Te Waihora (44608)
New Zealand, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, B1, B2, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Te Waihora
Central coordinates: Latitude: -43.7875, Longitude: 172.4878
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 12
Area of KBA (km2): 297.09345
Protected area coverage (%): 10.21
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, Black Stilt, Wrybill, Australasian Bittern, Australasian Crested Grebe Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Pied Shag, Black Shag, Little Black Shag, Little Shag, White-faced Heron, Black Swan, Canada Goose, Paradise Shelduck, NZ Shoveler, Mallard, Grey Duck, Grey Teal, Australasian Harrier, Californian Quail, Pheasant, Little Owl, Pukeko, Marsh Crake, Australian Coot, Variable Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, Red-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, White-fronted Tern, NZ Pigeon, Shining Cuckoo, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, South Island Fantail, Silvereye, Skylark, Hedge Sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellow-hammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie. Other species recorded: Australian Pelican, Spotted Shag, White Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Royal Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Mute Swan, Chestnut-breasted Shelduck, Nankeen Kestrel, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Pacific Golden Plover, Large Sand Plover, Mongolian Dotterel, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Red (Lesser) Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Asiatic Dowitcher, Eastern Bar-tailed Godwit, Asiatic Black-tailed Godwit, Hudsonian Godwit, Siberian Tattler, Sanderling, Far-eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Terek Sandpi-per, Painted Snipe, Little Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Bellbird.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 25 |
Additional information
References: Hughey K.F.D., Taylor K.J.W .(ed.) 2009. Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere: State of the Lake and Future Management. EOS Ecology, Christchurch. Kaitorete Spit Biodiversity Action Plan for Coastal Conservation Land. 2003. Department of Conservation, Christchurch. Kitto, S.G. 2010. The environmental history of Te Waihora - Lake Ellesmere. Thesis for Degree of Master of Science, University ofCanterbury Langlands, P. 2012. Current status of the Austrasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) in Canterbury. Report No. R13/25. Environment Canterbury. O'Donnell, C.F.J. 1985. Lake Ellesmere, a wildlife habitat of international importance. Fauna Survey Unit Report No. 40. New Zealand Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs, Christchurch O'Donnell, C.F.J. 2000. The significance of river and open water habitats for indigenous birds in Canterbury, New Zealand. Environment Canterbury Unpublished Report U00/37. Environment Canterbury, Christchurch. OSNZ National Wader Database Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. 2005. Te Waihora Joint Management Plan. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Department of Conserva-ion, Christchurch.