Two juvenile Westland petrels were released on the West Coast last week after being picked up off the road by a Hokitika driver.
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By Lisa Hamker, Visitor Centre Ranger at Paparoa National Park.
Last month I shared a photo of one of our newest, cutest, and fluffiest additions here on the West Coast — a one month old Westland black petrel chick in its burrow just south of Punakaiki.
One month later and look what the fluffy petrel chick has turned into!
The fluffy Westland black petrel has grown up
Like all children, this one grew up very fast, and has turned into an almost adult looking Westland black petrel. He has kept his handsome smile though, as well as some fluff on his belly.
His parents fed him well but, when he got too chubby to fit through the tunnel to get out of the burrow, they left him to get back into fighting fit shape for his next big adventure — flying practice!
Flying practice involves jumping off a cliff, launching into the air and, most of the time, a not so graceful crash landing. Good luck petrel, we’ve got our fingers crossed for you!
Thanks to Bruce Stuart-Menteath from Paparoa Nature Tours for the photograph.
By Lisa Hamker, Visitor Centre Ranger at Paparoa National Park.
This fluffy thing, with the big, black and beautiful puppy dog eyes, is a one month old Westland black petrel chick in its burrow just south of Punakaiki.
Petrel chick cuteness. Photo: Bruce Stuart-Menteath | Paparoa Nature Tours
The chick’s parents still come in for feeding time in the evenings by doing an “elegant” crash landing in the canopy. They then drop to the ground, looking slightly disorientated for a few minutes, before regaining composure and waddling off to their burrow to have a noisy and somewhat reproachful chat with their partner. A bit like: “Did you actually forget to bring the Hoki? Do I now have to fly ALL THE WAY back to Hokitika to get one!”
Adult black petrel out at sea. Photo: Arthur Chapman
In the morning mum and/or dad petrel will have to jump off the cliff to get airborne as their legs are too short to get them going on even ground. And off to another day at sea. Isn’t it amazing what these guys take on to raise their chick?
But let’s be honest – who wouldn’t, looking at a fluffy thing like that?