There are so many species that can be seen without having to go too far off the beaten path, that birdwatchers, botanists, ornithologists and wildlife experts simply love coming to the Chathams.

For the hardier and more scientific observers, the offshore islands and coastlines provide glimpses of even more rarer and nomadic species.

The birds featured in the slide-show are just a sample of the 50+ species that call these islands home. Some are just passing through on their annual migration. Others are more recent visitors and some 18 species are endemic to the islands.

Click this link to go to a page detailing many of the species that inhabit the Chatham Islands

Much more detail can be obtained from the publication Birds on the Chatham Islands produced by the Department of Conservation and available from the Department of the Hotel Chathams Gift Store.