Three fully-fledged kārearea (native New Zealand falcon) chicks are ready to leave their nest site after support from the Kārearea Conservation Project, the first major success story for the project led by Cardrona Alpine Resort.

The Kārearea Conservation Project is part of the wider Cardrona Foundation, which focuses on guardianship, protection and conservation.

The project’s goal is to protect New Zealand’s only native falcon species, starting with increasing scientific understanding of kārearea (sometimes known as sparrowhawks) in an alpine environment. 

It has scientific oversight by experienced ornithologists of Parker Conservation.

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“We are attempting to better understand kārearea numbers, behaviours and survival rates as very little is known,” Parker Conservation representative Graham Parker said.

“Nest sites are located in spring, and then monitored with wildlife cameras and regular checks as the breeding cycle progresses. Chicks are then captured and banded so we can track individual birds.”

Engaging local children is a key part of the project. Eve Buckland (13) helped with the banding of this chick. PHOTO: Parker Conservation

In 2020, the Kārearea Conservation Project took on responsibility for monitoring a breeding pair of kārearea at the confluence of the Cardrona and Clutha rivers in Albert Town.

“This nest was right next to a trail and car parking area popular with local dog walkers and cyclists, and this presented quite the challenge. Kārearea are incredibly aggressive at defending their nest sites and this pair were known to be dive bombing people and dogs in the area,” Kārearea Conservation Project lead Ewan Mackie said.

The team worked with the Department of Conservation and Queenstown Lakes District Council to cordon off the area, and as a result, three fully-fledged chicks are now flying around the area and will be ready to leave the nest site in the coming weeks.

Ewan said support from locals has been fantastic, and the team plans to continue working in partnership with farmers and community.

“We spoke with a number of people who were glad to see the birds given the space they need and were happy to walk around the area. We’ve also had great engagement from Wanaka’s youth, with a couple of school students helping with the banding process for these chicks.”

“Farmers have also shown great support over the last two years, granting access to land and reporting sightings,” he said.

Two other nesting sites were monitored this breeding season, but the Albert Town pair were the only ones to successfully raise chicks. The other two failed due to attacks by predators.

“We have evidence of additional birds in the Cardrona Valley with regular sightings reported, but we aren’t finding as many nests as we would expect,” Graham said. “This may be attributed to mammalian predation of the nests on the ground, and further research is

needed.”

Originally funded by the Real Journeys ‘Birds of a Feather’ ball, the Kārearea Conservation Project is also supported by the Hugo Charitable Trust. The team’s current focus is on securing further funding to take the project into the future.

“We are actively seeking financial support as we currently have a funding shortfall and the future of the project is at risk,” Ewan said.

Interested donors can contact Ewan ([email protected]).