Birds missing after flooding

Native birdlife has taken a major hit in the wake of the Rangitata floods, with the Department of Conservation reporting nests destroyed and birds missing.

DOC Geraldine bird monitoring lead, Marcia Kimber, said they had been monitoring 30 ngutu pare/wrybill nests and 30 tarapirohe/black-fronted tern nests.

The black-fronted tern is listed as ‘‘nationally endangered’’ by DOC, meaning the birds are ‘‘facing high risk of extinction in the short term’’, while the wrybill is listed as ‘‘nationally vulnerable’’, meaning it faces the risk of extinction in the medium term.

‘‘Following the flood, we have not been able to locate any of the banded wrybill or their chicks, with the exception of one adult female,’’ Kimber said.

‘‘At the time of the flood, one third of ngutu pare had chicks in an early stage of fledging. This means the chicks may have avoided the rising floodwater.

‘‘Of the 30 monitored blackfronted tern nests, 21 were lost to flooding and nine pairs have since re-nested. Unfortunately, all nine of these nests have since been lost or abandoned for unknown reasons.’’

Kimber said they did not believe any adults had been killed by the floodwaters, but they did not know how many chicks survived.

‘‘Braided river birds are used to flooding and adults will have flown to safety to escape the rising floodwaters,’’ she said.

‘‘Some chicks may have survived if they were ready to fledge the nest. Any survivors are likely to be displaced.’’

‘‘It’s possible that around a third of the wrybill chicks were old enough to avoid the floodwaters.’’

Kimber said despite the devastation, DOC staff were still optimistic about the breeding programme.

‘‘Flooding is a natural process of the river system and this creates clear gravel beds which are necessary for the birds to nest on,’’ she said.

‘‘As long as it is not too late in the breeding season, braided river birds will generally attempt to renest following nest or chick loss. Our predator and weed control programmes continue as planned to ensure there is sufficient predator free suitable habitat available for the birds.’’