NZ species buck the trend and are on the rebound

We’re told that thousands of New Zealand animal species face extinction. But some natives are bucking the trend and becoming more numerous, if not superabundant.

Whales: The Department of Conservation and a number of former whalers have counted humpbacks swimming through Cook Strait when they migrate from Antarctic waters to their breeding grounds in the South Pacific. Over the past 13 years, the number of humpbacks seen has risen from 25 to 187 animals per year. So that’s good news.

Gannets: Back in the 19th century, about 50 gannets nested at Cape Kidnappers, the only gannetry in the country. Their numbers were held in check largely by Ma¯ ori, who ate most of their eggs. The cape was made a protected reserve in 1915 and, since then, bird numbers there have climbed to about 5000. Since 1915 the birds have established another 12 gannetries from Northland to Farewell Spit and numbers amount to more than 100,000 today.

Tu¯ı¯ : In 2017, about 3500 people contributed to an Annual Garden Bird Survey. They report that from being a rarely seen bird a few years ago, tu¯ ı¯ have become the sixth most common bird in New Zealand gardens today. In the 1980s, nobody saw tu¯ ı¯ in Hamilton but, in 2013, hundreds flew in. The increase is thought to be the result of successful pest control and gardeners providing plenty of fruit and sugar water.

Native pigeon (kereru¯ ): Every year recently, citizen scientists have joined in the Great Kereru¯ Count. Last year they saw 15,459 kereru¯ over the country with flocks of up to 170 seen in the Waikato. Forest and Bird attributes the rise to effective possum, rat and mustelid control.

Pu¯ keko: More than 60,000 pu¯ keko live in New Zealand, and are especially numerous in the North Island and Westland. Since the 1950s I have counted animal roadkill. In the old days I rarely saw a squashed pu¯ keko. These days some roads look like pu¯ keko bowling alleys. Pu¯ keko are quite a nuisance as they pull up planted vegetables, crops and tree seedlings in some places, and attack teal and giant wetas on otherwise predator-free islands.

Paradise ducks: In 1981, New Zealand had 120,000 paradise ducks – 70,000 in the North Island and 50,000 in the South Island. Their numbers have grown since. Flocks of more than 1000 birds regularly gather on some lakes in late summer, and sometimes damage young pasture, hay and grain crops.

Seals: Since commercial sealing was banned in 1894, our fur seals have been recolonising the country and now number between 50,000 and 100,000. Some commercial fishers believe they are depleting fish stocks.

Some conservationists over-state their case when they claim that thousands of New Zealand species are in immediate risk of extinction.

Thanks to the dogged work of the erstwhile Wildlife Service and today’s Department of Conservation, no animal has gone extinct since our bush wren disappeared in 1972. Let’s hope it’s another 45 years or longer before the next native species goes kaput. Or never.