Kaikōura has the largest Red Bill Gull breeding colony in NZ and the only breeding colonies for Hutton’s Shearwater. Our district also provides important breeding habitats for Banded Dotterel, two types of Oyster Catchers, several species of shags, as well as terns and little blue penguins.
Banded Dotterels are hunted by cats while nesting and fledging on our beaches. Hutton’s shearwaters are also very vulnerable to both cats and dogs on their first flight from the mountains to the sea. Local research is showing strong evidence that Penguins, Banded Dotterel, White Fronted Terns, and Red Bill Gulls are also impacted by our four legged friends. Bush birds such as the South Island Robin and eggs or juveniles of our favourite bush birds like the Tui, Bellbird, Brown Creeper, Rifleman, Tom Tit and Kererū are also highly vulnerable to cat predation.
