Tuku (44635)
New Zealand, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Tuku
Central coordinates: Latitude: -44.0752, Longitude: -176.6400
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 299
Area of KBA (km2): 137.58926
Protected area coverage (%): 19.63
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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: IBA Trigger species: Chatham Island Taiko (Magenta Petrel), Chatham Petrel*, Chatham Albatross**, Chatham Island Shag, Pitt Island Shag, New Zealand Pigeon (Chatham Island Pigeon), Red-fronted Parakeet (Chatham Island Red-fronted Parakeet) * Translocated to site and breeding ** Translocated to site 2014 and 2015 Ornithological information: Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Little Penguin, Sooty Shearwater, Common Diving Petrel, Broad-billed Prion, Grey-backed Storm Petrel, Brown Skua, Southern Black-backed Gull, Red-billed Gull, White-fronted Tern, Black Swan, Mallard, Grey Duck, White-faced Heron, Australasian Harrier, Pukeko, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Welcome Swallow, Chatham Island Pipit, Shining Cuckoo, Silvereye, Chatham Island Warbler, Chatham Island Fantail, Chatham Island Tui, Skylark, Hedge Sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling. Other species recorded: Turnstone. NB: Weka (Buff Weka) is classified as Vulnerable (IUCN), however on Chatham Island it is an introduced invasive species and actively controlled to protect other species. NB: The Sweetwater Reserve is protected by a predator-proof fence allowing the Chatham Petrel to breed there following translocation.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human disturbance – Yes Predation by alien species – Yes Habitat loss or degradation – No Contamination – No Natural disaster – No Other – No
Additional information
References: Aikman, H.; Miskelly, C. 2004. Birds of the Chatham Islands. Wellington, Department of Conservation. Bell M., Bell, D. 2000. Census of three shag species in the Chatham Islands. Notornis 47: 148-153 Bell, M. 2012. Shag interactions with commercial rock lobster pot and trap fishing methods in the Chatham Islands. Wildlife Management International for DOC. Contract 4342 (INT2011-02 - Shag interactions with commerxial pot and trap fishing methods in New Zealand). 24pp. Bester, A.J., Chateris, M. 2005. The second census of Chatham Island shag and Pitt Island shag - are numbers declining. Notornis 52: 6-10 Crockett, D.E. 1994. Rediscovery of Chatham Island taiko Pterodroma magentae. Notornis 41 (supplement): 49-60 Debski, I., Bell, M., Palmer, D. 2012. Chatham Island and Pitt Island shag census 2011. Contract MCSPO2010-02, Department of Conservation, Wellington. Imber, M.J. 1994. Seabirds recorded at the Chatham Islands, 1960 to May 1993. Notornis 41: 97-108 Imber, M .J., Crockett, D. E., Gordon, A. H., Best, H. A., Douglas, M. E. & Cotter, R. N. 1994a. Finding the burrows of Chat-ham Island taiko Pterodroma magentae by radio telemetry. Notornis (Supplement) 41: 69-96. Imber, M. J., Taylor, G. A., Grant, A. D. & Munn, A. 1994b. Chatham Island taiko Pterodroma magentae management and research, 1987-1993: predator control, productivity, and breeding biology. Notornis (Supplement) 41: 61-68. Imber, M. J., Tennyson, A. J. D., Taylor, G. A. & Johnston, P. 1998. A second intact specimen of the Chatham Island taiko (Pterodroma magentae). Notornis 45: 247-254.