More pāteke released in Abel Tasman, rare duck population now in the hundreds

Samantha Gee13:31, May 26 2020

ROBYN JANES/PROJECT JANSZOON

Motupipi teacher Jodie Grant releasing some of the pāteke in the Awapoto River.

There might be less people flying around the country, but a plane carrying 49 rare pāteke made a special flight to Nelson, as part of the journey to their new home in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Pāteke, or brown teal, were once widespread throughout New Zealand but are now one of the country's rarest waterfowl species, with the Department of Conservation estimating there are 2000 – 2500 birds left in the wild. 

Despite Covid-19 restrictions and reduced air capacity, the special cargo landed at Nelson Airport last week. 

After being blessed at the airport by Archdeacon Harvey Ruru​ of Te Ātiawa the birds were driven to the Abel Tasman National Park and released on the Awapoto River at dusk. 

Since 2017, Project Janszoon, the Department of Conservation and local iwi have released 288 pāteke in the Abel Tasman National Park, which is one of only two South Island pāteke sites.

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Species Relocation A Viable Climate Response Action, Say Local Scientists

Earth Today | 

Published:Thursday | April 5, 2018 | 12:00 AM

MIGRATION AS an option to safeguard the survival of, in particular, rare species has been brought into sharp focus, after one Caribbean island took just that action, following last year's extreme hurricanes that dealt a resounding blow.

Dominica last month relocated a dozen of its rare birds - 10 Jacos and two Sisserous - to Germany, prompting stinging criticism from BirdsCaribbean, a regional organisation committed to the bird conservation, while also serving to spotlight relocation as a response to climate change for not only humans.

Local scientists have weighed in on the issue, while staying clear of commenting on the particulars of the Dominica case.

"Captive breeding and ex situ conservation have been dependable conservation practices for many years and have improved the survival probability of many threatened species, when carried out legitimately and responsibly by institutions that have the necessary capacity," said Dr Kimberly Stephenson of the Climate Studies Group Mona.

Climate change, Stephenson said further, poses "a very real threat to the endemic biodiversity of our small islands, not only because of extreme events like hurricanes, but also due to more gradual changes, like drying and warming".

Continued  

Bird relocation plan could cost millions

Last updated Tue 22 Jul 2014

The debate is continuing over plans to build a major new airport in the Thames Estuary. Today a new report says the cost and effort required to move waterbirds that use the estuary would run into millions of pounds. But airport supporters say it's got to be done.

David Johns reports, speaking to Labour Councillor Vince Maple from Medway Council, Paul Outhwaite from the RSPB, and Daniel Moylan, the Mayor of London's Aviation Advisor.

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Program adopted for bird relocation

Posted: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:16 pm

By Kaitlin Bain 

Staff Writer 

Texas Tech’s grounds maintenance department recently used a bird relocation program to encourage birds to stop roosting on campus.

The department decided to adopt the program because of the amount of bird droppings seen on campus.

Chris Cook, managing director for communications and marketing, said the droppings were difficult to clean up and affected the way people viewed campus.

“Sidewalks are white—with bird droppings,” he said.

Another factor contributing to the birds’ relocation was the risk of passers by getting hit in the head with bird droppings.

Continued