be heard over the roar of waves crashing on rocks. Unlike most penguins, the Hoiho nests well apart from other penguins in forest or scrub sometimes a kilometre from the sea. Palaeontologists believe the Hoiho is the most ancient of penguin species.