Seabird Riches on the Poor Knights

Sketch biologizing on the seabird-rich Poor Knights Islands! That's a shearwater chick I'm holding (see bottom left image), which one obtains by lying face-down in the dirt and sticking one's arm down a burrow (see bottom right image), while hoping not to get bitten by a lurking tuatara (see previous Instagram post). I sketched a little story about the trip—link in bio—but really you have to hear this place to believe it. Luckily, RNZ's Alison Ballance came with us. Here's her podcast, in which I dubiously make my second-ever appearance on national New Zealand radio: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2018639901/seabird-hotspot-the-poor-knights-islands. Photos: Alison Ballance/RNZ.

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Apr 17, 2018 at 2:51am PDT

The rugged coast of Aorangi Island, home to thousands of Buller’s shearwaters that nest underground in the forested interior, visiting the island only at night to feed their chicks. These elusive seabirds will make an appearance in my next post...

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Mar 4, 2018 at 6:23pm PST

Sketched in the pre-dawn darkness, by headlamp light: Buller’s shearwaters on the Poor Knights Islands, the only place in the world where these seabirds nest. They crash-landed through the forest canopy at dusk, wriggled into their burrows to feed their chicks, and for the last several hours have been hanging out on the forest floor making a ruckus around our tents. At first light they’ll fly back to sea in a mass exodus. The island will suddenly become quiet. (Then the bellbirds will start up with the dawn chorus.)

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Mar 5, 2018 at 6:27pm PST

Ghostbusting the “Extinct” New Zealand Storm Petrel

It was a dark and stormy night on Little Barrier Island, New Zealand, when I fulfilled my childhood dream of becoming a ghostbuster.

Finding the world's most endangered gull

The star of my latest Nat Geo story is the world's most endangered gull! Join me on my recent search for this New Zealand specialty and find out why there's no such thing as a seagull. 

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Feb 13, 2018 at 2:01pm PST

Chatham Island

Find the sketch biologist! Hiding in the jungle of the Tuku River Valley on Chatham Island, New Zealand. Photo by @ottowhitehead.

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Feb 4, 2018 at 11:50am PST

Cliffhanger! Risking Life and Limb for Fluffy Seabirds

Another music video/science documentary mashup, this time involving falling off a cliff...

In which I plummet down a 70-meter seacliff to find nesting birds—fairy prions!—and their impossibly fluffy chicks. My latest Nat Geo story (link in bio) features a music video + science documentary with music from "Birds Say" by @darlingside.

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Jan 8, 2018 at 5:43pm PST