Bird survey planned for upper Rangitata River

A bird survey will be carried out for the first time near the upper reaches of the Rangitata River to identify species most in need of help.

Part of adjoining Forest Creek is scheduled to be surveyed in October to assess what birds are breeding over a two-kilometre length.

The section has the unique advantage of being fully-fenced and is not grazed by farmed livestock, making it potentially viable for consideration by Land Information New Zealand as a reserve.

Neighbouring Ben McLeod Station supports the survey and will require predator control to ensure success.

Recorded surveys in the area were done in 1986 and 2001.

The surveys found the catchment area was of particular importance for wrybill, black-billed gull and black-fronted tern. All three nest in the area and require large expanses of sparsely vegetated gravel riverbed for nesting.

The bird survey comes after the conservation status of 428 birds throughout the country was assessed by a panel of experts in a three-yearly review to identify bird species most in need of help.

The review was led by Colin Miskelly of DOC. Of the 428 taxa (species and subspecies) assessed, he found 77 were considered threatened and 93 at risk.

"For the first time we have a category called `recovering' for those taxa that have responded well to conservation management," Dr Miskelly said.

Overall, 19 taxa have improved their status, and 13 have declined. Those that have declined are mainly seabirds, and birds that use riverbeds and rough farmland.

Little spotted kiwi, Pycrofts petrel, brown teal, variable oystercatcher, and North and South Island saddlebacks all have populations greater than 1000 and are rising.

Of more concern is that all 21 bird taxa assessed as "nationally critical" in 2005 remain in that most threatened category, along with three additional species declining rapidly grey duck, eastern rockhopper penguin and grey-headed mollymawk.

High profile "nationally critical" species include two types of kiwi, kakapo, takahe, black robin, fairy tern, black stilt and Chatham Island taiko.

The main causes of decline for these taxa are fisheries by-catch, changes in oceanic productivity near breeding islands, and changes in land-use, particularly conversion of sheep farms to dairy production.

- © Fairfax NZ News