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An estimate of the Hutton’s shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) population in the Kaikōura region using colour-marking in 2002 and 2014

  • Publication Type

    Journal

  • Publication Year

    2018

  • Author(s)

    L.K. Rowe; P.R. Scofield; G.A. Taylor; R.J. Barker

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    65, 4

  • Pagination

    196-201

  • Article Type

    Paper

Keywords

Hutton’s shearwater; mark-recapture; population estimates; Puffinus huttoni


An estimate of the Hutton’s shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) population in the Kaikōura region using colour-marking in 2002 and 2014

Notornis, 65 (4), 196-201

L.K. Rowe; P.R. Scofield; G.A. Taylor; R.J. Barker (2018)

Article Type: Paper

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In September 2002 and 2014 respectively, 2,077 and 1,704 prospecting Hutton’s shearwaters were colourmarked on the ventral plumage at their breeding grounds at Kōwhai River, Seaward Kaikōura Ranges, New Zealand. Large numbers (425,516 in 2002, and 106,900 in 2014) of marked and unmarked birds were then counted from small boats off the Kaikōura coast between Haumuri Bluff and Ohau Point. A hypergeometric sampling model was fitted these counts, leading to population estimates of N =̂ 459,290 (95% CI = 434,306-484,733) birds in 2002 and N ̂ = 590,407 (95% CI = 543,992–642,697) individuals in 2014. These estimates include both breeding and non-breeding birds and indicate that between 2002 and 2014 the population trend was about +2% per year.