Whio - Saving New Zealand's Blue Duck (Paperback)

The blue duck, or whio, is one of New Zealand's ancient treasures, a beautiful torrent duck that once lived on clear, fast-flowing rivers throughout most of the country. Sadly, this is no longer the case. While the plight of many of our high-profile endangered species, such as the kakapo and kiwi, are well known, the blue duck belongs to the not so well known 'second tier' of endangered species (including kaka, kea, parakeets and North Island brown kiwi) whose numbers have dropped alarmingly in the last 15 years, and who now require urgent recovery programmes to prevent a slide toward extinction. Whio tells the story of how a dedicated group of scientists, field workers and volunteers have set about saving the blue duck, and combines a natural history of the bird with an illustrated history of human interaction, as well as a social history of the blue duck then and now. Recovery efforts are focussed on populations that are found in Te Urewera, the Central North Island, the rivers that flow off Mt Taranaki, Kahurangi National Park, and Fiordland. Heavily illustrated with superb photographs from some of New Zealand's leading wildlife photographers, this is an inspiring, delightful book. The blue duck is particularly special, carrying with it the emblematic power of a bird whose home has come to symbolise the very heart of natural New Zealand - a clean, forested land laced with fast-running, vital rivers. This species cannot be allowed to die out on our watch, and this book is a timely reminder why.