Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
IBA Trigger species: Yellow-eyed Penguin, Stewart Island Shag
Fiordland Penguin (VU) non-breeding - moulting
Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Little Penguin, Sooty Shearwater, Fairy Prion, Pied Shag, Spotted Shag, White-faced Heron, Reef Heron, Royal Spoonbill, Para-dise Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Duck, Australasian Harrier, Pukeko, Variable Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, Red-billed Gull, White-fronted Tern, Rock Pigeon, Little Owl, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, South Island Fantail, South Island Tomtit, Silvereye, Bellbird, Hedge Sparrow, Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie.
Other species recorded: Fiordland Crested Penguin, Erect-crested Penguin, Australasian Gannet, Black Shag, Little Shag, Black Swan, Canada Goose, Grey Teal, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Human disturbance – Yes - Disturbance from people for penguins moving between colonies and the sea. Also breeding shags, gulls and terns at Nugget Point.
Predation by alien species – Yes - Dogs, cats, stoats, ferrets, possibly weasel, possibly possum
Habitat loss or degradation – Yes -
Contamination – No
Natural disaster – No
Other – No
Nugget Point Islands - Conservation Area - Protected area contained within site
Catlins Head - Recreation Reserve - Area contained within site
Tuhawaiki Island - Scenic Reserve - Protected area contained within site
Tunnel Rocks - Scenic Reserve - Protected area contained within site
Hinahina Cove - Scenic Reserve - Protected area contained within site
Purakaunui Bay - Conservation Area - Protected area contained within site
Purakaunui Bay - Scenic Reserve - Protected area overlaps with site
Papatowai - Scenic Reserve - Protected area overlaps with site
Mahaka - Recreation Reserve - Area contained within site
Irahuka / Long Point was purchased in 2009 by equal partners Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and the Minister of Conservation’s Nature Heritage Fund, to protect Yellow-eyed penguin habitat and restore other seabirds. This area is contained within the IBA site
Te Rere Scientific Reserve was set up in 1988 by the Royal Forest & Bird Society through a consent with a local landowner and is maintained by volunteers from the Southland and Otago branches.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Catlins Coast (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/catlins-coast-iba-new-zealand on 22/11/2024.
