Protecting our precious braided river birds Braided rivers are home to some of the rarest and most threatened bird species in the world. Some have been on the brink of extinction, but collective action is helping turn that around. Communities and organisations are banding together to protect and raise awareness of these birds – but more can still be done.
The sudden collapse of a black-billed gull / tarāpuka colony in the upper Waimakariri River was a massive blow to the local ecology and community – and a sobering reminder of the fragility of braided river birds.
It’s thought a dog attack prompted around 500 of the ‘At risk’ gulls to abandon their nesting site near Woodstock, west of Oxford in North Canterbury.
The spot was one of the season’s most important nesting areas, and the incident sparked fresh reminders about the need for people to be careful when out and about across the region’s rivers.
The plight of the tarāpuka was brought closer to home for Ōtautahi Christchurch locals in 2019, when a colony set-up camp amongst the rubbled foundations of a quake-damaged building in the CBD. While that story garnered international attention, the reality is – these gulls face critical, daily challenges in their natural braided river habitat too.
The good news is – awareness is growing, and organisations like Environment Canterbury, the Department of Conservation and volunteers such as the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group (which Environment Canterbury helped initiate in 1999), are doing everything in their power to advocate for these birds, and fight for their survival.
Habitat – at home in the stones
Tarāpuka are endemic (unique) to New Zealand, and until recently, had the undesirable conservation status of ‘Nationally Critical’ – meaning they faced an immediate, high risk of extinction.
However, in December 2021, the gulls moved to the ‘At Risk – Declining’ category, following more accurate aerial surveys and careful ground truthing of breeding pairs. This means they are no longer considered threatened, but could quickly become so if conservation management reduces, or new threats arise.
Tarāpuka have long, thin black beaks – and are a similar size to the common red-billed gulls / tarāpunga, but with paler wings.
Many of their breeding sites are along Waitaha Canterbury’s iconic, braided riverbeds – but there are also scattered colonies in the North Island, such as on the shores of Lake Rotorua.
Our native river birds
Around 25 other species of native birds also make their home on the beds of braided rivers like the Waimakariri, including the wrybill / ngutu pare (the only bird in the world with a sideways beak), the banded dotterel / tūturiwhatu and the black fronted tern / tarapirohe.
Black-billed gull / tarāpuka
Black-billed gull / tarāpuka (At Risk – Declining) – Until recently, the species was categorised as ‘Threatened – Nationally Critical’, and was widely considered the most threatened gull in the world.
Following more accurate surveys, their status has now improved.
Photo credit of immature gull: Steve Attwood, Auldwood Birds
Banded dotterel / tūturiwhatu
Banded dotterel / tūturiwhatu (At Risk – Declining) - The most common small plover of New Zealand seashores, estuaries and riverbeds.
They are very good at camouflaging – it’s their main defence from predators.
Watch this video of a banded dotterel mum with her chicks.
Photo credit: Steve Attwood, Auldwood Birds
Numbers - looking to the future
The populations of many, are in decline – but positive headlines are emerging too.
In 2017, an extensive survey of tarāpuka colonies identified just over 60,000 nests, suggesting a population of around 120,000 adults.
The latest report on bird threat classifications suggests numbers may have stabilised, but notes a further census in 10 years would be needed to confirm this.
Predictions for the tarapirohe are more grim. While their overall predicted decline rate is around 50 percent over the next three decades (if nothing is done to protect them), that number rises to around 90 percent for populations nesting on low-flow rivers, such as the Waiau Toa / Clarence River.
Environment Canterbury senior scientist, Jean Jack, says each part of the river network has a role in supporting birdlife.
She points out that while the larger, alpine fed rivers provide the most extensive habitat - the smaller, hill-fed rivers offer essential alternative sites when the larger ones are all in flood, for instance.
“I like to think of it as being a network of habitat, across the region, that together provides that resiliency of a habitat network.
“I think it’s a good concept for people to understand, rather than thinking – the Waimakariri is the most important, or the Rakaia, so we should only be careful on those”.
Protecting all riverbeds where threatened birds are likely to nest, is imperative to saving these special species, and ensuring they have habitat for years to come.
Disturbance – a threat to habitat
Disturbance comes in all shapes and sizes – from flooding that washes out nests, to people fishing or walking their dog, predation from other birds, and habitat loss caused by invasive weeds.
The trouble is, the birds – and their eggs - can be very hard to see.
The nests often don’t have that typical ‘twiggy’ look – eggs are instead out in the open, camouflaged among stones.
The devastating incident near Woodstock occurred despite protective measures such as signage and visual barriers on site, a social media campaign to let people know the birds were there, and regular visits by Environmental Canterbury staff and an ornithologist.
Volunteers supported the colony when it was identified, and spent time at the site educating river users about the nests and their vulnerability.
However, it can take just one event to ruin things.
Environment Canterbury Braided River Revival Advisor, Courtney Bamber, says the birds had survived a flood just two days earlier, and it was “crushing” to check the live camera, and see the site bare.
But – she points out, it’s not all doom and gloom.
“There are success stories where birds survive and chicks fledge. It’s just that those stories generally don’t get reported on”.
Community groups, and volunteers play a crucial role in bird protection.
Film-maker and artist Gaylene Barnes was among those who’d put their hand up to help guard the Woodstock colony.
She even made a feature film on braided river birds ‘Seven Rivers Walking – Haere Marire’ – to raise awareness about the birds in general.
She also spent hours filming tarāpuka in the derelict Christchurch site, where they nested for two seasons and was fascinated by their behaviour.
“They were very territorial – each with their 30 to 40 cm circumference of space. “If one of the chicks wandered into another bird’s space – they got rudely pushed back and ‘spanked’, and sent home.
“But I noticed when a predator came in, they would all squawk and become like a village. So even though they’d squabble in their own little world – and their own little territory, they would all protect each other.”
Barnes urges people who do come across nests or colonies along riverbeds or estuaries, to keep walking by.
“It’s just about having a consciousness for the bird and listening to the signs – such as squawking – indicating it wants you to get away.”
Watch a short video about ‘Birds of the Braids’ – and their disturbances:
Our responsibilities
The most important responsibility that we have as a community for Canterbury’s braided rivers - is kaitiakitanga.
It is essential that we do all that we can to protect and enhance mahinga kai, biodiversity and cultural values by respecting and treasuring the mauri / life force or essence of our waterways.
Makarini Rupene is a Pou Mātai Kō / cultural land management advisor for Environment Canterbury – and says water is central to the Ngāi Tahu Resource management philosophy ‘ki uta ki tai – from the mountains to the sea and beyond, as far as the eye can see.’
“It requires a holistic view of the world, and integration and co-operation between agencies, legislation and management frameworks – to protect and enhance the natural environment.
"If braided river birds are well, it indicates a healthy ecosystem, which in turn means healthy mahinga kai for us and generations to follow,” Rupene says.
Environment Canterbury has a legal obligation to protect braided rivers under the Resource Management Act – and supports DOC’s work around bird life.
This includes pest trapping, weed control, camera installation, engaging with ornithologists – and public awareness measures, such as signage and social media messaging.
The organisations are also enhancing river islands in the Waitaki and Hurunui, to encourage birds to set-up nesting colonies there.
DOC is responsible for administering the Wildlife Act – and can fine or prosecute those who disturb or harm native birds or animals.
Sometimes though – threats come from within the bird kingdom itself. For the past eight years, Environment Canterbury has undertaken measures to try and control southern black-backed gull / karoro numbers on the Waimakariri River, and more recently - the Waiau Toa / Clarence River in northern Kaikōura.
Find out more about Southern black-backed gull control in the Waimakariri River.
Communities play an integral role.
BRaid and Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group work tirelessly to raise awareness about braided river birds, and their habitat.
You can read more about their projects, and how you can get involved, here:
How you can help
We can all play our part in helping protect these unique birds, such as:
- Keeping your dog close to you, and under control.
- Sticking to already-formed tracks when driving along rivers.
- Avoid leaving old fishing lines on beaches or in the sea.
- Steering clear of nesting areas. If birds are swooping, circling or calling loudly – it could mean there’s a nest nearby. If you can see the birds – you are probably too close!
- Obeying speed rules when jetboating. Jetboats can wash away nests near the water’s edge.
- Obeying signage posted to alert recreational users.
Courtney believes one of the most important things is advocacy.
“It’s about education. We need people to know about the birds, and why they need to be protected.”
She also welcomes what she describes as a more holistic approach from Environment Canterbury, in the way it looks after and manages rivers.
“There’s a real change. I feel enabled to do more varied work, than I could have done previously.”
Find out more about braided rivers, and their bird species:
- Visit BRaid – Braided River Aid for more information about our precious bird life in braided rivers
- Braided rivers – what’s the story?
- From our Chair: Reviving our braided rivers
- Natural character of braided rivers
- Our unique ecosystems
- Visit the Banded Dotterel Study Kaikōura Facebook page.
- Watch Gaylene Barnes’ feature film 'Seven Rivers Walking Haere Mārire'
