Crested grebe adult and juvenile

Crested grebes are one of the notable birds within the lakes of OTW- but over the last decade have established breeding sites in lowland areas such as Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth and have also increased dramatically in numbers within Otago and the MacKenzie- notably Lake Benmore. Willows that over hang the water are an important habitat requirement for breeding grebes.

Lake Emily

Set amidst red tussocks and sedge wetlands Emily is an outstanding lake with sweeping views across a tussock landscape. The lake is notable in being one of the best lake fisheries for brook trout in New Zealand.

Lake Heron- the jewel in the crown

Of all the lakes in the Ashburton Group , Lake Heron is the most scenic and ecologically diverse. A spectacular high country lake framed by vibrantly coloured red tussocks with sedges dotted along its shoreline. A site of national importance to the New Zealand scaup- a small diving duck.

wrybills

Overall the upper Rangitata stands out as being one of the most important sites for breeding wrybill in New Zealand-for those interested in wrybill I also have a wrybill blog-


http://wrybill.blogspot.com/

A nationally important site for black-fronted terns

About 5-7% of New Zealand's breeding population of black-fronted terns is located in the upper Rangitata -OTW Catchment. These agile and elegant birds really animate the river valleys.

O Tu wharekai- Upper Rangitata River

The attached map- courtesy of Map toaster-NZ shows the are referred to in this blog- 120 000 hectares of high country wilderness due west of Christchurch.

Blue ducks extinct ?

Data to date would suggest that over the last 10 years blue ducks have become locally extinct in the Upper Rangitata catchment. A sad loss for the sites bio-diversity.

RAMSAR-Rated as internationally important habitat

Upper Rangitata River is of outstanding value for wildlife. Rated as internationally important habitat under RAMSAR Convention criteria. A special pace for the conservation of endangered species- notably wrybill and black-fronted tern. Sadly in three years of monitoring black-billed gulls have failed to breed in the upper Rangitata River with a residual population of only 250-300 birds remaining.