9 February 2011

The whio/blue duck population in Arthur’s Pass National Park are being counted in a survey this week carried out by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The survey, generously funded by Barry Dent of BDG Synthesis Ltd, is the first whio survey in the area for more than ten years and the first time that specialist duck-indicating dogs will be used in Arthur’s Pass National Park. The dog-handlers will be supported by DOC rangers and local volunteers.

“These unique, New Zealand ducks are found nowhere else in the world and are one of just four waterfowl species to live year-round on fast-flowing rivers,” says DOC biodiversity ranger, Malcolm Wylie.

Under the DOC and IUCN species threat classifications blue duck/whio are recorded as "Nationally Vulnerable" and "Endangered" respectively. This is due to their very small and severely fragmented population which is undergoing a rapid decline owing most notably to the affects of introduced predators. They possess little defensive capabilities and are extremely vulnerable to predation by stoats throughout their lives.

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In response to this decline a number of private stoat-trapping initiatives have been started in the area to protect the species. In particular the Coast to Coast stoat trapping programme in the Mingha, Deception and Edwards valleys and a similar project by Arthur’s Pass resident, Gerald Bruce-Smith, in the Crow Valley, are helping to turn the fortunes of this bird around.

Malcolm Wylie, has a great deal of praise for these initiatives.

“By doing this survey we’re hoping to confirm the positive impacts of this fantastic work and also determine where trapping could be extended to help protect as many whio pairs as possible,” says Malcolm.

“The increased number of blue duck sightings the department has received over the last few years, suggest that these trapping programmes are benefitting both whio and other species in these valleys that have been devastated by stoat predation.”

“It’s great to know that the organisers of the Coast to Coast are going to expand their stoat control programme into the Upper Waimakariri later this summer – this will further help secure the whio population in Arthur’s Pass for the long-term.”

The three-day survey starts today and will cover the Mingha, Deception, Edwards, Upper Waimakariri, Bealey, Upper Otira, Crow and Hawdon valleys.

For more information on whio visit www.doc.govt.nz/whio

ENDS

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