NZ066
Opihi River


IBA Justification

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
Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri NT breeding (1995–2014) 1,741–3,824 pairs A1, A4i
Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus EN breeding (1983–2011) 37–62 pairs A1, A4i

IBA Conservation

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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1987 Milford Lagoon Stewardship Area (III) 3
1987 Opihi River Island Stewardship Area (III) 2
1987 Opihi Riverbed Stewardship Area (III) <1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Introduced vegetation major (>10)
Shrubland major (>10)
Wetlands (inland) major (>10)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine minor (<10)
Marine Coastal/Supratidal minor (<10)
Marine Intertidal minor (<10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Opihi River (New Zealand). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/opihi-river-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.