Posted on 09th July, 2019
With Oi nesting on one end, and fake gannets on the other (to encourage real ones to drop in), Taurawhata headland is being re-established as a hot spot for seabirds.
Oi, or grey faced petrel, were once common on the mainland, but were no match for introduced mammalian predators. Gannets, traditionally known as Takapu, have had many of their smaller breeding grounds lost to development and predators.
After finding active Oi burrows several years ago on Taurawhata – which is part of the Bowden family farm – Guy Bowden realised that his predator control work might be allowing the birds to return.