Pateke numbers through roof

The rarest waterfowl in New Zealand is thriving in predator-control areas on Northland's east coast.

The annual count for pateke, also known as brown teal, turned up record numbers along the coast between Teal Bay and Matapouri, the area taking in well-populated pateke habitats such as Mimiwhangata and Whananaki.

The highest single-day count by Department of Conservation staff and volunteers was 616 birds, a significant increase from last year's total of 391 birds.

The densest population was at Whananaki North and South, where flock sites numbered up to 146 birds, DoC ranger Tiff Browne said.

In recent years it was thought there were only 2000 to 2500 of the small waterfowl left in the wild.

Last month's high count on Whangarei's northern coast suggests pateke had a good breeding season last year and fledged enough juveniles to bump up the numbers at flock sites, Ms Browne said. Also, dry conditions mean more birds will be at flock sites, rather than on individual territories.

The count is welcome news for DoC and locals as it shows that predator-control in place along the coast is providing enough protection for pateke to thrive when the conditions are right, she said.

The main predators are stoats and cats.

Pateke, like kiwi, are active at night, and therefore are vulnerable to being run over by cars.