What are some of the birds you could see at Snells Beach?

“Most native bird, bat, reptile and frog species are absolutely protected, and many common introduced bird and animal species are not protected. Some native and some introduced bird species have limited protection to maintain their numbers while allowing for some harvest or control.”

Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai, Wildlife Act Aotearoa New Zealand

SBRRA Our Birds Link

huahou

lesser knot (or red knot) seen passing through usually among godwit flocks

Nationally Vulnerable

kawau pū

black shag

native, at risk - naturally uncommon

korora

little blue penguin (in the bay)

native, at-risk - declining

kōtare

sacred kingfisher

native, not threatened

ngutuparore

wrybill

endemic, threatened - nationally increasing

pīwakawaka

fantail

endemic, not threatened

tara

white-fronted tern

native, threatened - declining

tākapu

Australasian gannet - seen fishing in the bay

native, not threatened

warou

welcome swallow

endemic

kakianau

black swan

native, not threatened

kawau tui

little black shag

native, at risk - naturally uncommon

kuaka

bar-tailed godwits

native migrant, at risk - declining

kōtuku ngutupapa

royal spoonbill

native, at risk - naturally uncommon

poaka

pied stilt, also seen are the hybrid pied stilts

native, not threatened

pūtangitangi

paradise shelduck

endemic, not threatened

tara iti

NZ fairy tern

native, threatened - nationally critical

tōrea

South Island pied oystercatcher

endemic, at risk - declining

karoro

southern black-backed gull

native, not threatened

kawaupaka

little shag

native, not threatened

kuihi

geese

import, Canada geese are considered a pest

matuku moana

white-faced heron

native, not threatened

pohowera

banded dotterel

endemic, threatened - nationally vulnerable

ruddy turnstone

native, migrant

taranui

Caspian tern

native, threatened - nationally vulnerable

tōrea pango

variable oystercatcher

endemic, at risk - recovering

kawau or kāruhiruhi

pied shag

native, at risk - recovering

kookaburra

laughing kookaburra

Introduced

kuruwhengi

Australasian shoveler

native, not threatened

matuku-hūrepo

Australasian bittern, rarely seen now but some recent spottings

Threatened–Nationally Critical

pukeko

Australasian swamp hen

native, not threatened

spur-winged plover

native, not threatened

tarāpunga

red-billed gull

native, at risk - declining

tūturiwhatu

New Zealand dotterel

endemic, at risk - recovering

A threatened species is an umbrella term used to describe a range of risk categories:

Nationally critical means facing an immediate high risk of extinction.
Nationally endangered means facing high risk of extinction in the short term.
Nationally vulnerable means facing a risk of extinction in the medium term.

At risk of extinction species aren’t considered threatened, but they could quickly become so if declines continue, or if a new threat arises.

Declining: population declining but still common.
Recovering: small population but increasing after previously declining.
Relict: small population stabilised after declining.
Naturally uncommon: naturally small population and therefore susceptible to harmful influences.