MY FAVOURITE CRITTER (STORY)
Week 23: 03 Jun 2019
Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis)
Wrybills are the only birds in the world that have a beak that turns to the right. They only breed on the shingle areas of the braided rivers in the
South Island of New Zealand. The main threat that the Wrybills face is from predation (by introduced mammals such as stoats and ferrets) and
native birds such as the Southern Black-backed Gull. A whole colony can be wiped out when rivers are in flood if they have chosen to nest where
the floodwaters end up due to change of course. Humans using their nesting sites for recreation (off-road 4-wheel driving) and not making them-
selves aware of their presence can decimate the nests or cause the parents to abandon them altogether. Feeding on worms, molluscs insects and
occasional small fish they are reliant on the water levels to be suitable for their food and with water levels being reduced through irrigation their
food supply can literally dry up. Many of the braided rivers have also been taken over by introduced weeds such as lupins, which not only reduce
available areas for their nests but also harbour predators. This image shows a Wrybill feeding at Lake Ellesmere on its way to the North Island to
over-winter.
Nadine Campbell
Christchurch, New Zealand
Art of Birding 2018 Wildlife & Nature Photography Challenge
Photographers’ Photos from
June 2019 Challenge
Nadine Campbell - Christchurch, New Zealand