Kowhai Valley and Shearwater Stream Important Bird Area facts for kids
The Kowhai Valley and Shearwater Stream Important Bird Area is a special place in the Seaward Kaikoura Range in New Zealand. It's about 15 kilometers (9 miles) inland from the coastal town of Kaikoura. This area is high up in the mountains, between 1200 and 1800 meters (about 3,900 to 5,900 feet) above sea level.
This site has been named an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. This is because it is home to almost the entire world's breeding population of Hutton's shearwater birds. About 100,000 pairs of these birds come here to nest in two main groups, called colonies.
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What is an Important Bird Area?
An Important Bird Area (IBA) is a place that BirdLife International has identified as being very important for protecting birds around the world. These areas are chosen because they support large numbers of birds, rare birds, or birds that are found only in certain places. Protecting IBAs helps to make sure that bird populations stay healthy.
Hutton's Shearwater: A Special Bird
The Hutton's shearwater is a unique seabird that spends most of its life at sea. However, it comes to land only to breed and raise its young. What makes this bird so special is that it is the only seabird in New Zealand that nests in the mountains.
These birds dig long burrows (tunnels) in the ground to lay their eggs. They fly out to sea to find food, often traveling long distances. When they return to their nests, they fly in at night to avoid predators.
Discovery of the Hutton's Shearwater
The Hutton's shearwater was first described by a scientist named Gregory Mathews in 1912. For many years, people knew about the bird but didn't know exactly where it nested.
It wasn't until 1964 that the main breeding colony was discovered. This was more than 50 years after the bird was first identified!
The Breeding Colonies
The Hutton's shearwater birds nest in two main colonies within the Important Bird Area.
Kowhai Valley Colony
The larger of the two colonies is found in the Kowhai Valley. This area is located in the upper parts of the Kowhai River and is part of the Uerau Nature Reserve. This is the colony that was discovered in 1964. It is a protected area, which helps keep the birds safe.
Shearwater Stream Colony
The smaller colony is located at Shearwater Stream. This colony is found at the top of the Puhi Puhi Valley. Unlike the Kowhai Valley colony, this area is on private land. Efforts are made to work with the landowners to protect this important nesting site.
See also
In Spanish: Área importante para las aves del valle de Kowhai y del arroyo Shearwater para niños
