Losing an icon of our braided rivers

Recent research is now showing that black-fronted terns are declining at an alarming rate on our braided rivers. These birds are endemic to New Zealand, breeding on braided rivers over the spring and summer and feeing along coastal regions for the remainder of the year. Research done by Peter Langlands/Wild Capture studying wintering flocks of birds from 2007-2014 has shown that juvenile terns only comprise about 3-5% of the wintering flocks. Clearing the lack of recruitment is a concern. In addition the loss of adults from cat predation ,such as on the upper Rangitata, is cause for further concern.