Crucible Lake - Rock Wren

Just received some Photos from Rachel Hufton who trained with me down at Queenstown. As well as banding near the head of Lake Wanaka at Makarora where she catches a variety of birds including Brown Creeper, she has started a colour banding project of Rock Wren in the Crucible Lake area. This is to asses their breeding success and the effectiveness of predator control being carried out in the area.

Rock Wren are New Zealand's only truly alpine species of bird, the other contender the Kea, spends a lot of time at lower altitudes, even down to sea level. Where Rock Wren spend the winter is still not fully understood, possibly in partial hibernation or surviving in rocks under the snow.

This is not a banded Rock Wren but one with a anklet of skin.

This is a colour banded one.

This bird has some damage to its top mandible. The lower one is continuing to grow, possibly due to the lack of wear from constant friction from the missing top bit.

When Rachel was there recently the usually pristine white ice on the Lake was coloured by ash from the Australian bush fires.

The normally pristine Crucible Lake discoloured by Australian ash.

All photos Rachel Hufton