New Zealand first discovered petrel seagull eggs

New Zealand researchers have discovered an egg of petrel storm leopard at Hauturu, Little Barrier Island. This is the first time scientists have discovered the eggs of this endangered small albatross since their rediscovery about 10 years ago.

Graeme Taylor, Scientific Advisor to the New Zealand Conservation Department, said the egg is only 31mm long, 23mm wide, white with pink spots at one end.

New Zealand scientists observe petrel bird eggs on Little Barrier Island.(Photo: nzherald.co.nz)

"The reality is that until now scientists have had the opportunity to observe one of these pretty little eggs, " Taylor said . That shows that we still don't know much about New Zealand's natural environment, especially about seabirds. "

The petrel bird seemed to have become extinct, but was suddenly rediscovered in 2003, more than a century after the last time they were seen.

In February last year, some petrel birds found their spawning sites on Little Barrier Island in Hauraki Bay, but recently an egg of this bird was discovered.

Petrel New Zealand bird researchers had to wait when the mother bird left the nest to check egg quality and gather information.

Experts say the petrel bird is only as big as a sparrow. They live mainly on the sea, just to shore to lay eggs. They lay eggs in caves, laying only one fruit and incubating eggs for more than a month.