John Dowding applying bands to a Chatham Island oystercatcher. This black and white wader is unique to the Chatham Islands. It is an endangered species with a high risk of extinction due to its very small population and range.br/br/The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean, over 800 kilometres east of southern New Zealand. They are a breeding ground for huge flocks of seabirds and are home to a number of endemic birds including the Chatham Island oystercatcher, snipe, shore plover and black robin.