During 1979, 3,478 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 133 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and their friends. 5,876 dead seabirds were found. There were no major wrecks, although high numbers of Sooty Shearwaters (Pufinus griseus) from the November/December 1978 wreck continued to be found. Unusual finds were three Erect-crested Penguins (Eudyptes sclateri), three Sooty Terns (Sterna fuscata), three White-tailed Tropic Birds (Phaethon lepturus), and one Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus).