Endangered gull fledglings stoned to death at Canterbury's Waimakariri River

Emma Dangerfield10:55, Feb 18 2020

The slaughter of five threatened fledgling gulls in North Canterbury has been described as "gut-wrenching, illegal and morally abhorrent".

The five black-billed gulls were found with their heads bashed in at a popular dog-walking spot on the banks of the Waimakariri River on Monday.

Their bodies were still soft, indicating they had been killed mid-morning. They were just days away from being able to fly.

Department of Conservation senior ranger Anita Spencer said it was particularly devastating as the birds, which are the most threatened gull species in the world, had been through a rough season.

"A lot of work goes into protecting these gulls so it is extra gut-wrenching that they got to this stage for them to be killed," she said.

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Large colony of endangered gulls nesting on Canterbury's Ashley River

Emma Dangerfield19:39, Nov 22 2018

Critically endangered black-billed gulls on Ashley River

The arrival of the largest colony of black-billed gulls seen on North Canterbury's Ashley River in almost 20 years has prompted calls for river users to take extreme care.

Black-billed gulls are endemic to New Zealand and are the most threatened gull species in the world. The Department of Conservation estimates there are about 60,000 breeding adults left, and the population is expected to decline by up to 70 per cent over 10 years or three generations.

The new colony, located just below the State Highway 1 bridge, is likely to have grown in number because of recent weather patterns, Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group member Grant Davey said.

"We normally attract one colony every year. This one would be the largest since we started bird management 18 years ago, and has probably been swelled by birds arriving from the Waimakariri River, which was swept clear of all nests by the major flood of a couple of weeks back."

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Mystery of black-billed gull deaths: What's killing this endangered bird?

27 Jan, 2018 7:30am

NZ Herald

Dead gulls found near Grovers Island, in the Clutha River near Roxburgh in Central Otago, will be tested to establish their cause of death.

Mykayla Robert, of Roxburgh, found the gulls while she was walking last weekend.

Posting on Facebook, Miss Robert commented that she was not sure how they died.

"I found at least 30-40 dead seagulls on that little island, mainly on the Clutha River side," Robert said.

Robert took pictures of the dead gulls.

"As you can see, there was one or two seagulls every metre right along the shore line," she said.

Department of Conservation (Doc) senior ranger, biodiversity, for Central Otago John Keene said a Doc ranger investigated the site that day and estimated up to 40 black-billed gulls were dead.

The ranger did not see any obvious signs on the carcasses of damage from animal predators, Mr Keene said.

The area was known for being a breeding colony site for black-billed gulls, an endangered species.

This was the second time mysterious deaths at the colony had been discovered, he said.

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Watch for rare birds

CATHIE BELL

Last updated 09:44 16/01/2014

Endangered black-billed gulls have been killed on the banks of the Wairau River, near Blenheim, and birders are pointing the finger at motorists.

Ornithological Society volunteer Claudia Mischler said she found several bodies of young gulls by the Selmes Rd entrance to the river this week.

The birds were clearly killed by a four-wheel-drive vehicle, she said.

"The chicks are huge. Some have fledged and the rest are close, so it's a real shame for them to be killed after their parents have invested so much energy into them."

Birdwatchers did not want to stop people using the river, but encouraged them to look out for the birds. The black-billed gulls were one of two endangered species nesting on the banks of the Wairau River. The gulls and the black-fronted terns breed in braided riverbeds in Marlborough and Canterbury.

Last month, Environment Canterbury (ECan) sent a warning letter to the owner of a vehicle seen driving across the Ashley River bed, near Rangiora, allegedly disturbing black-fronted terns. A member of the public took a photo of the 4WD and reported it to ECan.

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Jail for mass killing of endangered birds

An Ashburton man who drove into a colony of nearly 10,000 endangered birds, squashing nests and eggs, has been sentenced to prison. 

The colony of endangered black-billed gulls, one of the most endangered gull species in the world, had been nesting at the Ashburton River.

Samuel John Townhill pleaded guilty in the Ashburton District Court today to charges of destroying nests and disturbing a protected species when he drove into the colony on the Ashburton riverbed in November last year.

Disturbing protected birds and destroying nests are offences under the Wildlife Act that can result in imprisonment or a fine of $100,000.

Judge Maze sentenced Townhill, who is currently imprisoned on other matters, to one month's jail cumulative on his current sentence.

Department of Conservation Raukapuke Area Office manager George Hadler said the "unnecessary mindless act" incident was likely to have a significant impact on the gull colony, which made up 11 per cent of the total black-billed gull population that year.

''Not only were eggs destroyed but the disturbance of adult birds would probably have caused other nests to fail.''

Hadler said killing and disturbing black-billed gulls was a real threat to the species.

In 2007 more than 100 adult birds were killed by vandals at the same site on the Ashburton riverbed, while in December last year about 50 chicks were killed in an incident on the Ashley River north of Christchurch.

Black-billed gulls are found only in New Zealand and are classified as 'nationally endangered' due to concern about their rate of decline and risk of extinction.

Most of the population breeds on South Island riverbeds.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8638689/Jail-for-mass-killing-of-endangered-birds

Damage to colony of rare gulls decried

A motorist has allegedly driven on to a colony of 3000 endangered birds, squashing nests and eggs.

The colony of black-billed gulls, one of the most endangered gull species in the world, has been nesting at the Ashburton River.

Environment Canterbury senior biodiversity adviser Frances Schmechel said she understood that the Conservation Department was investigating.

Disturbing protected birds and destroying nests are offences under the Wildlife Act that can result in imprisonment or a fine of $100,000.

"We would strongly support such a move. This sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable," she said.

"Unfortunately, it's not the first time a motorist has driven on to the riverbed and destroyed nests and eggs of a very vulnerable species, which tends to desert its nest if disturbed early in incubation. This is despite prominent ‘endangered bird' signs at a number of locations along the river, including the access point apparently used in this instance."

In 2007, the colony was attacked by vandals who killed more than 100 birds.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7920764/Damage-to-colony-of-rare-gulls-decried