Purerua Pāteke Flock Counts have now been completed as part of the annual monitoring along Northland’s east coast.
Pāteke (brown teal) are the rarest mainland dabbling duck in New Zealand. Once numerous and widespread, this endemic duck species has dropped to as low as 700 birds, mostly located in eastern Northland and Great Barrier Island, Aotea.
Each year, Kiwi Coast works with the Deparment of Conservation and Northland community-led projects to carry out annual flock count monitoring, checking ponds and tidal areas where birds would be expected to congregate. This provides information on long term population trends.
Monitoring to date shows that in Northland, pāteke are thriving where sustained mustelid and feral cat control is in place, accompanied by dedicated dog control to safeguard wetland breeding sites and pond flocking areas.
Due to all the good work to date, Kiwi Coast is excited to support Pest Free Purerua, Ngātiwai, Ngāti Torehina and the Pāteke Recovery Group with a release of captive breed pāteke later in March. All welcome to attend – keep an eye on the Kiwi Coast Events Calendar, Facebook or Instagram for the date announcement.
Pāteke are small, brown ducks with a roundish shaped head and a distinctive white ring around their eyes. If you have noticed these ducks returning to your area or would like to be involved in next years Pateke Flock Counts please contact Ngaire Sullivan, Kiwi Coast Coordinator.
For more information on the Pāteke Release contact: Andrew Mentor – Mid North Kiwi Coast Coordinator and Pest Free Purerua Project Manager.
