Black Stilt

Taxobox
name = Black Stilt

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image_width = 246px
image_caption = Black Stilt, Ashley River mouth.
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = up
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Recurvirostridae
genus = "Himantopus"
species = "H. novaezelandiae"
binomial = "Himantopus novaezelandiae"
binomial_authority = Gould, 1841

The Black Stilt or Kakī (Māori), "Himantopus novaezelandiae", is a large wader in the avocet and stilt family Recurvirostridae. Adults are 40 cm long. They have very long red legs, a long thin black bill and black plumage. Juveniles have a white breast, neck and head, with a black patch around the eyes. The birds are endemic to New Zealand.

Ecology and conservation

Despite of 20 years of intensive protection, this species is one of the most threatened shorebirds in the world. In 1994 there was a population of 119 birds [cite book|last=Heather|first=Barrie|coauthors=Hugh Robinson|title=Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand|publisher=Viking|date=1996|pages=pg298|isbn=0-670-86911-2|accessdate=2008-09-09] and the current population is estimated at 22 adult birds. There is a captive population of some 25 adults, annual release in the wild of captive-bred birds and predator control has probably prevented it from becoming extinct in the wild. During the breeding season it is restricted to the upper Waitaki Valley in the South Island. Small numbers overwinter in the North Island.

They breed at the 2-3 years of age. They are one of the world's most endangered birds. Drainage and hydroelectric development has in the past disturbed their braided river bed habitat. Predation from mammalian invasive species, most notably mustelids such as stoats presently poses a serious threat to the species survival. The third major threat to this species is hybridization with the local and more numerous Pied Stilt "H. himantopus".

Effect of hydroelectric power development

Since the Black Stilt nests on the braided rivers beds of the South Island, it is threatened by changes in river flows as a result of new hydro dams and changes in flow regimes for existing dams. [cite book|last= Reed & |first=C.E.M.|coauthors=D.P. Murray|title=Black Stilt Recovery Plan"(Himantopus novaezealandiae)"|publisher=Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|location=Wellington, New Zealand|date=February 1993|series=Threatened Species Recovery Plan Series |volume=NO.4|isbn=0-478-01459-7|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/TSRP04.pdf |accessdate=2008-09-09]

The Upper Waitaki Power Development posed a threat to the black silt habitat and a programme was set up to lessen the threat to the stilt. [cite book|last=Ministry for the Environment|title=Flow Guidelines for Instream Values|publisher=Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand)|location=Wellington, New Zealand|date=May 1998|series=ME271 Volume B|url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/water/flow-guidelines-for-instream-values-may98.html|accessdate=2008-09-09] Black stilt population on the river beds varies with the river level. Changes in the level of Lake Benmore, which caused corresponding changes in the deltas of the incoming rivers, affected the local population of Black Stilts. [cite journal|last=Sanders|first=Mark|date=1999|title=Effect of changes in water level on numbers of black stilts (Himantopus novaezelandiae) using deltas of Lake Benmore |journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology|volume=26|issue=2|url=http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjz/1999/15.pdf]

References

Further reading

* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered

External links

* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/MultiPageDocumentTOC.aspx?id=44197 Department of Conservation] - Black stilt/kakī recovery plan
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3103&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]