Storytime: Whio Bootcamp

In late 2015 and early 2016, fresh out of high school, I had the incredible opportunity to work with the Department of Conservation as a Summer Ranger. During this role, I collaborated with various biodiversity and outreach teams across the Central Plateau, including those dedicated to the conservation of the whio/blue duck at the Tongariro National Trout Centre.

One of the highlights was participating in whio releases into the "whio crèche"—a bootcamp for young whio. Here, juveniles learned to navigate the swift currents of the rivers they naturally inhabit and perfected their diving skills to catch live food. The crèche helped them grow strong enough to face the challenges of the wild, particularly the threat of introduced mammalian predators that have driven these rare, ground-nesting freshwater indicator ducks to the brink.

I feel so fortunate to have spent time with these remarkable birds both in the crèche and in the wild, and to have witnessed the dedication of so many organisations working tirelessly to protect them. Their efforts give the whio a fighting chance to thrive in the wild, and I’m proud to have played a small part in their conservation journey!

You can learn more about these incredible birds from @sam_the_trap_man @easternwhiolink in Episode 22 of our podcast