At risk whio making Matukituki River home

A water bird found only in New Zealand and at risk of extinction is increasingly making its home on a river flowing into Lake Wānaka.

Whio, or blue duck, have been spotted on the Matukituki River.

Once widespread throughout the country, populations of whio are now patchy and isolated.

But in recent days a local outdoor enthusiast has shared some impressive images of the bird species captured in the Wānaka valley to Facebook.

Gillian Crombie, who along with her partner Derek is a founding trustee of the Matukituki Charitable Trust, says news of the bird at the location is "exciting".

"Whio were spotted last year, well up the valley, for the first time for many years. Seeing this footage this year, much further down the Matukituki, is great," she says.

"We presume the trapping effort is helping."

The trust's team of volunteers works to protect native birds and other native flora and fauna in the area.

While the long-term plan is to make the valley predator-proof enough to reintroduce some at-risk species, the presence of whio is "a natural occurrence", Ms Crombie says. 

Kathryn Longstaff, a senior biodiversity ranger with the Department of Conservation in Central Otago, says DOC is aware whio are present in the Matukituki and Makarora Rivers in "small, although slowly increasing numbers".

She attributes their continued presence to "the long-term and dedicated conservation work being undertaken by community groups and DOC in these locations".

Her request of anyone lucky enough to come across whio in the wild, particularly this time of year, is to give the birds space.

"People should observe whio from a distance as spring is breeding season, and disturbing nests and birds will threaten the survival of eggs and chicks."

Whio have low reproductive success, and there are more males than females.

DOC keeps track of numbers and only 372 pairs have been counted in the South Island.

Populations are generally limited to clean, fast-flowing rivers in Te Urewera, East Cape and the central North Island, and along the West Coast of the South Island from Nelson to Fiordland.

Main images (Facebook/Brent Pihama): Whio in the Matukituki Valley, September 10, 2024.