The Wildlife you might encounter on our Eco Tours

Coastal and Sea Birds

New Zealand is a mecca for bird watchers (or twitchers as we like to call them), the Abel

Tasman National Park has a huge variety of coastal sea birds, some of them very rare. What

you will see depends on the seasons and the abundance of food . Some wading birds can be

found in the same few metres of beach every day of the year, whereas pelagic seabirds may be

a rare sight en route across a vast ocean. That is what makes every day in nature so special as

we have no idea what we will come across on any given day.

Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) Kuaka

The most common arctic migrant, they make an amazing 11,000km non-stop flight from Alaska

to New Zealand. Large numbers arrive in September at Farewell Spit and Motueka Sand spit,

but a few can be seen in Marahau at low tide.

Pied oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) Törea

AKA SIPO; the most common NZ Oystercatcher, it is endemic to NZ and breeds inland only on

the South Island. It breeds in herb fields, alpine tundra, paddocks and cultivated land, braided

river beds and lake beaches, and spends the rest of the year on beaches and estuaries on both

islands. Numbers were declining in at the turn of the 20th century; due to hunting, but have

rebounded after protection in 1940. The population of around 110,000 is of ‘Least Concern’

status.

Black / variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) Töreapango

Larger than SIPO and also endemic, these oystercatchers can vary from completely black to a

mottled black and white breast. Monogamous pairs breed from October – February near the

beach and defend their nest aggressively; they are often seen flocking on the edges of SIPO

flocks after breeding. Conservation status; recovering.

Pied stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Poaka

Found throughout the tropics and sub-tropics in both hemispheres, the pied stilt can be seen at

Marahau at low tide. It feeds on insects and small marine invertebrates. Conservation status;

Least Concern.

Reef heron (Egretta sacra) Matukutuku

Prefers the warmer climes of the northern North Island and is found throughout Polynesia and

Asia where it is widespread and abundant. Several pairs can be found feeding on small fish and

invertebrates in pools on the rocky shorelines and estuaries of the park. New Zealand’s rarest

heron, it is estimated there are only 300 – 500 birds in the country. It is smaller than the similar

white-faced heron, and is usually solitary; occurring in naturally low densities. Breeding occurs

around December time and nests are usually in low lying overhangs, caves and crevices.

Conservation status; nationally vulnerable.

White-faced heron (Ardea novaehollandiae) Matuku-moana

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

NZ’s most common heron and a recent arrival, having self-introduced in the 1940’s. It also occurs

in Australia and New Guinea. It adapts well to human environments and can be quite

approachable. It roosts and nests in tall pine and macrocarpa trees, often in loose colonies.

Nesting commences as early as June and laying peaks in October. It is often seen around the

Marahau intertidal area. It feeds on fish, frogs, invertebrates, mice and lizards. It is highly

successful and one of New Zealand’s commonest large birds.

Red-billed gull (Larus novaehollandiae) Tarapunga

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

A coastal gull, with very few found inland. Young are often mistaken for the rarer black-billed gull.

Has adapted well to human activities and is often seen in urban environments, fish-plants and

rubbish dumps. Can be seen anywhere on the park’s coast. They are vulnerable to mammalian

predators, with major colonies at Kaikoura experiencing 51% population decline between 1983

and 2005, compared to a 6-10% increase at predator-controlled Otago peninsula between 1992

and 2012. Conservation status; nationally vulnerable.

Black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) Tarapuka

(Photo: Edin Whitehead / NZ Birds online)

NZ’s only endemic gull, it is also the world’s most threatened gull. Occasionally seen in the park,

its breeding stronghold is in Southland. Rarely seen in urban environments, it is less adaptable

than other gull species and does not appear to scavenge for food, preferring pasture invertebrates

and whitebait during the breeding season, and krill and baitfish when at the coast. It breeds on

braided Southland river beds, and there is a small population in the North Island. Numbers

nationally were estimated at around 90,000 in 2008, which was around a 75% decline in 30 years.

This is attributed to introduced predators, black-backed gulls; weed encroachment on nesting

sites, pesticides and herbicides, drought, shooting, vehicle impact and decreased food supply

due to climate change. Conservation status; nationally endangered.

Southern black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus) Karoro

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

A native, it is the only large gull found in NZ and one of the most abundant and recognisable birds

in the country. The juveniles are mottled brown and often mistaken for a different species. Found

throughout NZ in most habitats apart from forest and scrub, it is a highly successful generalist,

scavenging on anything it can find. The largest breeding colonies are on islands, on headlands,

sand / shingle spits and island riverbeds. A predator and a scavenger it feeds on marine

invertebrates and fish, mammals, amphibians, birds, eggs, chicks, as well as docked lambs tails,

earthworms, rubbish, dead farm stock and anything else it can find. It is one of only two native

NZ birds not protected under the wildlife act, and can be a threat to the lifecycles of endangered

birds such as NZ dotterel, shore plover and fairy tern. It is also considered a farm and aviation

pest and can be shot, poisoned and egg pierced. Conservation status; not threatened

Little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) Korora

(Photo: Bernard van Deirendonck)

The world’s smallest penguin species and the only penguins found in the park. Like all penguins,

they nest on land, in burrows often on rocky headlands and even under houses. They spend their

days at sea foraging for small fish, squid and larvae; individually or in small groups and congregate

in rafts close to shore at dusk. After calling to each other, they come ashore. They spend a

significant amount of their year on land as they incubate chicks and undergo moult. In January,

they can appear brown and dishevelled, which indicates they are ready to moult. They are

polyphasic sleepers; snatching short four minute bursts of sleep throughout the day, which can

potentially make them vulnerable to boat strike. The main rookeries are thought to be on the

outside of Adele and Fisherman Islands, but little is known of the park’s population. They are

vulnerable to predation by mammals; both wild and domestic (four were recently found killed by

a dog in Kaiteriteri) and vehicle strike. Habitat degradation is another threat. They respond well

to predator control. Conservation status; declining.

Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) Taranui

(Photo: Christian Mairoll)

A NZ native, this distinctive gull-like tern is the largest of all terns with a 1m wingspan. It prefers

shallow coastal waters, and outside of the breeding season; inland lakes and rivers throughout

NZ. It is regularly seen solely or in pairs along the park’s coast. Although distributed widely over

the country; they are relatively uncommon, with only 1300-1400 breeding pairs, and the fossil

record shows they are a relatively new arrival. They feed by plunge diving on small baitfish such

as smelt, yellow eyed mullet and anchovies, mostly solitary but often with gulls and white fronted

terns. They breed on open shell banks in colonies or in solitude from late September to

December. They are vulnerable to human traffic, black-backed gulls and introduced mammals.

Conservation status; nationally vulnerable.

White-fronted tern (Sterna striata) Tara

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

NZ’s commonest tern, it is rarely found away from the coast and can often be seen along the

park’s coastline in the tens and hundreds. Also known as the kahawai bird, due to its preference

for small baitfish driven to the surface by predatory kahawai fish, revealing their presence to

hungry fishermen. Immature terns often winter in South East Australia and matures tend to stay

in New Zealand year round. The population has declined significantly in the last 40 years, largely

attributed to river bed nesting sites that have been decimated by flooding, introduced predators,

red-billed gulls and human traffic.

Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) Titi

A large, dark shearwater also known as ‘mutton-bird’, they are not common along this coast but

are seen sporadically, but south of Banks Peninsula are found in the tens of thousands. Juveniles

are harvested from their nests by Maori in Rakiura (Stewart Island). It is one of the most widely

distributed sea birds in the world, breeding on islands off Australia, Chile and the Falklands.

Breeding season is September to May, at this time birds will forage all the way down to the Polar

Front (65˚S) and after that will migrate to the North Pacific to areas around Alaska, Japan and

California. They breed in in large colonies, congregating at sea at dusk and coming ashore to

their burrows. They feed on small fish and crustaceans, diving underwater in huge flocks. They

are susceptible to mammals, trawl and demersal long line fisheries by catch, and in the North

Pacific; gillnets and pollution. Conservation status; declining.

Fluttering shearwater (Puffinus gavia) Pakaha

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

One of the commonest seabirds found along the coastline in late summer and winter. They can

be seen either ravenously feeding around kahawai schools on baitfish and crustaceans, or resting

in rafts of hundreds or thousands. It is thought that pre-breeding birds migrate across the Tasman,

spending February to August on the South East coast of Australia. Colonies are only on predator

free islands, and birds are naturally re-colonising areas where predator control has occurred. The

nearest colonies are on Trio and Long Islands in the Marlborough Sounds. Project Janszoon is

using a tried and tested loud speaker system to try and attract them to nest on Awaroa Head.

Population estimates from the 1980’s were between 100,000 and 1 million; however it is likely to

be on the lower end of that scale. Threats are re-invasion of predators to mammal free islands,

human trampling, over harvesting of food source by purse-seine fishing, and oil spills (Rena killed

about 240). Conservation status; relict.

Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) Täkapu

With a 1.8m wingspan and smart yellow, black and white plumage, the gannet cannot be

mistaken. This large and conspicuous seabird is seen along the coast throughout the year, either

solitarily or in small flocks often plunge diving from great heights over bait fish schools. They

breed on flat, mainland colonies next to the sea, there is one such colony at Farewell Spit.

Fledglings migrate directly to Australia until they are between three and seven years old. They

return to NZ to breed. Breeding season starts in July and fledglings leave around March – April.

Some breeders also overwinter in Australia. They can be monogamous, but divorces do occur.

Check out our Common Dolphin video further down this page to see them in action. Conservation

group Project Janszoon is actively trying to encourage them to nest on Separation Point using

decoys and loud speakers. Conservation status; not threatened.

Video - https://youtu.be/mJLEYbOlAaQ

Shy / White Capped Mollymawk

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

The shy mollymawk is a medium sized albatross, they are generally found a bit further offshore,

and they follow the fishing boats in every now and again. It’s always a treat to see them. These

are true ocean wanderers with their main breeding groud at the Auckland Islands, where it is

estimated there are 75 – 117,000 breeding pairs. A closer encounter with these is an awe

inspiring experience as they are huge birds, up to 5kgs. Their main threats are the wild pigs at

their breeding grounds, rats and surface longlining. New Zealand fishers employ a range of

mitigation techniques to protect albatross, however around 5,000 seabirds are still estimated to

be killed annually in our waters by fishing. Conservation status; Near Threatened.

Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)

(Photo: Neil Fitzgerald)

This migrant bird is seen in the spring and autumn as it travels between the poles. It is

described as a parasitic jaeger, as it does not fish for itself. You will often see it athletically

chasing around the Tara (white fronted terns), forcing them to drop their anchovy, which is

then stolen by the skua. It almost looks like a marine falcon in flight and is always exciting to

see them.

Shags / Cormorants

Black shag (Phalacrocorax carbo) Kawau pü

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

A very large shag, often seen solitary or in small groups; perching in trees, rocky headlands or on

structures. A cosmopolitan species, they are found in both hemispheres and can be seen at

Otuwhero inlet and around other estuaries such as Sand fly Bay. It is often described as an inland

species, preferring freshwater and estuarine habitats; it also appears to have a preference for

introduced salmonids. They have historically been persecuted by fishermen and blamed for high

trout predation, some are still shot today. Their biggest threat is from recreational fishing, as they

do target fish that have broken off with fishing gear still attached, these can snag up or puncture

the gut cavity after it has swallowed the fish. Conservation status; naturally uncommon.

Unprotected if landowner deems them to be a menace under the Wildlife Act.

Pied shag (Phalacrocorax varius) Käruhiruhi

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Large and conspicuous shag, it roosts in trees but can be found along the beaches and rocky

foreshores of the park. Tree roosting is relatively unusual for web-footed birds, only shared by

pelicans, frigate birds and boobies. Fledglings; fallen from the nest but unable to return can often

be seen at Towers Bay (Split Apple Rock beach). Often mistaken by the unwary for penguins!

Nesting occurs all year with peaks in Feb-Apr and Aug-Oct. Predominately marine, but

sometimes straying to fresh water, they feed on a variety of fish species and possibly crustaceans.

Threats are fishing activities and potentially food source loss from overfishing, oil spills and

roosting trees felled due to nuisance factor. Conservation status; nationally vulnerable.

Little (pied) shag (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) Kawau paka

(Photo: Christian Mairrol)

The most widespread of the shag species in NZ. Distinguishable from the pied shag by its smaller

size, long tail and stubby bill. Often seen around the Marahau foreshore and in the park’s inlets,

it is found in marine and freshwater environments. They nest in trees over-hanging the sea, often

mixed in with pied shags. Nesting begins in July, with peak activity between October and

December. It feeds solitarily or in small groups, shallow diving for eels, small fish, crustaceans,

frogs, tadpoles and insects. Conservation status; naturally uncommon.

Little black shag (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)

(Photo: Heather Whear / NZ Birds Online)

Similar size to the little shag, but lacks the pied plumage and has a shorter tail, it has no yellow

facial skin as in the black shag. It is a relative newcomer to NZ, with strongholds in the North

Island; they are slowly spreading through the South Island. Occasionally seen around Split Apple

Rock. Prefers inland sites. Population and threats have not been studied, casual estimates at

several thousand pairs and increasing. Set nets are the biggest threat. They are gregarious

feeders, often working together to feed on small freshwater and marine fish. Conservation status;

naturally uncommon.

Spotted shag (Stictocarbo punctatus) Parakareka

(Photo: Christian Mairrol)

Entirely marine shag, this slender species is endemic to NZ and is one of only two yellow footed

shags found here. In the summer they are a drab unassuming looking bird that is found

everywhere on the rocky shores of the coast; Split Apple Rock is a good start. Their breeding

plumage is totally funky; a double crested Mohican, pronounced wing spots, a white ‘go faster’

stripe, mint-green face skin and a powder blue iris. They appear to be this way over the winter

months, however all the literature suggests they breed in the summer. They have a stronghold

in the Marlborough sounds which is the likely colony for our spotted shags, as they do not tend to

travel further than 200km from base. They form large foraging flocks in the winter time. Threats

are from illegal shooting by fishermen and entanglement. Conservation status; not threatened,

although a recent NZ Geographic article documents their alarming disappearance from the

Hauraki Gulf.

King Shag (Leucocarbo carunculatus)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

The king shag is one of the rarest seabirds on the planet. They can be distinguished from the

pied shag by their pink feet, blacky brown face and white bars at the base of the wings. They

are also larger. King shag were first officially documented in the Abel Tasman by us on January

1st 2015, and since there have been up to 20 sightings. This is the extreme western limit of

their range, their stronghold is the Marlborough Sounds, where they breed on just four rocky

islands. To see one of these here is very lucky indeed!

Marine Species

Marine Mammals

New Zealand is a hot spot for marine mammals, many of them are endemic and rare. From the

19th century, many seals and whales here were hunted to the brink of extinction. Seals have

been protected since the 1890’s and their numbers are increasing every year. All marine

mammals are protected by law, and only certified operators are able to take clients to view our

native Taonga (treasures). Abel Tasman EcoTours were the first operator in the park to gain

Department of Conservation SMART operator status, we conform to and promote the Marine

Mammal watching regulations in order to provide a quality experience and ensure that our

interactions are sustainable.

Pinnipeds (Flipper footed animals)

New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) Kekeno

Kekeno are ‘Eared Seals’ - fin-footed carnivorous marine mammals distinguished by visible

external ears and hind flippers which rotate forward. Adult females grow to a maximum length of

1.5 m, and weight 30-50 kg. Adult males; maximum length 2.5 m, weight 90-150 kg. They are

found on rocky shores around the park, and rarely on the beaches. They are endemic to New

Zealand, however there is apopulation is Australia.

There were an estimated two Million in the Pre-Polynesian era and subsequently were hunted by

Maori for food and clothing. They were hunted to the brink of extinction by the 1800’s by European

sealers. They were protected in 1894 and numbers have increased gradually. The current

minimum estimate is 200,000+ in 2001. There has been around a 25% increase in most areas

since then, including Nelson / Marlborough. Although the population has appeared to decrease

on the West Coast, possibly due to hoki trawling mortality

From scat analysis (poo sifting!), Abel Tasman seals were found to predate mostly on pilchard,

anchovy and arrow squid. Contrary to some beliefs; no barracuda, lanternfish or hoki were found.

Other seals forage up to 100km off continental shelf in 1000m depth and can dive up to 240m

deep, but not our guys. This is linked to breeding behaviour as lactating females need to return

to pup.

Females mature at 4-6 years and have one pup a year until death at 14 – 17 years. After giving

birth on land, well above MHWS, the return to the rocks and are re-impregnated 6 – 8 days later.

To synchronise breeding every year; implantation into uterine wall is delayed for 3 months + 9

months gestation = 12 month pregnancy. Pups suckle 300 days. Some go on for 2nd year. Males

mature at 5 – 6 yrs, although they may not be dominant for another 3 years. They are

polygamous; holding harems of up to 14 females.

2011 PhD research by Jenipher Cate at Tonga Island, Banks Peninsula, and Kaikoura found

seals are presenting a level of behavioural tolerance to approaching vessels. This is lending itself

into being behavioural habituation.

Cetaceans (Whales and dolphins)

Any day with dolphins will be one of the best of your life, we find that even though we see them

very regularly. Six species of dolphin can be seen in the park’s waters, we spot the occasional

whale, however we keep a 300m distance from them so have just included the dolphins in this

piece.

Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

(Photo: Guido)

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAoXo5-knZU&t=32s

A large light grey dolphin growing up to 4m in length with a pronounced beak and large hooked

dorsal fin. NZ is essentially their southern limit as they occur globally in tropical to temperate

water to 45˚. Inshore and pelagic ecotypes exist and the ones seen in the park are thought to

be from the Marlborough – Westport group, other coastal groups are around the Bay of Islands

area and a small group exists in Doubtful Sound. Inshore; they feed predominately on bottom

dwelling fish and crustaceans, whereas offshore they target pelagic baitfish and squid. Females

reach maturity at 5 – 13 years, and males 9 – 14 years. Females breed every 3 – 5 years and

calve suckle for 2 – 3 years. Females can live for over 50 years and males 40 – 45 years. Their

main predators are sharks and orca. Human impacts are boat traffic and behavioural impacts

from tourism.

Dusky Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)

(Photo: Olly Green)

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN2gt2hKM2E

A small dolphin growing to around 2m, bluish black and white with a blunt dorsal fin. They are

only found in the southern hemisphere, off South America, South West Africa and NZ. NZ

populations only tend to be south of East Cape, with strongholds in Kaikoura and Admiralty Bay

in the Marlborough Sounds. Often seen in the park during autumn and winter in pods of up to 20,

they are typically a coastal species. Because they are coastal, there does not appear to be any

global mixing of genes, there are an estimated 12,000 to 20,000 in NZ. Pods of over 1,000 are

witnessed at Kaikoura. They are known to feed co-operatively with other duskies and also with

other mammals such as fur seals. They feed mostly on anchovies, hake and several squid

species. The reach maturity at 7-8 years, calves wean in 2-3 years and they can live for more

than 30 years. Predated on by sharks and orca. Major threats are set nets and the increase of

aquaculture, especially in Admiralty Bay which is reducing their foraging space causing habitat

fragmentation.

Common Dolphin / Aihe (Delphinus delphis)

(Photo: Olly Green)

Video - https://youtu.be/lepHVTpNQ3s

NZ common dolphins are a medium sized yellowish beige and grey dolphin. NZ commons are

the short beaked variety; long beaked commons prefer tropical water. Common Dolphins are the

most numerous dolphins in the warm – temperate waters of the Atlantic and Pacific. They can be

observed in pods of thousands feeding offshore. They can be seen in the Abel Tasman during

the warmer months and tend to head offshore in winter, however they are more common around

Northland and the Hauraki Gulf. The precise NZ population is unknown. They forage in groups;

targeting small mid and surface schooling fish and squid, they can dive to 280m. They calve

every 1 – 3 years; gestation is 10 months, males mature at 7 – 12 years and female at 6 – 7

years. They live to a maximum of around 22 years. Predated on by orcas and possibly sharks.

Major threats include the purse-seine fishery and in NZ the trawl fishery. Behavioural impacts

from tourism and the threat of boat strike.

Hector’s Dolphin / tutumairekurai, aihe, papakanua, upokohue, tukuperu, tūpoupou, pahu,

pōpoto and hopuhopu. (Cephalorhynchus hectori)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Video: https://youtu.be/GIYSx6l0f_E

Hector’s dolphins are endemic to Aotearoa, these tiny dolphins get no bigger than 1.5m long. They are distinguished by their round dorsal fin. They are reasonably short lived at 20 years maximum, and they inhabit very shallow and often turbid waters. It can be very hard to spot a Hector’s as they make very small splashes, and can often be mistaken for a seal. Since I started work in the Abel Tasman in 2002, I had probably seen less than 10 Hector’s. This has changed in the last couple of years, we are seeing pods of Hector’s much more regularly at all times of year, with my largest sighting of 25 at once. When the government banned set netting around parts of the country to protect the Hector’s and Maui Dolphin populations, Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South) was ignored as there was not enough data to suggest that they are present here. Hector’s are little homebody dolphins, with a linear range of around 50km of coast. This means that local populations can be genetically distinct, with the gene pool being enriched by the occasional errant roamer from another rohe (area). The world is watching New Zealand to see how we prevent these dolphins from going extinct, at the time of writing, a draft Threat Management plan has been released, presenting the options.

Orca / maki (Orcinus orca)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

This is the largest of all dolphins, unmistakeable in black and white. They have large paddle

shaped flippers, with the male dorsal fin much larger than the smaller females. They are the most

widely distributed of all mammals in the world; however distribution can be patchy, preferring cold

/ polar waters. They are generally found in deeper areas, but can make forays into shallow waters

and inlets. They form tight family groups, and the NZ population of which there are thought to be

less than 200 individuals are separated into a North Island, South Island and a transient group

ranging between islands. It is uncertain what population our visitors come from. At the top of the

marine food web, they are generalist predators, feeding on a great many species from whales,

other dolphins, seals, sharks, rays, large fish and more. They appear to be feeding on rays when

in the shallow Abel Tasman waters. Females mature at 10 – 16 years and give birth every five

years over their 25 year reproductive life. They can live to 80 or 90 years. Males mature at around

21 years and only live 50 or 60 years. Threats are boat traffic and pollution accumulation up the

food chain e.g. mercury.

Long fin Pilot Whale / upokohue (Globicephala melas)

(Photo: NZ Geographic)

Rarely seen close to our coast, perhaps once or twice a year, these whales famously mass strand

with great regularity at the gently sloping beaches of Farewell Spit in Golden bay. They are

actually a large dolphin however under the Marine Mammal watching regulations in NZ, they are

regarded as whales and whale avoidance strategies should be applied.

Fish and Invertebrates

It would be impossible to write a definitive guide to the entire ecosystem, so here we will focus

on just a few key species. Although the park is adjacent to the coast, it’s roocky shoreline has

only recently been protected by the Abel Tasman Foreshore Management Plan. The Tonga

Island Marine Reserve was gazetted in 1993 and protects 1,835 Ha of sea adjacent to the park.

That’s around 11km of coastline and 1.8km out to sea. Less than 1% of Tasman Bay (Te Tai o

Aorere) is protected by a no-take reserve. There is a no trawl zone off Separation Point, to

protect the Bryozoan Corals found there, which were much more abundant, but trawling and

sedimentation have wiped them out.

Blue Cod (Parapercis colias)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Video - https://youtu.be/-AapCx5ogH0

Are a keystone species along the park’s coast. The annual monitoring of the reserve found

there are 40 times more legal sized blue cod inside the reserve than outside. This suggests that

recreational fishing has a big impact on their population. Blue cod become more abundant

further South in New Zealand, and the marine reserves has shown us that they can be

abundant here to if left protected.

Crayfish (Jasus edwardsii) – Koura

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Video - https://youtu.be/LEVXOqBo8ag

Red rock lobster or crayfish are a delicacy, highly priced especially on the Asian market. They

are found in relatively low numbers along the coast, due to their delicious flavour. They are

seven times more abundant inside the reserve than they were in 1992. They predate on kina,

which in turn predate on seaweed, and it is the loss of these species that has caused a

population increase in kina and the loss of out seaweed beds. Seaweed is slowly recovering

inside the reserve. Crayfish spend around 1.5 years as a larvae before settling on the rocks,

and are very long lived, they are thought to march around the entire length of Aotearoa. Some

of the larger individuals are the size of small dogs, up to 12 lbs and could be almost 100 years

old.

Eagle Ray (Myliobatis tenuicaudatus) – Whai repo

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Video - https://youtu.be/WUAfcLECZqs

The most common species of ray that we see, often mistaken for a stingray. If it has pointy

wings and flies like an eagle then it is an eagle ray. They are usually up to 1m wide. Related to

sharks, these cartilaginous bottom dwelling fish crush up invertebrates such as crabs, sand

dollars, heart urchins and tuatua. They are not aggressive, but do possess a poisonous spine

that will do a lot of damage if accidentally stepped on. We think parts of the park’s coast are

autumn time breeding areas, as huge aggregations can be seen in the shallows at that time.

Short Tail Stingray (Dasyatis thetidis) – Whai keo

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkzYtqErFg

Less common in the park, and most likely seen near rocky reefs, these huge fish can be up to

2m wide. It’s diet is similar to the eagle ray, but also includes bony fishes. They undulate their

bodies asynchroncronistically to get along. Their sting is much longer than an eagle rays and is

positioned further down the tail and has more deadly reach. Very little is known about their life

cycle, but we do know they are a favourite food of orca, and several times a year, the orca

come in to collect their tax, driving the stingrays up into the shallows for protection.

Blue Moki (Latridopsis ciliaris)

Video - https://youtu.be/49bPJg016qk

Blue moki are a type of trumpeter, highly prized by spearfishermen outside the reserve, they

have responded really well to protection. You can see ‘herds’ of large moki patrolling the cracks

in the reef. Sometimes we even see them from the boat at shag harbour. They are

omnivorous, feeding on seaweed, but also invertebrates such as kina.

Kahawai (Arripis trutta)

Video - https://youtu.be/TpkyOQnrcIc

This iconic species can be found on the coast all year, they are often seen as ‘boil ups’

chasing the small whitebait and anchovies up to the surface, these are mirrored by birds,

especially the Tara / whitefronted tern which is also known as the ‘kahawai bird’. They are an

impressive fish, growing up to 50cm, and if you catch one you know about it, they are very

hard fighting. These are about the most sustainable fish to eat due to their rapid growth and

reproduction. They are highly mobile, and no bait is required, just a small lure, so catching

them does not directly impact the local area as much as taking a reef fish, such as a blue cod

does.

Yellow Eyed Mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri) - Aua

Video – https://youtu.be/AY17eJNuWws

This abundant bait fish can be seen in great numbers throughout the park’s beaches and

estuaries in the summer. They are fast breeding, and spawn on the eel grass meadows, they

are actually pollinators of eel grass, as they eat their flowers. They can cope with fresh and

brackish water and so are sometimes found well up from river mouths at high tide. Often seen

being preyed on by shags, this species is usually the first fish a kiwi kid learns to catch.

Sand Flounder (Rhombosolea plebeian) – Patiki

(Photo: Lorna Doogan – EMR)

Patiki are right eye flounders, commonly found around Aotearoa’s coasts. Like mullet they can

cope with fresh water, they spawn on eel grass beds and the young are often found in the

sandy tidal pools of the park’s estuaries. They can change colour to blend in with their

background. Local Maori regard them as an indicator of environmental health, and their

symbols can be found on the tukutuku panels at Te Awhina marae.

Sea Urchin (Evechinus chloroticus) – Kina

Kina are a grazing echinoderm, related to sea stars and sand dollars. They are native to the

area, but over abundant due to a widescale removal of their predators from the 1950’s

onwards. Fishing has depleted crayfish, snapper, moki and blue cod, causing a population

explosion of kina, who have in turn grazed the seaweed beds down to nothing. This situation is

not unique in Aotearoa, and many of the world’s algae beds have disappeared. Kina are a

favourite food of Maori, except the ones here are so thin and emaciated that they are not even

eaten by humans, this is actually making things worse. We have been working on a plan to

protect the shallow rocky reefs and manually remove the kina to give the sea weed a head start

at growing back. We’ll keep you posted.

Cat’s Eye snail (Lunella smaragda) – Ataata

A common grazer on the rocky reef, these gastropods feed on filamentous algae and young

seaweeds. They are also prized as kai (food) by maori. Their beautiful operculum (trapdoor) is

often used for jewellery.

Freshwater Ecosystems

New Zealand only has around 36 freshwater fish species, however the population is unique, with

most of them being endemic (only found here) and around half are diadromous (spending parts

of their life in sea and freshwater). The park has the some of the only pristine native fish species

left in New Zealand. The major pressures on habitat sensitive fresh water fish are; modification

of the channel edges by stop-banks etc, decreased water quality from nutrient and sediment

runoff, hindered migratory passages by culverts etc and fishing, and predation from introduced

trout.

The park has many small and medium river and stream systems; which are lucky enough to be

virtually unmodified from source to sea, and water quality is excellent. Also of note is that there

are no introduced trout populations in the park, these fish tend to dominate native fish populations

in larger freshwater systems. There is also very little pressure from recreational ‘whitebait’

fisheries. Juvenile galaxiids migrating from the sea to the river are caught by fishers as whitebait.

Inanga (Galaxias maculatus) is the most common, comprising around 90% of the whitebait catch;

however the park also has populations banded kokopu, giant kokopu, koaro and the extremely

rare short jawed kokopu. Consider the park a museum for New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG71lAV51cA

Some of the fresh water species found in the park

Eels (Tuna)

Long fin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii)

The largest and most widespread of Aotearoa’s fresh water fish species. National status

‘significantly declined’. Mostly due to hydro-electric power plants causing a barrier to migration,

commercial harvest, habitat loss and disturbance. They are great climbers and can cross damp

land areas to continue their journey upstream.

Short fin Eel (Anguilla australis):

Less concern about their numbers, but still in decline due to wetland habitat loss. Generally found

in lowland soft bottom habitats, streams, wetlands and lakes. They appear more robust to

degraded water quality, i.e. pastoral catchments.

Both eel species migrate to sea in late autumn to early winter. The males follow the females;

short fin females breed at 23 years old and long fins; 34 years old, the males of both species

breed much younger. They migrate to an unknown location near the Tonga trench where

spawning occurs. Larvae drift in the plankton and develop into leptocephalae (leaf-shaped); they

grow into glass eels and come back up the rivers of New Zealand.

Galaxiids

Are the whitebait species, this is the largest group of FW fish in NZ with around 25 species. Some

of the species found in the park are:

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG71lAV51cA

Inanga (Galaxias maculatus):

NZ’s most common freshwater fish, they make up around 90% of the whitebait catch. They

appear to be more robust to water quality and habitat degradation, surviving well in silty pastoral

streams. They do however need riparian rush habitat to lay their eggs, this has been lost in much

of the region, but good amounts remain in Marahau and the national park wetlands.

Koaro (Galaxias brevipennis):

Like the long fin eel is an amazing climber and are often abundant in upland streams above even

the highest waterfalls. They use the claw-like appendages on their anal and pectoral fins for grip

as they climb. They prefer fast flowing riffles in the steeper bush covered streams. Their markings

often mimic the surroundings, and they are even able to develop gold flecks to mimic the iron

pyrite (fool’s gold) of the separation point granite.

Banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus):

Prefer stony lowland streams with heavy bush cover to keep the water cool. Also good climbers

and can be found upstream from waterfalls.

Short jaw Kokopu (Galaxias postvectis):

The park is the Tasman Bay stronghold for this nationally threatened species, they are also found

on the West Coast south of Westhaven and Golden Bay. One of NZ’s rarest galaxiids, they

require a rocky stream habitat with native bush cover.

Giant Kokopu (Galaxias argenteus)

The largest of the NZ galaxiids, it is a rare species in the region, with most of the wetlands having

been drained. Prefers low lying bush clad habitat, very secretive; it is also known as ‘native trout’.

Other fish

Torrent Fish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri Haast):

Is the closest living relative is the blue cod. Endemic to NZ, they are only found in swift flowing

rapids of stony rivers and streams, hence their streamlined shape. They are poor climbers, so

are only found on low gradient streams, making their habitat quite specialised. They are

diadromous, but little is known of their breeding, females tend to live upstream and males

downstream.

(Photos: S.C. Moore and Fishbase)

Land Animals

Iconic native / endemic species

Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)

(Photo: Phil Bendle)

Endemic NZ species, the Tui is part of the honeyeater family. Noisy acrobatic flyers, their distinct

call varies from region to region. Primarily a forest species, they feed mainly on insects, nectar

and fruit. Their numbers have decreased dramatically since European colonisation due to habitat

loss. Can be seen especially in areas of flax. They act as the main pollinators of flax, kaka beak

and kowhai.

Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)(KORIMAKO / MAKOMAKO)

(Photo: Dave Buckton)

Also endemic honeyeaters, a cousin of the Tui, bellbirds are a forest species. Their liquid ‘bell’

sounding song is very distinct and again varies with district. They are nectar and insect eaters.

They are common on predator-free Adele Island. Were common throughout NZ but now in decline

from habitat loss and introduced pests such as cats, rats and possums which predate on them

and their chicks. Wasps compete with them for honeydew, their primary food source.

Kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

(Photo: Dave Buckton)

The New Zealand Wood Pigeon is endemic to New Zealand, but it has cousins in South East

Asia, Malaya and Africa. It is a large tree-dwelling bird that ranges from coastal to montane

habitats. They make a soft ‘cooing’ noise and a distinctive ‘whoosh’ when flying. They were once

abundant, forming large flocks; however habitat loss and illegal hunting have led to their decline,

especially in the North Island. They are reasonably common in the park and can be seen in

Marahau and on Adele and Tonga Islands. Introduced pests compete for their main food sources,

large tree fruits, especially podocarps such as Miro and Kahikatea. The decline in Kereru also

threatens the reproductive viability of these large fruiting trees, as no other forest bird is large

enough to consume and distribute their fruits.

Kaka (Nestor meridionalis)

(Photo: Dave Buckton)

A medium sized parrot closely related to the Kea. It lives in lowland and mid-altitude forest. They

are mostly seen in the mid and top of the forest canopy, flying in large flocks in their strongholds

of Kapiti Island, Codfish Island and Little Barrier Island. There are few in the park and are most

likely viewed on the inland track, but their population is being monitored as they are a key indicator

species for restoration efforts in the park. They are generalists feeding on fruits, berries, seeds,

flowers, buds, nectar, sap and invertebrates (they also love cheese! don’t tell anyone). For the

first time in thirty years, kaka have successfully bred in the park. There is a good chance of

seeing these on our Promised Land Tour, and as of July 2019, they have been released at Bark

Bay, here’s hoping they thrive on the coast to.

Yellow Crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps) Kakariki

(Photo: Dave Buckton)

Kākāriki or yellow-crowned parakeets are a delight to see, these small, vivid green,parrots spend most of their time high in the canopy. You are most likely to see them on our Promised Land tour through the Wainui valley, chattering up in the trees.

Like kākā, they are hole nesters, making them extremely vulnerable to predators, once common in the park they have been decimated.

Thanks to conservation group Project Janszoon, their stronghold in the inland are of the park has been made safer from predators such as rats, stoats and possums. Captive raised birds have been released, with more planned.

South Island Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) Tieke

(Photo: Dave Buckton)

One of Aotearoa’s rarest and most recognizable birds, Tieke have a bold brown saddle and distinctive orange-red wattle. Their distinctive call sounds like a squeaky wheel to us.

In 2014, The Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust transferred 40 Tieke to Motu Aorere nui / Adele Island, and we often hear them in the bush on our Golden Future Boat tour.

They belong to an ancient group of wattlebirds or Callaeidae which include the endangered kōkako and extinct huia. As ground nesters, they are particularly vulnerable to rats, and so were virtually wiped out on the mainland, they only now thrive today on predator free islands. Conservation status: recovering

Mohua / Yellowhead (Mohoua ocrocephala)

(Photo: Glenda Rees / NZbirds Online)

Endemic to NZ. Once one of the most common birds, they are now only found in native forests

in the South Island, these birds were once common in the park, but are now gone. With a lovely

song and bright yellow plumage, these birds are conspicuous by their absence here. Mohua

haven’t been seen in the park for decades, however a study from the early 900’s describes

hundreds of ‘bush canaries’ in the inland part of the park. Project Janszoon has plans for

reintroduction of this species once the predators are under control. Conservation status:

Recovering

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) Miromiro

(Photo Dave Buckton)

A relative of the South Island Robin, these stealthy songbirds are generally found in pristine native

bush and scrub land. You will see a flash out of the corner of your eye and there it is, perched

on a tree trunk. It almost feels as if they are stalking you through the bush. Such a delight to see,

we almost always encounter them on our Promised Land Tour, and sometimes on the Golden

Future tour. Conservation status: Not Threatened.

Grey Duck (Anas superciliosa) Parera

(Photo: Dave Buckton)

This beautiful native duck is sometimes seen along the coasts and estuaries of the park. The

distinctive black eyes stripe, blue wing bar and khaki legs are indicators it is pure bed. Once

widespread across Aotearoa, this species is now considered very rare as it has happily

hybridised with the introduced mallard duck. Hybrids have yellowy tinged beaks, orange legs

and a less defined eye stripe amongst other features. Duck hunters call them Gallards, and on

the wing are hard to distinguish from other ducks. Luckily the Abel Tasman birds are safe from

buckshot,

Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis) Pateke

(Photo: Ruth Bollongino)

Once widespread throughout Aotearoa, in the last 200 years this member of a family three

endemic Teal species has become very rare. Introduced predators such as cats have virtually

wiped them out. Where predator control is occurring, they can be locally common. Project

Janszoon has created a safe place for them at Awaroa, and over 100 have been released into

their new home. Abel Tasman is now considered a nationally important site for this special bird.

Conservation status: Recovering.

Blue Duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) Who

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Whio is the Maori word for whistle. This ancient order of ducks are unique in that they inhabit

fast flowing rivers. They use their special beak to shovel invertebrates from the river gravels.

Pairs can be territorial, and we have witnessed them aggressively moving on other species of

duck in the Fall’s river. Project Janszoon has recently released a few pairs in the upper Wainui

river (where our Promised Land Tour goes) and the lower Fall’s river, to boost the very rare

natural population. Kia kaha Whio!

South Island Robin (Petroica australis) Toutouwai

(Photo: Bernard van Dierendonck)

Endemic to NZ, robins are not classed as nationally threatened but are seen rarely on the

mainland park. They have been introduced by ATBST to Adele Island from the Canaan Downs

population and it is estimated that for every one introduced bird there are now around nine that

were hatched on the island. This is a good indicator of the beneficial effects of predator control.

They occur in forest and scrub habitats, the males are great songsters and if you remain quiet,

robins will approach within a metre. In April 2016 ATBST transferred 50 from Adele to Pitt Head.

Western weka (Gallirallus australis australis)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

The cheeky weka is a character that keeps campers on their toes. Turn your eye for a second

and they will be in your bag looking for food. Six years ago, weka were considered very rare in

the park. Since then, a small population were released at Totaranui, this has coincided with a

natural population explosion and now they are everywhere. They are a natural predator of lizards,

quail and other small ground dwelling animals, and they have also been witnessed taking banded

rail and fernbird. As a protected species, they left to do their thing. It’s always entertaining to

watch their antics at lunch time.

Green Forest Gecko (Naultinus stellatus)

(Photo: Dr Paddy Ryan / NHC)

Or Nelson Green Gecko, one of the rarest in the country. NZ geckos are endemic and very

primitive; they are among the only live bearing geckos in the world (one in New Caledonia). They

are present on the offshore islands in the park but seldom seen. They are active by day, feeding

on moths and insects in Manuka and kanuka scrub. Without complete predator control they

struggle to survive.

Carnivorous giant land snail (Powelliphanta sp.)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Mostly in the higher areas of the park, Golden Bay and the top of the south is a stronghold for this

family of carnivorous snails.

Introduced Pest Animals

As a result of millennia evolving with few natural predators, New Zealand native and endemic

biodiversity is extremely vulnerable to the new swathe of introduced species. According to

ecologist John Innes; introduced predators kill around 86 million native birds every year; which is

thought to be a conservative estimate, and at least 2788 native species are threatened with

extinction. With statistics like this, it is no surprise that New Zealand conservation focusses on

the eradication and exclusion of introduced species from contained areas such as islands and

headlands; before re-introductions of indigenous species can occur. Re-introductions cost

money, and at present conservation groups are cautious about doing this without first eradicating

pests. The key species found in the Abel Tasman are as follows:

Rats (Rattus sp.)

Norway Rats

Norway rats came on the ships of European explorers like Captain Cook, in the late 1700’s. They

are the biggest rats in New Zealand. Also known as water rats, they like to live in wet places like

swamps or damp forests. They aren’t very good climbers so they often eat animals that live on

the ground, like our flightless birds and insects the giant weta.

Ship Rats

Ship rats came with the sailing ships that brought European settlers to New Zealand in the 1800’s.

They usually live and make their nests in trees. Now ship rats live in forests and cities all over

New Zealand.

Rattus sp. caught in a GoodNature ™ trap at Pitt Head, March 2013 (Photo: Stew Robertson)

Stoats

(Photo: DOC website)

Stoats (Mustela ermine) were brought to NZ from Europe in the 1880’s as a form of bio-control,

to keep numbers of introduced rabbits and hares in check. All did not go as planned and the

stoats invaded NZ native forests, predating on the vulnerable native birds, reptiles, amphibians

and insects that had not evolved with adaptations to evade such a predator. They also predate

mice, rats, rabbits and hares; therefore when food is abundant, their numbers can explode. They

are now considered ‘public enemy number one’ to NZ biodiversity. All female stoats are thought

to be pregnant when they leave the nest, as they have a sordid lifecycle of infant impregnation,

the birth is generally held off until the spring. They have been known to swim up to 1.1km across

water to offshore islands, this occurred in 2012 at Adele Island, prompting an immediate response

from DoC. Stoat trapping is a primary focus of both Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust and Project

Janszoon.

Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

(Photo: DoC)

Brought to NZ in 1837 from Australia to establish a fur trade. They have no natural predators

here and a huge supply of palatable vegetation, the result was a population explosion that has

had hugely negative impacts on our native forests. Possums are virtually impossible to eradicate

as they are generalists, found in every NZ habitat, they also are known to take buds and flowers,

fruits, ferns, bark, fungi, invertebrates, native birds and eggs, land snails and carrion. They are a

carrier of bovine TB.

Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa)

(Photo: Greater Wellington Regional Council)

Are descended from domestic pigs released by early European explorers in the late 18th century.

They are omnivorous, grazing vegetation but also requiring protein in the form of invertebrates

such as earthworms and giant land snails; they also trample and destroy ground dwelling bird

nests and native seedlings. Their rooting activities cause habitat destruction and de-stabilisation,

and they carve game trails through the native forest, this is prevalent in the Abel Tasman National

Park. Also a carrier of bovine TB.

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus)

(Photo: www.huntingadventures.co.nz)

Primarily introduced to the South Island in 1851 as a pair, the hind was shot before they had a

chance to breed. They were then re-introduced in 1856, and the population rapidly spread, this

was followed by many more liberations by acclimatisation societies on both islands. Deer are

defoliators, grazing and ring barking native trees. A small population exists in the park.

Feral Goats (Capra hircus)

(Photo: DoC)

Released in the early 1800’s, feral goats are wide ranging generalists, found from lowland forests

to upland scrub. They have similar detrimental effects to deer in the environment. There is a

population of these in the park and they are being controlled by Project Janszoon.

Pest Plants

Wilding Conifers / Pines (Pinus radiata and pinaster)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Pines that have wildly seeded from exotic plantations of Monterey and Maritime pine are a major

problem in the park. Left unchecked they lead to a decrease in biodiversity as they shade other

plants and change soil Ph. These are remnants of historical pine plantations and neighbouring

existing plantations. Pine trees were introduced to New Zealand before 1860. Much of the work

of ATBST and Project Janszoon focuses on their removal; currently by two methods:

Stem poisoning involves drilling 20mm x 50mm holes at 50 cm intervals in trunk at 30 – 50cm

height above ground; which are then filled with 25ml of a Metsulphuron-methyl or Glyphosphate

/ water mix. Works very well on Radiata pines.

Basal spraying, for trees still in the soft bark stage, is effectively chemical ring barking. A mix of

Grason and oil/diesel sprayed on the bark. Both methods kill the trees in a matter of days, they

are then left to rot naturally, creating habitat for insects and birds.

Gorse (Ulex europaeus)

(Photo: Wikimedia.org)

Was introduced very early on in NZ’s colonial history. Originally planted as a hedge plant, gorse

grows extremely well in the NZ climate and became out of control. Its seeds can remain dormant

for 50 years, so removal of the plant gives the seeds opportunity to germinate and grow. On the

bright side, it can be a useful nursery area for native plants, which eventually out shade it. This

has happened in places like Pitt Head. It is also a nitrogen fixing plant, so ironically is providing

nutrients to the infertile granite soils and as acting as a regenerative species.

Willow-leavedhakea (Hakea salicifolia)

(Photo: Stew Robertson)

Hakea has begun to dominate the arid ridgelines of some areas in the national park; it is a bright

green bushy plant that stands out well from the deeper green of the native bush. Native to Eastern

Australia, it is pyrophilic or ‘fire loving’, and its seed pods have evolved to burst open with heat.

Attempts to chop hakea down have resulted in sun-baked seed pods and uncontrolled spread of

this noxious pest. The current school of thought is just to leave it alone and hope that the native

forest will eventually out-compete the hakea.

There are many other less obvious pest weed species in the national park. For a complete list of

all plants and animals likely to be found in the Abel Tasman National Park please refer to:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/national-park-

management-plans/abel-tasman/appendices.pdf