Westland locals patrol for downed petrels
DOC estimates dozens of Westland Petrels were saved from State Highway 6 near Punakaiki during the 2023-2024 fledgling season, which has just come to an end.\nThe bird, also known as the t\u0101iko, has just 4000 mating pairs and only breeds in one location - an eight-kilometre stretch of coastal forest, which requires a treacherous flight across State Highway 6 before they can fly on to South America.\nMany birds have fallen victim to that road, so volunteers now do nightly patrols of the highway to rescue any t\u0101iko which have lost their way.\nMorning Report producer Emma Ricketts reports.