Ashley River Rakahuri (44606)
New Zealand, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Ashley River Rakahuri
Central coordinates: Latitude: -43.2292, Longitude: 172.2295
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 500
Area of KBA (km2): 51.33582
Protected area coverage (%): 25.33
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: IBA Trigger species: Black-billed Gull, Black-fronted Tern, Wrybill Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Black Shag, Little Shag, White-faced Heron, Canada Goose, Paradise Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Duck, Australasian Harrier, Pukeko, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, White-fronted Tern, Rock Pigeon, NZ Kingfisher, Shining Cuckoo, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, South Island Fantail, Silvereye, Bellbird, Skylark, Hedge Sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Red-poll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human disturbance - Yes - Anthropogenic disturbance due to multiple river and riverbed users can impact on nesting and feeding birds. Predation by alien species - Yes - Feral cats, mustelids, rats and hedgehogs are present within the site. Dogs can also be a problem. Predator management in some areas within the IBA through the Ashley Rakahuri River Care Group. Habitat loss or degradation - Yes - Significant reduction in river flows through abstraction for irrigation may be reducing foraging habitat availability and increasing accessibility of breeding colonies to introduced predators, leading to reduced productivity and survival. In addi-tion, reduction in flows is thought to facilitate increased weed invasion of nesting habitats, making these habitats unavailable. Contamination - Yes - Pollution from nutrients and effluent are washed or are leached into the river system. Natural disaster - Yes - Natural flood events can seriously impact on nest sites. Parasite or pathogen - No Other - No
Additional information
References: Ashley Rakahuri River Care Group Database (2013) Brown, J.A., Robinson, T.J. (2009) Addressing uncertainty in braided river bird counts. Department of Conservation Re-search & Development Series 311, Department of Conservation, Wellington. Bowden, M.J., Ayrey, R.B., Duffield, D.M., Glennie, J.M., Harrison,N., Hurd, S.B., Mason, C.R., Talbot, J.D., Weeber, J.H., 1982. The water resources of the Ashley catchment, North Canterbury Catchment Board and Regional Water Board, Christ-church DOC River Survey Database (2013). Hughey, K., Booth, K., Deans, N., and Baker, M., 2009. A significance assessment method for river values. Draft report. Lin-coln University, Canterbury. Keedwell RJ 2005. Breeding biology of black-fronted terns (Sterna albostriata) and the effects of predation. Emu 105: 39−47. O’Donnell CFJ, Moore SGM 1983. The wildlife and conservation of braided river systems in Canterbury. Fauna Survey Unit Report 33. Wellington, New Zealand Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs. 73 p. O’Donnell CFJ. 2000. The significance of river and open water habitats for indigenous birds in Canterbury, New Zealand. Environment Canterbury Unpublished Report U00/37. Christchurch, Environment Canterbury. O’Donnell, C.F.J., Hoare, J.M. 2011. Meta-analysis of status and trends in breeding populations of black-fronted terns (Chlidonias albostriatus) 1962-2008. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 35: 32-43 Palmer, P. 2013. Compilation of “Summary of intrinsic values” chapters from Canterbury Conservancy’s intrinsic values catchment reports: Waimakariri Zone. Department of Conservation, Christchurch. Wilson, G. (2001) National distribution of braided rivers and the extent of vegetation colonisation. Landcare Research Con-tract Report: LC0001/068.