Guardians of Lake Hāwea member Amie Capell says the “not bad” first season for grebes nesting on a purpose-built platform near the ANZAC Peninsula in Lake Hāwea is “hopefully the start of things to come”. 

The platform was installed by local grebe expert John Darby in November after two southern-crested grebes were seen on a poorly developed nest site: He decided to create a sturdier, man-made platform for them.

Since then, the grebes and their offspring have become some of Hāwea’s most popular and enquired-after residents.

As some people had spotted, the nesting platform has recently been removed, Amie said. 

“This will be reinstated in the spring in time for the next breeding season,” she said. “Some repairs and alterations will be made, and if demand requires it, a second platform may be added.”

Amie said a member of the Guardians’ committee recently ventured out to try to locate the birds, and found them in the Round Hill area.

Additional sightings closer to the township have also been reported by locals. 

The group consisted of two parents, a juvenile from the first clutch, and two chicks from the second hatching. 

“Sadly it seems one of the chicks from the latest clutch has perished,” Amie said.

She said it was discovered some time ago that one of the chicks from the first group was struggling to keep up with the rest of the group.

“...We suspect that it is this chick that remains with the group and is still reliant on its parents for food,” Amie said.

The southern crested grebes, which John, a local grebe expert, described as “a very elegant and beautiful bird but also very complicated”, are considered a rare and threatened species. 

They are found only in small populations on lakes in the South Island and require shelter from rough weather which means windy Lake Hāwea is a tough location for them to nest at.

The pair of grebes discovered in November are believed to be a first: They are likely the first breeding pair to build a nest at Lake Hāwea. 

People and their pets are asked to keep a peaceful and respectful distance from the grebes if they come across them; while they are “fascinating to watch” they can easily be disturbed, Amie said. 

Amie thanked the community for their interest and support in the budding Hāwea grebe population.

PHOTO: Ian Turnbull