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November 24, 2019

Annual survey (Nov 16, 2019) results

The first Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group bird survey was in 2000, so this was our 20th consecutive such event.  It attracted the most volunteers ever (29), and it was pleasing to note that for a good number of them it was their first braided river bird survey.  The weather was fine, if a little windy at times, and the river flows were average, making for some interesting but safe crossings.  Volunteers were divided into four groups to cover the 20km of riverbed, starting at the Okuku junction and finishing at the SH1 bridge.  All people were off the river by midday.  Later on a small group surveyed between SH1 and the estuary.
ashley 2019

So what was the outcome?  The major focus is on six species – the wrybill (ngutupare), black-fronted tern (tarapiroe), black-billed gull (tarapuka), banded dotterel (pohowera), pied stilt (poaka) and the S. Island pied oystercatcher (torea).  Those of us who had walked the river prior to the survey suspected that bird numbers would be up.  And we were right – much more so than we expected.  The numbers of all species were records within the period since we started in 2000.  The total number of birds of each species counted between the Okuku junction and SH1 was 5,350. This number was considerably boosted by there being two large colonies of black-billed gulls – a total of 4,097 mainly counted from drone photographs.  In the past, there has never been more than one such colony, and for over half of our surveys there have been no colonies present at all.

The reason for the high numbers is likely to be largely due to the riverbed being relatively free of weeds, plus regular floods in the Waimakariri River may have forced some species to relocate (almost certainly the case for the black-billed gulls).  It is also reasonable to assume that the Group can claim credit for its many years of management, primarily aimed at controlling predators, reducing human disturbance and removing weeds.

Many thanks to survey organiser, Bev Alexander, and all those who assisted on November 16.

A full report on the survey will be completed in the near future – during which all numbers will be thoroughly re-checked.  Grant Davey has presented our survey results in the attached figures.

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Recent Posts

  • Gull disturbance January 19, 2021
  • Group update Jan 2021 January 17, 2021
  • 2020 Annual Bird Survey November 28, 2020
  • Creating bird habitat October 8, 2020
  • Group update September 20, 2020
  • Weed Removal Report August 5, 2020
  • Aspects of the Ashley Weed Problem June 11, 2020
  • Black-fronted Tern and Black-billed Gull colonies, 2019 – 2020 Season April 18, 2020
  • Overhead Line Bird Kill February 11, 2020
  • Fire and trapping update February 11, 2020
  • Drying river rewards birds February 3, 2020
  • Survey of the lower part of the Okuku River: November 2019 January 21, 2020
  • Lees Valley – Okuku and Ashley-Rakahuri Rivers: 2019 Breeding Season January 21, 2020
  • Ashley River & Estuary trapping update January 9, 2020
  • Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group update December 13, 2019
  • 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
  • Use of the Ashley-Rakahuri berm September 5, 2019

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