fbpx Whio as a Freshwater Indicator Species | LEARNZ

Whio as a Freshwater Indicator Species

«Previous
Managing the Taupō Fishery
Next»
The Water Cycle
Listen: 

Whio are good indicators of a river’s health. If they are living in a river or stream the water is thought to be in a very healthy state.

Whio habitat

Whio are well adapted to living in and around cold, fast flowing, clean rivers. They mostly swim and only fly if disturbed, or patrolling their territory. Whio like to eat the larvae of caddisfly, mayfly, stonefly, as well as freshwater snails. They breed in forest surrounding the river.

An endangered bird

Whio are now only found in some parts of the North and South Island. Their low breeding success is thought to be due to:

  • stoats killing female whio and eating eggs and chicks
  • attacks by rats, dogs, cats and possums
  • habitat being cleared and less river flow
  • certain farming work that makes the river dirty and kills off whio's food
  • building nests in areas that get flooded.

Saving Whio

Whio are one of our most endangered endemic birds. The Department of Conservation has a partnership with Genesis Energy to secure the future of whio. Genesis Energy runs a hydro power station which uses water from the Tongariro River. They make sure enough water keeps flowing downstream for whio and they provide funding for projects like Whio Forever.

Audio Māori keywords: 


Find out more: To learn more about whio - check out the LEARNZ Blue Duck field trip from 2009 (ask your teacher for the username and password for access to the site). Also take a look at Whio Forever.

Whio like cold, fast flowing, clean rivers. Image: LEARNZ.

If whio are living in a river, the water is probably in a healthy state. Image: LEARNZ.

Healthy water means lots of food for whio. Image: LEARNZ.

Genesis Energy uses water from the Tongariro River for their hydro power station, but makes sure there is enough water flowing downstream for animals such as whio that rely on the river. Image: LEARNZ.

«Previous
Managing the Taupō Fishery
Next»
The Water Cycle