Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
IBA Trigger species: Black-billed Gull, Black-fronted Tern
Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Black Shag, White-faced Heron, Black Swan, Canada Goose, Paradise Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Duck, NZ Scaup, Australasian Harri-er, NZ Falcon, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, NZ Pigeon, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, South Island Fantail, South Island Tomtit, Grey Warbler, Silver-eye, Bellbird, Tui, Skylark, Hedge-sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Red-poll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie. Other species recorded: Little Shag.
NB: Yellowhead (EN), Kea (VU), Kaka (EN), Yellow-crowned Parakeet (NT), Long-tailed Cuckoo (LC), Shining Cuckoo (LC), Morepork (LC), South Island Robin (LC), Brown Creeper (LC) and Rifleman (LC) are found in adjacent forest areas (Mount Aspiring National Park). These will be included in the IBA network in the next round (i.e. identifying sites triggered primarily by land-, water- and shore- birds).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Makarora River - Marginal Strip - 26ha - Protected area contained within site
Wilkin River - Marginal Strip - 33ha - Protected area contained within site
The IBA includes areas (river flats) of the Mount Aspiring National Park in the Makaroa and Wilkin River valleys.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Makarora (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/makarora-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.
