DOC biodiversity ranger Dan Arnold releasing a bird
May 4 2018
The population of rare native ducks is about to increase dramatically in the Abel Tasman National Park, after a second, larger flock were released.
Seventy-two captive bred pāteke, or brown teal, were on Thursday released on the banks of the lower Awapoto River, at Hadfield Clearing, near Awaroa.
The translocation follows a successful release of 20 of the ducks by Project Janszoon and the Department of Conservation last year.
Project Janszoon ornithologist Ron Moorhouse said 90 per cent of the ducks released in 2017 had survived their first year, with two pairs breeding and hatching 12 ducklings.
