On February 20th, 2021 40 volunteers and staff from a number of agencies undertook the annual census of wetland birds around Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere.

This is the 9th consecutive year the survey has been carried out.

This year over 49,944 birds were recorded around the lake – the  results table can be viewed here. Bird numbers were up from last year.

The table shows the birds counted in 2020 and for comparison, in columns to the right, the corresponding totals from 2014 – 2019.

Notable observations this year is that waterfowl made up over 73% of the birds counted with grey teal (48%) making up nearly half the numbers. Grey teal numbers where double from 2020 but similar to numbers in 2018.

Some of the rarer arctic waders spotted on the day where: a Turnstone, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and a Marsh Sandpiper.

For photos and information about each of the species visit the NZ Birds Online website.