The grey petrel is common at sea around New Zealand as far north as East Cape, but rarely seen near the mainland. It feeds in both small and large groups, and scavenges behind fishing vessels. Grey petrels are large, grey-and-white petrels with pale grey legs and feet. Grey petrels usually fly just above the water, but can soar much higher. Grey petrels have a circumpolar distribution, breeding on Antipodes, Campbell, Gough, Marion, Prince Edward Islands, Iles Crozet, and the Kerguelen and Tristan da Cunha groups. Grey petrels are winter breeders. In New Zealand, they breed in burrows on Antipodes and Campbell Islands; the largest colony is on Antipodes Island which holds an estimated 53,000 breeding pairs. Beach-wrecked juvenile grey petrels are often found on the east coast of the North Island.

Identification

Grey petrels are large, heavy bodied seabirds that are ashy grey above and white below, with slightly darker grey wings and tail. The legs and feet are fleshy grey, darker on the outside, with yellowish webs. The bill is stout, and green/yellow flesh, with black between the plates and on the nostrils.

Voice: grey petrels rarely call at sea, but are very vocal on the ground during the breeding season, giving two main calls; a ‘Moan’ - a low, barely audible calls when males and females are bonding in the burrow together or bonding with the chick, and ‘Rattle’ – loud quacking calls that are repeated often just after dark and before dawn and appear to be used to attract females to the burrow location. Both sexes also have a ‘Bleat’ call when threatened (as an alarm call) or during territorial disputes.

Similar species: very rare vagrant Cory’s shearwater is larger and appears brownish-grey with a subtle darker M across the upper wings. Pink-footed shearwater (also a rare vagrant in New Zealand) is smaller with shorter wings, grey-brown upperparts and a pinkish bill.

Distribution and habitat

Grey petrels breed on Antipodes Island and Campbell Island in the subantarctic. During the breeding season, grey petrels occur in waters east of New Zealand, particularly East Cape and the Gisborne coast. During the non-breeding season, grey petrels fly east to the Humboldt Current off Peru. Elsewhere, grey petrels breed on Macquarie, Gough, Marion and Prince Edward Islands, Iles Crozet, and the Kerguelen and Tristan da Cunha groups. They are most often seen at sea, ranging widely over deep water between 32° and 58°S. Grey petrels are rarely seen from land away from breeding islands.

Population

The largest population of grey petrels in New Zealand is on Antipodes Island, with 53,000 breeding pairs. There are fewer than 100 pairs on Campbell Island. Other populations around the world range up to 25,000 pairs (Gough Island).

Threats and conservation

Since the eradication of Norway rats from Campbell Island, grey petrels have few land-based threats on their New Zealand breeding islands. Both Antipodes and Campbell Islands are legally protected island sanctuaries with restricted access. On other island colonies, grey petrels are affected by feral cats, rats and mice. Grey petrels have been caught by commercial fishers both in New Zealand waters and overseas and are recognised as at high risk from commercial fishing operations.

Few conservation actions have specifically targeted grey petrels. The Antipodes Island population was surveyed in 2001 and foraging tracking (using geolocator devices) was undertaken between 2007 and 2008. Mitigation to reduce seabird bycatch has been put in place on commercial fisheries vessels operating within New Zealand. The conservation status of this species was moved from 'at risk - declining' to 'at risk - naturally uncommon' in 2013.

Breeding

Grey petrels are colonial breeders, nesting in short to long (1-3 m) burrows on steep, well-draining slopes. They are monogamous, with shared incubation and chick care. Winter breeders, grey petrels attend the colony from February to December, with a single white egg laid in late March-April. Incubation is shared and takes 52-65 days. Chicks hatch from May-June and are left unattended during daylight when 1-3 days old. It is assumed that both parents feed the chick by regurgitation. Chicks fledge in October-December at 110-160 days old.

Behaviour and ecology

Grey petrels are often solitary at sea, but sometimes form flocks around fishing vessels or in association with cetaceans. They typically feed on squid and fish by surface feeding or shallow diving. Grey petrels excavate their own burrows on steep, well-draining slopes of well-vegetated islands. They breed as monogamous pairs, which typically remain together throughout their breeding lives. Grey petrels primarily visit the breeding colonies after dark, but occasionally fly over the island and land in broad daylight. They depart before dawn, or stay in burrows during daylight. After breeding, grey petrels migrate to South America, staying in seas off Peru from December to March.

Grey petrels are silent at sea, but are vocal on the breeding grounds.

Food

Little is known about the main food items of grey petrels, but squid (Teuthoidea), fish and crustaceans have been recorded. Grey petrels readily take offal and discards from fishing vessels.

Weblinks

BirdLife factsheet

ACAP

Wikipedia

http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/petrelgrey.html 

References

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Recommended citation

Bell, E.A. 2013 [updated 2022]. Grey petrel | kuia. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz