November 21, 2023
Floods flummoxing whitewater whio
The Department of Conservation says help from iwi, community groups and individuals trapping predators in their backyards is helping efforts protect Aotearoa’s unique whio, the whitewater duck featured on the $10 bill.
Operations director Mark Davies says whio populations remain vulnerable to decline.
It’s estimated there are about 3000 remaining, but the number of whio pairs in monitored areas has declined from 694 in 2022 to 587 in 2023, in part due to the impact of severe weather events like ex-Cyclone Gabrielle in places like the Ruahine.
Mr Davies says flooding dumps excess silt in rivers, which kills off the insects whio feed on.
The birds are holding steady and even increasing in the central Southern Alps where whio are holding steady and even increasing.
DOC has renewed its Whio Forever partnership with Genesis Energy partnership, Whio Forever for another three years.
Genesis sustainability manager Kate van Praagh says whio are indicator species of healthy waterways, so it makes sense for a hydro power generator like Genesis to help build their resilience.