Banded Albatross

Most of the albatross seen in Kaikoura have travelled thousands of kilometres to get here. Some of albatross seen in Kaikoura have bands on their legs and these bands have been put on while the birds are on their nesting sites on Sub Antarctic Islands.

Kath Walker and Greame Elliot have been working on wandering albatross in the Auckland and Antipodes Islands since 1991 and are responsible for many of the bands seen on birds off Kaikoura. For photos and deatils on some banded birds seen on our tours go to the Gallery.

We also have had sightings of banded royal albatross that have been banded at the breeding site at Taiaroa Head, Dunedin. Once again these can be viewed on our Gallery.

Albatross
Up to eight varieties of the smaller albatross (sometimes referred to as mollymawks) can be seen in the waters off Kaikoura.

Shearwater
Seven varieties; flesh-footed, Buller’s, sooty, short-tailed, fluttering, Hutton's and little shearwater.

Petrels
Fourteen varieties; some of these include Westland, common diving, white-chinned, cape pigeon, southern giant, northern giant and Wilson's storm petrel.

Prions
There are four other species of prions which can be seen off the Kaikoura Coast, but they are very difficult to distinguish between. The chances are that most prions seen off Kaikoura will be fairy prions.

Shag
Four varieties including the black, pied, little and spotted.