Written by Katie Hansen on July 31,
2018
A new sub-species of sea bird has
been discovered hiding among the sand dunes on Whenua Hou, or Codfish Island,
in the deep south.
The Whenua Hou diving petrel.
Photo: Department of ConservationAbout 250 Whenua Hou diving
petrels have been discovered along a one kilometre sand strip on the island.
Victoria University researcher
Johannes Fischer said the birds were initially thought to be South Georgian
Diving Petrels.
But scientists quickly noticed
differences in size, shape and colour.
The Department of Conservation is
now working on a protection plan for the birds.
Whenua Hou is about three
kilometres west of Rakiura or Stewart Island.
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