Here is one of the most outlandish species I concocted for Aukland! It is one of few massive bird species, and definitely the least plausible.
Kingdom: animalia
Phylum: chordata
Class: aves
Infraclass: Neognathae
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Species: terribilis
Latin name: Larus terribilis
Common name: Dire gull
The dire gull is a large species of bird, which commonly grows to heights of 6 feet for males and 4-5 feet for females. They mainly feed on coastal seal populations, generally hunting by dashing from coastal forests and using their beaks and claws to kill their prey. They are also known to feed on other large avian species present on the island. These birds top out at 30-40 mph when hunting, generally only running in short bursts. Their wings are largely vestigial, as they have shrunk overtime as they changed niche.
These birds are largely solitary creatures, only ever meeting for mating. Once the eggs are laid, the male generally hunts for food, bringing it back to the nest for the female. This behavior continues until the eggs have hatched. Clutches usually average 2-4 individuals, which quickly leave the nest once born. Chicks usually feed on small mammals and insects until 3-4 months of age before they begin to hunt seal pups. These birds have an average lifespan of 20-35 years in the wild, but can live to upwards of 50-60 in captivity. They become fully grown at 2 years, and breed every 4-5 years, with an incubation period of 60-80 days. Nesting and mating take place in the summer months, mostly on the southern shores, when seal populations are most abundant.
There are occasional attacks on humans from these birds, as they can be very territorial and aggressive. Generally, humans are not a worthwhile source of sustenance compared to the much easier to kill seals. There have been occasional individuals who have shifted focus onto humans for feeding. One such example was the āStoke Terrorā where in 1868-1875, one bird killed approximately 50-75 people until being killed in 1875.