Waiau River Southland (44629)
New Zealand, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Waiau River Southland
Central coordinates: Latitude: -45.7945, Longitude: 167.6312
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 180
Area of KBA (km2): 50.40346
Protected area coverage (%): 19.76
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 Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Black Shag, Pied Shag, Little Shag, Spotted Shag, White-faced Heron, Pukeko, Australian Coot, Black Swan, Canada Goose, Para-dise Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Duck, Grey Teal, NZ Shoveler, NZ Scaup, Australasian Harrier, NZ Falcon, Pukeko, Marsh (Baillon’s) Crake, South Island Oystercatcher, Variable Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Southern Black-backed Gull, Red-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, White-fronted Tern, Rock Pigeon, NZ Kingfisher, South Island Fernbird, Welcome Swal-low, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, South Island Fantail, South Island Tomtit, Silvereye, Bellbird, Tui, Skylark, Hedge Sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie. Other species recorded: Eastern Bar-tailed Godwit.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 30 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 30 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 30 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 |
Additional information
References: McClellan, R. 2008. The Ecology and Management of Southland’s Black-billed Gulls. Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Otago, Dunedin. 253 pp. McClelland TJ 1996. Waiau River Aquatic Birds December 1995 and March 1996. June 1999. Unpublished report prepared for the Waiau River working party of the Southland Regional Council. Invercargill, Teri McClelland Environmental Re-sources. McClelland TJ 1999. Waiau River aquatic birds breeding survey summary. May 1999. Unpublished report to Meridian Ener-gy, Christchurch. Invercargill, Teri McClelland Environmental Resources. 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 Sagar PM 1994. Aquatic birds of the Waiau River November 1993 and March 1994. NIWA Miscellaneous Report 168 (unpublished). Christchurch, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.