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January 26, 2019

4X4 runs over colony of black-billed gulls, killing chicks.

In mid-November 2018, a large colony, up to 2,500 strong, of black-billed gulls began nesting in the Ashley River near the State Highway One bridge. This was after they had been washed out of the Waimakariri by a large flood. In late November they also lost their nests to a flood. Such birds are very determined, so they began nesting again further up the Ashley River. In early December there were up to 2,130 there – including non-breeding adults.

First chicks were seen on 30 December and by mid January all chicks had hatched and they had moved to the nearby waters edge. Five hundred chicks were counted, from an estimated 850 nests, on 21 January.

ARRG and ECan have as usual made a comprehensive effort to close access to the river to 4wd vehicles during the nesting season. Many signs have been erected. Education efforts to inform the public about the effects that people, vehicles and dogs can have on nesting birds have continued. Despite this, on 24 January 9 chicks were found crushed to death by a vehicle.

The evidence of this was clear, vehicle tracks could be seen leading directly to the colony, the vehicle then backed off and attempted to go around the edge of the colony but still managed to hit some birds. This does not appear to be a deliberate attempt to kill the birds but was an act of recklessness and stupidity.

January 2019 update Black-billed gull colony update February 2019

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Recent Posts

  • Ashley River & Estuary Trapping Update December 3, 2019
  • Annual survey (Nov 16, 2019) results November 24, 2019
  • Black-billed gulls looking to nest October 24, 2019
  • Ashley Update: October 2019 October 13, 2019
  • Ashley Estuary Predator Trapping September 2, 2019
  • Chair Report 2019 August 30, 2019
  • Bird breeding season approaching August 13, 2019
  • Ripping trial August 10, 2019
  • Stoneguards + predator traps August 7, 2019
  • Weed pulling days! August 7, 2019
  • Trapping Report: 01 Feb-10 April 2019 April 19, 2019
  • Film Premiere: “Rakahuri Recovery – saving the birds of the Ashley-Rakahuri River” March 7, 2019
  • Black-billed gull colony update February 2019 February 27, 2019
  • 4X4 runs over colony of black-billed gulls, killing chicks. January 26, 2019
  • January 2019 update January 14, 2019
  • ARRG wins a trans-Tasman award for practical wildlife management January 7, 2019

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Photos: Grant Davey, Steve Attwood, Lynley Cook, John Dowding and Nick Ledgard © 2019 All Rights Reserved