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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis | VU | breeding (2009–2011) | 109–455 nests | A1, A4i |
| Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri | NT | breeding (1970–2014) | 1,202–5,481 breeding pairs | A1, A4i |
| Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus | EN | breeding (1975–2011) | 36–291 breeding 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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 key 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 deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Lake Heron Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife Refuge (IV) | <1 |
| 1987 | Rakaia Riverbed | Stewardship Area (III) | 1 |
| 1987 | Rakaia Forest | Stewardship Area (III) | 1 |
| 1987 | Wilberforce Riverbed | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Rakaia Island | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Rakaia River Margin | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Rakaia Riverbed | Stewardship Area (III) | - |
| 2014 | Conservation - Tenure Review - Manuka Point - Protects Natural and Landscape Value - Rakaia River Flats, Homestead Faces and Mathias River Faces | Conservation Covenant (IV) | 1 |
| 2014 | Conservation - Glenthorne Station - Moss Burn Wetlands | Conservation Covenant (IV) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | major (>10) | |
| Introduced vegetation | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | major (>10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | |
| Forest | minor (<10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rakaia River (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rakaia-river-iba-new-zealand on 19/01/2025.