Radio- and satellite-tracking westland petrels Procellaria westlandica

Abstract

Two foraging trips of one female and one male Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica partially tracked by radio telemetry, and six foraging trips by three male Westland Petrels tracked by satellite telemetry are reported We report on the development of Platform Transmitting Terminals (PTTs) suitable for use on burrowing seabirds and on the successful deployment of the modified PTTs. The birds tracked by VHF radio telemetry were recorded around the 200-m depth contour on a few days during their foraging trip but were beyond reception range most of the time. The birds tracked by satellite mostly foraged on the continental slope off the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand except in one instance where a bird flew through Cook Strait and spent time on the Chatham Rise east of the South Island. The difficulties associated with interpreting satellite tracks for birds that travel relatively short distances at sea are discussed.