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During 1978, 4,350 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 195 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and their friends. 15,605 dead seabirds were found. There was a major wreck of sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) in November and December. In late August and September there was a wreck of Antarctic fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides) and Antarctic petrels (Thalassoica antarctica). Localised wrecks caused high annual totals of fairy prions (Pachyptila turtur), flesh-footed shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes), Buller’s shearwaters (P. bulleri), fluttering shearwaters (P. gavia) and diving petrels (Pelecanoides urinatrix). This is the third year that specimens of soft-plumaged petrel (Pterodroma mollis) and wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) have been found; the second year for black-fronted tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) and little tern (Sterna albifrons). A new record on the New Zealand mainland for rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes crestatus = chrysocome) and Leach’s fork-tailed storm petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) is a new record for beach patrolling.