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The breeding of the Grey-backed Storm Petrel (
Garrodia nereis) at Houruakopara Island in the Chatham Islands (44° 06′ S, 176° 31′ W) was investigated and the nest site, egg, and chick are described. Both parents incubated the egg in poorly synchronised shifts averaging 1.9 days. generally followed by a desertion period of 2.7 days. Eggs hatched from mid-November, and the chick was brooded by either parent for up to 4 days after hatching. Chicks were fed on average every 1.6 days and the size of each feeding increased with age. The average daily increase in body weight was 12.6%, and by 17 days the
weight of the chicks equalled that of the adults.
Evidence of competition for nest sites within the species and with Broadbilled Prions (
Pachyptila vittata) and Little Blue Penguins (
Eudyptula minor) is discussed and a list of food items taken from regurgitations is presented.