Rare Blue Duck Sighting In Abel Tasman National Park
Rare Blue Duck Sighting In Abel Tasman National Park
The sighting of a blue
duck or whio in the Abel Tasman National Park has given hope
a population of the rare native bird may be established in
the park.
Blue duck have only been recorded twice
in the park during the last 20 years. Last Thursday, Andy
White from Wilsons Abel Tasman, was guiding a group of
kayakers at the mouth of the Falls River when he saw and
photographed what he thought was a blue duck. Department
of Conservation staff have now confirmed it was a blue duck.
“I have spent six seasons working in the Abel
Tasman and never seen a blue duck before so to see this one
was a bit of a highlight. To think that they may be coming
back or already living in the park is really cool,” he
says.
Blue duck or whio are designated as
“nationally vulnerable” and inhabit clean, fast flowing
streams in the forested upper catchments of rivers. It is
estimated only 700 pairs remain in the south island.
Project Janszoon’s bird expert Peter Gaze says
It would be very exciting if this sighting led to the
discovery of a population of blue duck already living in the
Abel Tasman National Park.
“Blue duck might be
more widespread and abundant in the park than we realise.
If they are, they will have suffered from stoat and possum
predation so can be expected to respond well to the pest
management which Project Janszoon is currently undertaking
in the park,” he says.
In January a trap
network over 4,500 hectares of the high country area of the
park was activated as part of Project Janszoon’s goal of
re-establishing stable populations of lost or threatened
birds, plants and animals. Over the next 12 months this
network will be extended across another 10,000 hectares down
to the Awaroa Estuary and the coast track.
Department of Conservation Area Manager Martin Rodd says the blue duck sighting has prompted DOC to investigate the area.
“The survival of blue duck is based on the amount of predation and the suitability of the habitat. DOC experts will now walk the river investigating the suitability of habitat and look for more signs of blue duck,” he says.
One of Project Janszoon’s goals is to re-introduce lost or threatened birds like blue duck to the Abel Tasman National Park.
“A survey of the likely habitat at the Falls, Awaroa and Awapoto catchments would allow us to better understand the current situation and whether Project Janszoon could re-establish a strong whio population by bringing in new birds,” says Peter Gaze.
If visitors to
the park think they see a blue duck they should contact DOC
or Project Janszoon through the website www.janszoon.org
ENDS