Lake Pearson Declared a Wildlife Refuge

Forest and Bird, Issue 308, 1 May 2003, Page 6

Lake Pearson Declared a Wildlife Refuge

—GEOFF KEEY

fter four years of by Forest and Bird, Lake Pearson/Moana Rua has at last been declared a wildlife refuge. The lake is the home of breeding southern crested grebe which are threatened with extinction in New Zealand. Southern crested grebe are also found in Australia but it is estimated that less than 300 remain in New Zealand. Predators, hydro-electricity generation and boats have contributed to the decline of the grebe. Lake Pearson/Moana Rua, which lies on the main route between Canterbury and

Westland via Arthur’s Pass, is an important southern crested grebe nesting area. In 1999 Forest and Bird initiated a campaign by writing to then Minister of Conservation, Hon. Nick Smith, asking him protect southern crested grebe and other water birds on the lake. He supported a powerboat ban. The national president of Forest and Bird, Dr Gerry McSweeney lives near the lake, and is disappointed that the Department of Conservation and the conservation board did not exclude boats completely when gazetting the wildlife refuge. "The decision to retain a 5-

knot speed limit on Pearson rather than ban power boats altogether was a typical wishywashy compromise made by the Canterbury Conservancy of DoC; he says. Recently, Gerry McSweeney was forced to confront a powerboat user who was breaking the 5-knot speed limit because there were no DoC rangers to enforce the speed limit. ‘A powerboat ban would have been a million times easier, he says. Gerry McSweeney is more impressed by efforts to protect the grebes from stoat predation. "The Waimakariri Area Office of DoC is to be congratulated for the stoat-trapping programme it has maintained around the lake for the last two breeding seasons. Wildlife Refuge status is only one step towards protection of the grebes on Lake Pearson/Moana Rua. Cows can still access the lake, fouling it with urine and faeces and damaging the lake margins. Dogs still have access to the area and a DoC sign even says that dogs are welcome, in spite of the danger dogs pose to birds. Camping also needs to be better managed so that waste does not pollute the lake. Things have started looking up for the grebes on Lake Pearson/Moana Rua, however,

with predator control and restrictions on boating. Over the last two years there have been two good breeding seasons for grebe on the lake with seven chicks raised last summer and four this summer. In contrast, during the 2000/2001 breeding season, only one chick was raised on Pearson and that did not make adulthood. Gerry McSweeney believes that there is a strong human community of interest in the Upper Waimakariri in making the Lake Pearson Wildlife Refuge an integrated model of good nature conservation and compatible public

use/enjoyment. —