If you are out on the river in coming days, watch out for the region’s endangered and rare riverbed nesting birds, says Environment Canterbury. 

The survival of these birds depends on successful breeding on the open gravel beds of our braided rivers. In places like North Canterbury’s Ashley River/Rakahuri, there are just a handful of breeding wrybills. The birds return to where they were hatched to breed and nest.

Gravel extractors operating large vehicles on riverbeds have been reminded by Environment Canterbury to check for nests as the bird breeding season begins.

The riverbeds have to be surveyed for birds and nests on an ongoing basis from September to March by the gravel extractors as part of their consent conditions so the operators of heavy machinery can avoid them. The bird surveys have to be conducted by an independent person.

Wrybill, black-fronted terns and black billed gulls are three species particularly at risk, but banded dotterels, stilts, white-fronted terns, South Island pied oyster catchers and other species are also nesting and feeding on Canterbury’s braided rivers.

Environment Canterbury’s Environmental Protection team leader in Timaru, Roger Gould, says that the gravel extraction companies he works with are “acutely aware” of the need for bird surveys.

“We have already seen wrybill nests on the Rakaia, Rangitata and Ashburton Rivers,” he says.

The other threats to the survival of the eggs and chicks include roaming dogs, vehicles on the river beds and people coming too close and keeping the adults off the nests, which means that the chicks or eggs could die.

For more information on the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group visit www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/in-your-community/community-conservation-projects/canterbury/ashley-rakahuri-rivercare-group

Further information: 
Dianne Parker, Environment Cantebury Environmental Protection Officer, 027 225 6468.