Everything you need to navigate is in nature. The question is, can you see it?”
This quote by master navigator Nainoa Thompson, shared by guest speaker Andrew Crowe on the opening evening, perfectly captured the spirit of the inaugural Oceania Seabird Symposium. Held in Auckland, the event brought together Pacific nations, researchers, and conservationists to explore how science, culture, and community can work together to protect our region’s seabirds.
Karen Silk, NES NBSAP Project Coordinator, together with Alanna Smith from Te Ipukarea Society, shared an update on the Cook Islands’ seabird conservation efforts — tracing the journey from early initiatives in 2018, to the installation of monitoring equipment across eight mountains, and the recent overnight survey on Te Ko’u.
The symposium explored a wide range of themes, including the cultural and traditional significance of seabirds, emerging threats like plastic ingestion and bycatch, and the role of seabirds in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Presentations on long-term monitoring, restoration, and international cooperation all reinforced the need for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and action across the Pacific. It was also great to get an introduction to the new regional seabird database — a tool that will help us store, access, and share our data more effectively across the Pacific.
For Karen, the most valuable part of the week was the hands-on learning. Workshops on colony monitoring, necropsy, and restoration offered practical guidance and techniques that can be taken back and applied. Equally valuable was the opportunity to connect with others across the region — sharing experiences, ideas, and solutions with those facing similar challenges. The symposium not only strengthened technical knowledge but also deepened appreciation for the cultural role of seabirds, reaffirming that traditional knowledge remains a powerful guide for the future of conservation.
