Seabirds of The Petrel Station
Tutukaka, New Zealand
So far from 168 tours we’ve recorded an impressive 69 SEABIRD SPECIES, and a total of 6,485,756 SEABIRDS on The Petrel Station seabird tours, making this one of the most diverse and exciting pelagic seabird hotspots in the world.
12
Albatross species
21
Petrel species
4
Prion species
5
Skua species
5
Storm Petrel species
10
Shearwater species
12
Other Seabirds
* Noddy, Gannet, Penguin, Gulls, Terns & Shags
Offshore from Tutukaka, The Petrel Station seabird tours encounter an extraordinary mix of Albatross, Petrels, Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, Prions, Skuas, and other seabird species – from globally familiar ocean wanderers to highly sought-after northern specialties, including many seabird species breeding locally on nearby islands.
For many visitors, this is one of the most exciting ways to experience why New Zealand is known as the ‘Seabird Capital of the World’.
Why this is such a remarkable seabird area
The waters offshore from Tutukaka, and the greater Hauraki Gulf pelagic area, form one of the richest and most dynamic seabird environments in New Zealand. Nearby breeding islands, seasonal migration routes, productive feeding areas, and the meeting of tropical, subtropical, temperate, and southern influences all combine to create an exceptional seabird area throughout the seasons.
This is why The Petrel Station seabird tours can record such a remarkable range of species from a single area — and why offshore Tutukaka stands out not only as one of New Zealand’s great pelagic birding locations, but also as one of the most impressive single location seabird experiences anywhere in the world.
Key reasons this area is so remarkable:
69 seabird species recorded
52 Procellariiformes (tubenose) seabird species recorded
24 seabird species breed locally or on nearby islands in the greater Hauraki Gulf area
The nearby Poor Knights Islands host enormous seabird colonies, including the entire global breeding population of Buller’s Shearwater
Seasonal seabird movements and migrations pass through the region means different birding highlights through the seasons
Productive zooplankton and baitfish areas create huge seabird feeding workups
A rich mix of tropical, subtropical, temperate, and southern-ranging species
This exceptional combination of place, productivity, and movement is a major part of what makes The Petrel Station seabird tours such a rewarding way to experience New Zealand’s pelagic wildlife.
Specialty seabirds and standout experiences
Some of the seabirds seen on The Petrel Station seabird tours are especially memorable because they are rare, only breed locally, or are difficult to see elsewhere, and our feeding workups experiences are simply extraordinary to witness.
Among the standout specialties are seabirds such as the iconic and rare New Zealand Storm Petrel, along with Pycroft’s Petrel, Cook’s Petrel, Black Petrel, Black-winged Petrel, Little Shearwater, Grey Noddy, Chatham Albatross, and South Polar Skua. For many visiting birders, these are exciting target species that are unlikely to be encountered elsewhere in New Zealand — or, in some cases, anywhere else in the world.
Another defining specialty of The Petrel Station seabird tours is the huge seasonal seabird feeding frenzy workups that can develop offshore in spring and summer. At their best, these can involve tens of thousands of seabirds feeding together, with Buller’s Shearwaters, Fairy Prions, and sometimes Fluttering Shearwaters gathering in remarkable numbers. On exceptional days, the scale can become truly astonishing — the largest feeding workup recorded during our tours reached around 185,000 seabirds in a single event.
For international visitors, this can also be a first chance to experience many of the oceanic seabirds and pelagic wildlife spectacles that make New Zealand so famous among birdwatchers and nature lovers.
Different seasons, different highlights
One of the great strengths of The Petrel Station seabird tours is that the species mix changes through the year, with different species peaking at different times and each season bringing its own character offshore from Tutukaka.
Some visitors come hoping for our impressive Petrel, Shearwater and Albatross diversity, others for our northern seabird specialties, and others for the remarkable spring and summer feeding workups involving huge numbers of seabirds. As migration patterns shift and local breeding cycles change, so too does the offshore seabird mix.
Our seasonal turnover is a big part of what makes this such a compelling seabird area to explore in more depth — and one of the reasons no two tours ever feel quite the same.
Experience these stunning seabirds for yourself
Join The Petrel Station seabird tours for a memorable day offshore among New Zealand’s extraordinary seabird life.