The Blue Duck

Found only in New Zealand the blue duck, or whio as it’s called in Maori, is a unique and threatened species. A torrent duck the whio requires clear fast flowing water, like that of the Kaiwhakauka and Morinui Rivers on Blue Duck Station, and approximately 10 of the remaining 1400 pairs can be found here.

Often heard before they are seen the blue duck has an unusual call; the male whistling 'fi-o' and the female making a harsh purring noise. In the sunlight you can see a number of colours on their feathers but in the main the duck is a slate blue grey that blends in perfectly with the river rocks.  We have a particularly friendly pair of blue ducks on our Kaiwhakauka stream named Gobby and Scarlet who don't mind being observed. Come and visit us to see them and find out how they got their names! For more information on the blue duck check out the following websites:

• Department of Conservation
• Genesis Energy and the blue duck
• New Zealand Birds

Trapping

We have approximately 450 traps around the station for stoats, weasels, ferrets, rats, mice and hedgehogs; all enemies of the blue duck as well as other native species. In partnership with Kia Wharite we maintain and reset the traps approximately every two weeks; this is undertaken mainly by our volunteers or ‘eco-warriors’ as we call them. To see where our traps are and what we have caught in them check out our neat application on Google Earth. This application was designed and is maintained by our chief eco-warrior Bob Jordan, thank you Bob

1. download Google Earth onto your computer
2. download our Whakahoro Trap System application.

Got a rodent problem and want traps for your property? Have a chat with our mates at Goodnature.

Weta boxes

We have recently installed a number of weta boxes around the station to encourage this cool native insect. The destructon of the weta's native habitat and their vulnerability to predators such as cats, hedgehogs and rats has diminished their numbers over the years and the Department of Conservation now considers that 16 out of the 70 species are at risk.

We have both cave and tree wetas on the station and hope to increase their numbers by providing them with extra housing. The picture on the right is one of our more 'luxurious' weta homes. It has a glass panel inside so that, once opened, you can see the inhabitant.