We are dedicated to the Restoration of the Tucker Beach Wildlife Management Reserve

Worth Saving

We are dedicated to the removal of invasive species, weeds, and other threats to this dynamic braided river ecosystem. It is essential to take action now to protect the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve from these dangers, both now and in the future.

Protecting Endangered Birds

Maintaining breeding and nesting habitats is important for the survival of several migratory braided river bird species, some of which are classified as nationally critical and endangered.

Banded Dotterel

Read more about the birds at Tucker Beach below.

Black-Billed Gull

  • Tarapuka /Laris Bulleri

    Nationally Critical

    Tarāpuka, is the the most threatened gull species in the world. Its classification as nationally critical is the highest level of threat before extinction.

    These birds are threatened by feral cats, stoats and ferrets which take eggs, chicks and adults and black-backed gulls taking eggs and chicks.

    In the Lower Shotover River corridor, black-billed gulls have better nesting success in the islands created by the river braids, than on the river banks. Predatory mammals and human activity do not threaten their safer island nests. Weed infestation of the riverbank terraces reduces safe breeding sites and pushes the nests closer to the river, with the risk of flooding.

    This is an important species of the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve Restoration project.

    The black-billed gull colony increased from 240 (2021/2022) to 375 (2023/2024) at Tucker Beach.

  • Tūturiwhatu/ Charadrius Bicinctus

    Nationally Vulnerable

    These are seasonal migrants, travelling inland from coastal areas and even South Eastern Australia to braided montane valleys and rivers to breed.

    Tūturiwhatu have disappeared from many New Zealand breeding sites and South Island numbers were as low as 200 in 2015.

    Key factors in their decline are introduced mammalian predators which prey on eggs, chicks juveniles and adults. Invasive predators that threaten dotterel survival, include mustelids ( ferrets, stoats, weasels) rats, hedgehogs and feral cats. Human activity and disturbance by dogs off leads threatens breeding success. Recreational use of 4WD vehicles or motorbikes in the Lower Shotover River bank river gravels destroys nests and disturbs breeding behaviours.

    Habitat loss from flooding or weed infestation of the riverbank terraces reduces available breeding sites.

    This is an important species of the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve Restoration project.

    33 banded dotterels were counted in 2023/2024

Black-Fronted Tern

  • Tarapirohe/ Childonias albostriatus

    Nationally Endangered

    Tarapirohe, the black-fronted tern has a small global population of 5-10,000. They only breed in the braided riverbeds in the Eastern and Southern South Island, nesting in river bank gravel bands away from vegetation. This habitat is threatened by weed encroachment, flooding and recreational use of 4WD vehicles and motorbikes in the river gravels. Predation by mammalian predators such as rats and mice, stoats, ferrets, feral cats and hedgehogs remains the biggest threat. Predation by black-backed gulls and swamp harriers is increasing.

    This is an important species of the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve Restoration project.

    25 black-fronted terns were counted in 2024.

    South island Pied Oystercatcher

    Tōrea/ Haemoptus finschi

    At risk and Declining

    Tōrea, the South Island Pied Oyster Catcher nests in braided river gravel banks. Nests are simple, unlined scrapes in a raised area of river sand - easily damaged by human activity, recreational 4WD or motorbike use and dogs off lead. The invasion woody weeds in the river gravels threatens their habitat.

    Mammalian predators such as rats and mice, stoats, ferrets, possums and feral cats threaten their survival.

    This is an important species of the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve Restoration project.

South Island Pied Oystercatcher

NZ Falcon

  • Falco novaeseelandiae

    The New Zealand falcon plays a pivotal role in the country's unique ecosystem. Known for its incredible speed and agility, this bird of prey is an essential predator that helps maintain the balance of native species populations. Conservation efforts are crucial for the survival of this raptor, which faces threats from habitat loss and human disturbances. Protecting the New Zealand falcon's natural environment and educating the public about its importance are vital steps toward preserving this magnificent species for future generations.

  • Tōrea/ Haemoptus finschi

    At risk and Declining

    Tōrea, the South Island Pied Oyster Catcher nests in braided river gravel banks. Nests are simple, unlined scrapes in a raised area of river sand - easily damaged by human activity, recreational 4WD or motorbike use and dogs off lead. The invasion woody weeds in the river gravels threatens their habitat.

    Mammalian predators such as rats and mice, stoats, ferrets, possums and feral cats threaten their survival.

    This is an important species of the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve Restoration project.

Tui

  • Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

    The New Zealand Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) is a distinctive and culturally significant bird, renowned for its beautiful, complex songs and striking plumage, which features an iridescent sheen and a conspicuous white throat tuft. Native to New Zealand, Tuis play a crucial role in pollination, as they feed on the nectar of native plants.

    Conservation efforts are vital to sustain their populations, which are threatened by habitat destruction and the introduction of predatory species. Protecting natural habitats and fostering a greater awareness of the ecological roles of species like the Tui are key to ensuring their survival and the overall health of New Zealand’s ecosystems.

Eradicating

Predators

New Zealand native birds have been greatly affected by predation. For millions of years they lived in an environment without natural predators. Many bird species were flightless, had ground-feeding and ground-dwelling behaviours and lacked defences.

They were easy prey when humans and introduced predators arrived and 43% of native bird species were eliminated.

One hundred DOC 200 and 250 traps are installed on both sides of the Lower Shotover River.

Since monitoring began in October 2019, 756 predators have been caught in these traps.

Stoats

Ferrets

  • Ferrets are larger, stockier mustelids ( 600 - 1300 grams) with a dark “mask” across their eyes.

    More ferrets are trapped in autumn /early spring. They are active at night, hunting rabbits and rodents (mice and rats).

    They threaten the braided river birds, especially the banded dotterell and the South Island pied oystercatcher. They eat the birds’ eggs and attack and kill the bird chicks. They also eat the McCanns skinks living in the Shotover River river terraces.

    DOC250 traps are being introduced to Widllfie Reserve river margins to trap ferrets, stoats, rats and hedgehogs.

    Weasels are not an abundant predator in the Lower Shotover. They are found in lower numbers in the Wildlife Reserve but still impact lizard and invertebrate populations in the river terraces.

  • Mustela erminea

    DoC describes stoats as “public enemy number one” for our native birds and the most common mustelid caught in the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve

    Stoats are smaller than ferrets, weighing 200-350 grams. They have a long, bushy tail with a black tip a black/brown coat and a pale belly and throat.

    Like all mustelids, Stoats have very good eyesight and hearing and a strong sense of smell. They hunt at any time, day and night, moving quickly to check every burrow and hollow. Ground nesting birds, including dotterell and black-fronted terns have little chance to escape. Stoats are strong swimmers and can reach nests on the river sand islands in the middle of the river.

    Stoats will kill more than they need to for food and hide the rest in their den to eat later.

    They breed prolifically and show a late autumn/early winter population peak as rabbits and rat food sources decline. When there is a “mast event” of beech trees -where high levels of seed production occurs - stoat populations explode, assisted by the increased food supply.

    They are suspicious of baits and traps so are tricky to trap. 27 stoats were trapped in the Wildlife Reserve from 2019-2022

Rats

  • There are three kinds of rats in New Zealand: the kiore (Rattus exulans) which is the smallest, the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus or brown rat) the biggest and the ship rat ( Rattus rattus or black or common rat). The black rat is the most common.

    Kiore came to New Zealand with the early Māori voyagers, while the Norway and ship rats came on whaling ships and on ships carrying European settlers. Kiore are now rarely found other than in the south of the South Island.

    Norway rats are good swimmers, reaching the safer sand islands in the middle of the Shotover River. They also prey on the ground-nesting adult braided river birds and eat their eggs and their chicks. The dotterels and black-fronted tern are vulnerable.

    Rats are the most commonly trapped predator in the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve. The highest numbers are trapped in Autumn although they are present and trapped year-round.

  • Mice are a key food source for stoats and feral cats. Mice are omnivorous and take advantage of whatever food sources are available. Invertebrates (insects and spiders) are usually the main species eaten but lizards and birds eggs and chicks, as found in the Lower Shotover river ecosystem may also be eaten.

    If mice populations increase rapidly when food is plentiful and conditions are right, the stoats and feral cat populations also increase. These predators also feed on native species: native birds and lizards. Predation of native species increases exponentially when mice populations are high and can cause local population collapse.

  • Trichosurus vulpecula

    The common brushtail possum is endemic to Australia and was first introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur trade. This release was unsuccessful but a second release in 1857 in Southland was successful.

    Possums are a major threat to our NZ ecosystem and are widespread. Their own predators have little effect on controlling possum numbers.

    Typically adult possums are 65-95cm long and weigh 1.4- 6.4 kg.

    They are nocturnal and can live anywhere there is shelter and food. They are opportunistic omnivores and eat native birds and their eggs, land snails and invertebrates, flowers, fruit, berries and nectar; competing for these food sources with native birds and reptiles.

Feral Cats

  • Feral cats have a major impact on native birds, bats, lizards, wēta and other insects, including the native skinks living in the Lower Shotover River terraces, which were at critically low levels due to predation.

    Feral cats are one of the most ferocious predators in our ecosystem. They feed on rabbits, lizards, mice, wēta, insects and ground-nesting braided river birds and their eggs and chicks,

    Feral cats live in the wild and are not stray or owned. They have the same appearance as short-haired tabby, tortoiseshell or black house cats, but they can grow to be much larger with the heaviest male feral cat weighing 7kg.

    Feral cats are significant predators of the black-fronted tern (tarapirohe) and the McCanns skink which have habitats in the Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve.

    DOC has a legislated mandate to control feral cats on public conversation land as part of a wider programme targeting stoats, hedgehogs and rodents.

Possums

Mice

Hedgehogs

  • Tuatete

    Hedgehogs were first brought to New Zealand by settlers in the 1870s to remind them of home and to control garden pests such as slugs, snails and grass grubs. Hedgehogs are now abundant in NZ and more numerous than in their UK homeland (up to 8 per hectare in parts of NZ.)

    Hedgehogs are excellent swimmers and adept climbers, managing to scale high walls and hedges. They have poor sight and rely on their senses of smell and hearing.

    They eat a varied diet of mice, lizards, skinks, and ground-nesting river bird eggs. They are a major threat to our already vulnerable lizards and ground-nesting braided river birds especially banded dotterells and black-fronted terns. They eat their eggs and kill and eat their chicks.

Removing Invasive Plants

Invasive plant species pose several significant issues to the Tucker Beach area in Queenstown, New Zealand. These non-native plants can aggressively outcompete native flora for resources such as light, water, and nutrients, leading to a decrease in biodiversity. This shift can disrupt local ecosystems, affecting not only plant life but also the animals that depend on native species for food and habitat.

Specifically, invasive plants like gorse or broom can alter the structure and composition of the landscape, potentially increasing the risk of fire and reducing the availability of land for native species

Help us take action

Join us in safeguarding the natural beauty of Tucker Beach Wildlife Refuge—your actions today can help preserve this vibrant ecosystem for generations to come!