Massacre of native rare birds

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CARNAGE: Dead black-billed gulls litter the bed of the Conway River in North Canterbury - about 200 dead protected native birds were discovered by a memeber of the public last week.

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About 200 protected native birds have been massacred in North Canterbury.

Almost half a colony of black-billed gulls were discovered, dead and decaying, by a member of the public last week.

The Conway River site was inspected by Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers who removed some of the bird carcasses for autopsy.

Ranger Craig Alexander said the birds were massacred, but autopsy results could not determine the cause of death.

He planned to collect more samples to X-ray for bullets. No cartridges were found along the riverbed.

"We felt pretty gutted, quite saddened at the sight," he said.

"They're rare, and it's uncommon to come across this number of dead birds."

He said it looked as though the birds were killed mid-flight, as they were off their nests with wings splayed.

Black-billed gulls are native and their numbers are in serious decline.

They are a threatened species with full protection under the Wildlife Act.

The birds could not have been poisoned because half the colony remained.

"They've been returning to the same spot for about 13 of the last 15 years. I've been a ranger for 10 years and this is the first time I've seen anything like this.

"It's quite puzzling to us."

DOC advisory scientist Andy Grant said the birds were not to be confused with the common seagull.

"There's a degree of ignorance about how much trouble these birds are really in," he said.

"It's just wanton destruction ... it's bad enough killing just for the sake of killing, but these are a threatened native species - so it's even worse."

Grant said a recent study in Southland had shown a massive decline in the population.

A black-billed bird count in Southland in 1974 found 85,000 breeding pairs, but last year that number had dropped to 4000 pairs.

Christchurch City Council ranger Andrew Crossland said anyone purposely killing the birds were "morons".

"They are just idiots and they will have such an impact on our native water birds."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact DOC.

THREATENED GULLS

Black-billed gulls are a threatened native species, fully protected under the Wildlife Act.

Anyone caught disturbing, causing injury or killing a protected species could be jailed or fined up to $100,000 and have their vehicle, boat, or firearm confiscated. Corporate bodies can be fined up to $200,000.

Black-billed gulls are the same size and have similar colouring to the common red-billed gulls regularly seen on Canterbury beaches.

Distinguishing features are the dark eye, long black bill and black legs.

Black-billed gulls are unique to braided rivers and breed inland on shingle riverbed islands from September to February.

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