Key Biodiversity Areas

Rangitata River (44609)
New Zealand, Australasia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1aA1bA1cB1D1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Rangitata River
Central coordinates: Latitude: -43.6688, Longitude: 170.9692
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 900
Area of KBA (km2): 189.7813
Protected area coverage (%): 9.60
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, Australasian Harrier, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, Red-billed Gull, White-fronted Tern, Rock Pigeon, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, Silvereye, Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie. Other species recorded: Spotted Shag.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Introduced Vegetation24
Grassland24
Wetlands(Inland)24
Shrubland24
Marine Intertidal5

Additional information


References: DOC River Survey Database (2013). Moore SG 1986a. Upper Rangitata survey. Unpublished File Report. Christchurch, New Zealand Wildlife Service, Depart-ment of Internal Affairs. 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, 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