Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
IBA Trigger species: Kermadec (White-faced) Storm Petrel*, Kermadec Petrel, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Grey Noddy (Grey Ternlet), Red-fronted Parakeet.
* Recognised as full species in New Zealand (NZ checklist 2010).
Seabirds crowd the Meyer Islands and Herald Islands, making the most of all suitable space and habitat. Besides the four trigger species, the following are confirmed breeding or resident on the islands: Black-winged Petrel, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Kermadec Little Shearwater, Masked (Tasman) Booby, Sooty Tern, Black Noddy, Spot-less Crake, Welcome Swallow, NZ Kingfisher, Blackbird, Starling.
Other species recorded: Australasian Harrier, Turnstone, Grey Plover, Asiatic Whimbrel, Wandering Tattler. Great Frigatebirds have become a regular sight over the Meyer and Her-ald Islands (also nearby Raoul Island).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Human Disturbance - Yes - Lights on vessels anchored close to the islands pose a threat to birds breeding there.
Predation by alien species - No
Habitat loss or degradation - No
Contamination - No
Natural disaster - Yes - Tropical cyclones can strike the Kermadec region and damaging trees growing on the islands and cause considerable erosion of soils.
Kermadec (all Islands) - Nature Reserve - 3360ha - Protected area contains site
Kermadec Islands - Marine Reserve - Protected area adjacent to site (Protected area out to 12nm).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Meyer & Herald Islands (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/meyer-&-herald-islands-iba-new-zealand on 23/11/2024.
