Makarora Whio
Whio are holding on in the wild headwaters of Makarora — and with the right protection, they’re breeding too.
Since January 2023, Southern Lakes Sanctuary has been undertaking targeted whio (blue duck) surveys across the Makarora catchment — part of a long-term effort to understand and protect this rare river-dwelling species.
These surveys focus on the Blue River (main branch), The Ore and Leven Streams, and both the North and South Young Rivers — forming the southern boundary of our collaborative predator control zone, managed alongside our partner Central Otago Lakes Branch of Forest & Bird.
This area is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive predator control networks in the region, with over 1,500 traps laid across rugged terrain to protect key taonga species including whio, kea, kākā, mohua and pīwauwau. Where rat numbers pose a particular threat — especially to nesting mohua — a second layer of defence is in place: 1,000 bait stations deployed over 550 hectares to suppress rat populations during critical periods.
Tracking whio in a wild landscape
Since the start of the project, 11 dedicated dog-assisted whio surveys have been carried out, helping us understand where whio persist and the habitats they favour. These surveys — along with incidental sightings by SLS staff and Forest & Bird volunteers — have revealed a remarkable picture of survival in this remote, river-strewn environment.
Over a two-year period, 60 individual whio encounters were recorded in the catchment. These include:
24 dog-assisted survey observations
6 targeted visual surveys
30 incidental sightings during fieldwork
Among those sightings, 15 were of family groups — pairs with ducklings — offering hope that these rivers still support breeding birds.
Signs of a stronghold
In total, we’ve identified 29 individual whio currently residing in the Makarora catchment:
9 pairs
6 singles
5 juveniles
Most birds were seen along the main branch of the Blue River, the Leven valley, and the upper reaches of the North Young. But our biggest highlight came from the lesser-surveyed South Young Valley: a pair with six ducklings, seen for the first time in 2024 — a hugely significant moment for the team.
Support that makes it possible
This work is made possible thanks to generous support from the Tūpiki Trust, whose funding allows us to carry out the intensive survey and predator control work needed to give whio a fighting chance.
We’re proud to be protecting some of the last wild places where whio still survive — and to be giving nature room to recover.
Posted in: Projects