Whio

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Explanation
We are interested in any sightings of whio/blue duck.
Pest
Friend
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/content/13/317

20 Feb 2026

Name
Esther Crookbain
What you saw
Notes
We saw Whio on his own at Cleopatras pool. He was not intimidated by the large group there and actually moved to the shade and went to sleep.
Location
Date Proper

15 Jan 2026

Name
Viv Walker
What you saw
Notes
We visited the wainui falls, and on the river on the way out we saw a pair of Whio on the wainui river in mid-river, swimming and foraging.
Location
Date Proper

21 Dec 2025

Name
Fraser Cron
What you saw
Notes
1 by its self and then a mother with 4 chicks a bit further down stream
Location
Date Proper

3 Dec 2025

Name
Laurie Mcarthur
What you saw
Notes
Seen on coast track 20m on anchorage side of Torrent bridge.
Also saw same one or simikar 200m along Cleopatras track on 20/3 around 9am.
Both times the Whio stayed on the track as i passed .
Location
Date Proper

15 Sep 2025

Name
Cheryl Aitken
What you saw
Notes
Swing bridge by Cleopatra Pools track. Duck swooped in and landed on the bridge. Then followed us along the track to the pools approx 750m then back again to the junction of the bridge. It became very aggressive and attacked me on the legs by pecking and hanging on to my legs and thumping with is webbed feet. We thought maybe there was a nest close by but didnt see any other ducks or ducklings. We didnt feed it.
Photos
Location
Date Proper

13 Sep 2025

Name
Sarah
What you saw
Notes
At bridge to Cleopatra's Pool
I have pics but the photo library function won't open.
Location
Date Proper

16 May 2025

Name
Paige Rzoska-Simms
What you saw
Notes
Meet this whio up the Cleopatra's pools walk. About halfway along we saw it in the stream, hunting under rocks. Once it saw our group it climbed up onto the path and walked with us all the way to the pools, where it jumped back in to the stream and resumed normal looking foraging in the rocks. Was completely unconcerned by all the people about.
Location
Date Proper

4 Feb 2025

Name
Diana Sprinkle
What you saw
Notes
Hear a growling call from a large dark flying bird around the area of halfway pool on the Abel Tasman trail heading toward Anchorage/Torant Bay
Location
Date Proper