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title: "Satellite tracking New Zealand’s Black Petrels on their pre-laying exodus"
---

# Satellite tracking New Zealand’s Black Petrels on their pre-laying exodus

 ![Black Petel tagging 2020 map](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/B/Black/Black_Petel_tagging_2020_map.jpg)

 *Satellite tracks of Black Petrels prior to egg laying*

 Elizabeth ‘Biz’ Bell, Kelvin Floyd and Samantha Ray of [Wildlife Management International](http://www.wmil.co.nz/) have recently attached satellite transmitters ([Telonics Inc](https://www.telonics.com/index.php)TAV-2617) to 10 ACAP-listed Black Petrels *Procellaria parkinsoni* in the Mount Hobson /Hirakimata study colony on New Zealand’s [Great Barrier Island/Aotea](https://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1361-acap-breeding-sites-no-24-great-barrier-aotea-and-little-barrier-hauturu-islands-new-zealand-only-breeding-sites-of-the-black-petrel).  The devices are currently tracking pre-laying exodus flights of the [nationally](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/black-petrel) and [globally](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22698150) Vulnerable petrel, endemic to New Zealand.

 [http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/black-petrel](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/black-petrel)![Black Petel tagging 2020](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/B/Black/Black_Petel_tagging_2020.jpg)

 *A satellite tracker is attached to a Black Petrel*

 The Black Petrel is one of [two ACAP-listed species](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/3829-it-s-bird-of-the-year-competition-time-again-in-new-zealand-and-you-can-vote-for-the-endangered-antipodean-albatross?highlight=WyJhbnRpcG9kZWFuIiwyMDIwLCIyMDIwJ3MiLCIyMDIwJy4iXQ==) up for election this year in New Zealand’s annual Bird of the Year competition (‘[BOTY2020](https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/)’); the other being the Antipodean Albatross *Diomedea antipodensis*.  The competition is now open until 15 November.  You can [vote preferentially](https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/voting) for up to five birds, so vote for both!

 ![Black Petel tagging 2020 map 2](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/B/Black/Black_Petel_tagging_2020_map_2.jpg) 

 *"The light green bird (H-34843) is just less than halfway between New Zealand and South America sitting currently at 4200 km away from Great Barrier Island - not too far from Rapa Iti (French Polynesia)"*

 Information from Wildlife Management International’s [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/wildlifemgmtnz/) and 'Biz' Bell, with thanks.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 09 November 2020*