Chatham Island Annual Bird Tour – Introducing Host Mike Bell

In conjunction with Hotel Chathams and Air Chathams, we are pleased to announce the launch of our Annual Chatham Island Bird tour which in 2025, will be held 1st – 8th March.

2025’s tour will be led by Mike Bell a New Zealand ornithologist who is extremely passionate about native bird conservation in the Chatham Islands. Mike has spent 30 years and more travelling to Chatham Islands to do conservation work there.

He’s the managing director of Wildlife Management International, but also, amongst other things, works closely with the Chatham Islands Tāiko Trust and is a member of Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust.

We will be visiting Taiko Sanctuary and enjoy a full day out on the water heading to Pitt Island to view the Pitt Island Shag, cruise Chatham Island coastline looking for other endemic birdlife, including the Black Robin, Buller’s Mollymawk, Wandering Albatross. Back on land, we will be able to see the Chatham Island Pipit and Oyster Catcher plus of course the Chatham Island Parea.