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Himantopus novaezelandiae
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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CHARADRIIFORMES
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Family:
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RECURVIROSTRIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Himantopus novaezelandiae
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Species Authority:
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Gould, 1841
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Common Name/s:
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR D ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2007
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Bird, J. & Butchart, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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Despite 20 years of intensive conservation efforts, this species remains one of the most threatened shorebirds in the world. It is classified as Critically Endangered because, although it has increased over the last decade, it still only has a tiny population. The annual release of substantial numbers of captive-bred birds and predator control has probably prevented it from becoming Extinct in the Wild.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Critically Endangered (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2000) |
| 2004 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2004) |
| 2006 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2006) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Himantopus novaezelandiae is restricted during the breeding season to the upper Waitaki Valley, South Island, New Zealand. Small numbers overwinter in the North Island. The population may have numbered 500-1,000 birds in the 1940s6, but in 1999, the total number was 40 (nine females, 28 males and three of unknown gender), a loss of 10 over the previous 18 months. In 2001 the wild breeding population consisted of just seven pairs11, but a maximum of 84 adults were recorded in the wild in August 200213. By the 2004/5 breeding season, there were 11 productive pairs14, a slight increase overall, but numbers have fluctuated rather than climbed steadily. Sixty dark hybrids are known. The captive population consisted of 25 adults in 200213.
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Range Map:
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 (click for detailed map)
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Countries:
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Native:
New Zealand
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It breeds on braided riverbeds, but also occurs in wetlands and swamplands, and some of the population winters along the coastline in inter-tidal habitats. It feeds primarily on insects, but also takes small fish8. It lays four eggs and will usually re-nest if the first clutch is lost early in the season. Most breed for the first time at three years of age. The average age is 6.8 years, and at least eight are older than 10 years4.
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System:
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Freshwater
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Threats
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Threats:
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Predators are the primary threat, in particular, introduced mammals such as cats, ferret Mustela furo, stoat M. erminea, hedgehogs Erinaceus sp. and brown rat Rattus norvegicus, and the native Australasian Harrier Circus approximans and Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus5,7. Nests are destroyed, and predation is potentially increased, by drainage and hydroelectric development, weed growth and flood-control programmes2,7, and nesting birds are disturbed by recreational use of riverbeds. Adverse weather and natural flooding are additional, unpredictable threats5. Hybridisation continues because the biased sex ratio results in single males mating with H. himantopus females or hybrids4,6.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
Recent advances in release methods appear to have enhanced the initial survival of released birds from 20-45% to 80-100%, but require further testing1. Trapping for predators around all wild nests has been ongoing since 19974, and research is underway to determine the nature of the threat from each predator species5. Water-levels are manipulated in managed wetlands to attract birds to feed, and possibly breed, in areas where predators are controlled2. Habitat restoration is ongoing, involving the removal of exotic weeds from riverbeds3. The introduction of a second population on a suitable predator-free island is desirable and is undergoing feasibility study12.
Conservation measures proposed:
Maintain and improve productivity of the captive population. Establish a self-sustaining population on a predator-free island. Encourage public interest and support9.
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