Critical Condition

Three birds have joined ranks of the critically endangered, after an assessment by a panel of experts analysing data on 428 native birds. The grey duck, the eastern rock hopper penguin, and the grey-headed mollymawk have all become nationally critical, along with 21 other bird species that have been on the list since at least 2005. The news was not all bad, however, with 19 birds improving their status to the 13 that declined, and a number of birds ‘recovering,’ as species like the spotted kiwi, Pycroft’s petrel, brown teal, variable oystercatcher, and North and South Island saddlebacks all now have populations over 1000 and continue to grow. Overall, according to Dr. Colin Miskelly of the Conservation Department, of the 428 birds assessed 77 were considered ‘threatened’ and 93 ‘at risk.’