More pa¯teke find new home in Abel Tasman

The population of rare native ducks is about to increase dramatically in Abel Tasman National Park, after a second, larger flock was released.

Seventy-two captive-bred pa¯teke, or brown teal, were on Thursday released on the banks of the lower Awapoto River, at Hadfield Clearing, near Awaroa.

It follows a successful release of 20 of the ducks by Project Janszoon and the Department of Conservation last year.

Project Janszoon ornithologist Ron Moorhouse said 90 per cent of those ducks had survived their first year, with two pairs breeding and hatching 12 ducklings

There are only 2500 pa¯teke left in the wild, mainly in the North Island.

Project Janszoon and DOC had undertaken extensive predator control at the release site, particularly focusing on feral cats and stoats, Moorhouse said.

The juvenile ducks have been bred at sites around New Zealand and spent time at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust facility in Christchurch for pre-release conditioning.

Pa¯teke Recovery Group captive co-ordinator Kevin Evans said the predator trapping had ‘‘obviously worked well’’.

Hopefully the ducks would continue to survive and breed, producing a self-sustaining population, he said.

‘‘The increased number of pa¯teke are likely to spread into the wider surroundings, so I would love to see nearby residents forming landcare groups to undertake predator control around the periphery of the park to increase protection for the ducks,’’ he said.

The pa¯teke have so far been seen at Totaranui, and near Awaroa Lodge.

DOC biodiversity ranger John Henderson said more ducks would increase the number of feeders, as captive-bred birds needed time to get used to wild food.

‘‘So far most of the ducks have stuck around the release site, but with 70 extra it will be interesting to see how far they go.’’

Nearly 90 per cent of Abel Tasman National Park is currently stoat-trapped, and feral cats are trapped in the Awaroa area to protect the ducks.