Blue Ducks

tony
July 8, 2018
birds / New Zealand

Blue Duck/Whio happily at home in fast moving river rapids.

Today our trip around the southern part of the South Island is going to be interrupted by something from closer to home. I have written about Blue Ducks previously and have been wanting to head down to Turangi to photograph them again for some time. I was due to guide a visiting overseas bird photographer late last year but they had miscalculated the dates so that trip fell through. Since then study has stolen most of my discretionary time so by way of celebration at completing my exams and case studies, Edin and I headed south yesterday despite a slightly marginal weather forecast.

Blue Duck/Whio passing close by in the current

Gearing up we headed to the river bank and immediately located a pair, hardly believing our luck. Clambering down the wet lichen covered rocks we made it to water level opposite them and had opportunities on them resting, feeding and preening before they surfed across the river passing right in front of us. It was only after the event that Edin found another pair in the background of some of her photos. They had been on the same side of the river as we were and only about 50m upstream but we hadn’t been aware of them. Their coloration is absolutely perfect for the well rounded river rocks and if still they vanish very effectively.

What looked like another rock in the previous frame lifts it head to reveal itself as another Blue Duck

Seeing Blue Ducks is always exciting as not that long ago it was a rare experience in wilderness rivers, usually with a fly rod in hand and no camera near. They are adapted to feeding in fast flowing clear mountain rivers so their habitat is always a lovely place to be. The Maori name of Whio echoes their wheezy whistle which we were lucky to hear a couple of times when the pair were separated and calling out to try and locate the missing partner.

Blue Duck/Whio making it's "whi-o" call to try and locate it's partner — Blue Duck/Whio making it’s “whi-o” call to try and locate it’s partner

Blue Duck respond well to predator control and I now regularly encounter them on the Tongariro and Whirinaki rivers despite the national breeding population likely being only around 1000 pairs. For more information see New Zealand Birds Online.