Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus | VU | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri | NT | breeding (1970–2014) | 5,095–7,686 pairs | A1, A4i |
| Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus | EN | breeding (1981–2010) | 149–279 pairs | A1, A4i |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | unset | - | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Not assessed | Not assessed | Not assessed | not assessed |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Maori Lakes | Nature Reserve (Ia) | 1 |
| 1957 | Maori Lakes Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife Refuge (IV) | 3 |
| 1987 | Rangitata/Rakaia Head Waters | Stewardship Area (III) | 2 |
| 1987 | Ashburton River | Stewardship Area (III) | 1 |
| 1987 | Barrosa | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1988 | Maori Lakes | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 2007 | Hakatere | Conservation Park (V) | 9 |
| 2008 | Hakatere | Stewardship Area (III) | 2 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | major (>10) | |
| Introduced vegetation | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | major (>10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ashburton River (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ashburton-river-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.