10 reasons to love whio – the world’s coolest duck

Here's the story of the whio - New Zealand's whitewater rafting duck

Sharing is caring!

Now are you ready to hear the story of the world’s coolest duck? I know, I know, I’m setting the bar high. Try and contain your excitement.

New Zealand has a lot of amazing birds. In fact, New Zealand was a land of only birds before humans came along. Most of it is reminiscent of a bygone age, and in more than a few places here give you the feeling like you’ve stepped back in time. After people came, they brought along animals like stoats, cats and possums, which has caused many of the native birds to go extinct or close to it.

All over New Zealand, there is a very unique species of duck called the whio (remember “wh” in Māori is pronounced as an “f”, so “fee-oh”). The blue duck used to be found everywhere in New Zealand, and now they are almost gone. I’m working this month with the Department of Conservation to help share the story of these amazing birds and try and encourage all of you guys to care too! Happy Whio Awareness Month!

Here’s their story and why you should love whio as much as me. Enjoy!

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

1. Whio are almost gone, but not quite!

Whio are some of the rarest ducks in the world, and they are only found in New Zealand. There are less than 3000 of them left, and they are 20 times more endangered than kiwi, New Zealand’s most iconic bird. They are mostly threatened from introduced animals, like weasels and cats, which can easily hunt and kill them, and they do. Whio require a scale of management like no other birds  to ensure their survival because of their large habitats and ability to fly so they can’t be placed on offshore islands, like many of our other birds.

Without our help, 90% of whio nests fail in the wild, which is so sad, and when the lady whio are nesting, they are literally sitting ducks to be hunted. But all is not lost, guys! With our help, they can slowly come back.

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

Image by Andrew Glasser

2. They are the original whitewater rafters

I spotted my first whio back in December in Milford by complete accident walking along Marian Falls. I about crapped my pants from excitement, and made everyone walking by stop and watch it frolicking in the rapids. Seeing a whio in the wild in New Zealand is an incredible and special experience.

Whio thrive in the whitewater and rapids of the cleanest rivers in New Zealand. If you spot a whio, you know that river is healthy. They use the fast water as a natural defense and are great paddlers. It’s so much fun to watch them bop around in the rapids.

whio new zealand

My first whio at Marian Falls

whio new zealand

3. Whio are feisty

Whio aren’t actually really afraid of people, which means you can observe them quite closely. They also can’t be kept with other ducks because they fight too much and are territorial, and they sometimes have fights with other whio, chasing each other up and down the rivers pulling out their tail feathers.

They all have their own personalities and can be quite curious.

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

4. They make the best noises

Forget quacks, whio are too cool for that.

Male whios whistle, which you often hear more, while the ladies growl. Yes, you read that right. They growl.

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

5. Whio chicks are adorable little fluffballs

The pictures speak for themselves.

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

Pics by Dave Buckton – Wangapeka River, Kahurangi National Park

6. Whio dogs are actually a thing

Whio need all the help they can get to ensure their continual survival. One tool in DOC’s arsenal to help them out is training up DOC dogs that help track and find whio.

There are dogs that are trained to find many of New Zealand’s native and endangered birds. Whio dogs can smell them from pretty far away, depending on the wind, sometimes even kilometers. It’s incredible how disciplined and trained they are. When they catch the scent, they go still and point, which is incredible to witness.

Whio dogs are a great asset to helping bring back these ducks!

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

Image by Andrew Glasser

whio new zealand

7. They’re legit famous

Whio are so cool you can find them on the $10 note in New Zealand. What up!

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

8. Sometimes they mate for life

Unless you’re Hugh, in which you swap our mates annually for one younger.

Most whio have the same mate for a couple of years before swapping partners.

whio new zealand

whio new zealand

9. They still really need our help

Luckily with a lot of help whio are starting to come back. Thanks to the incredible work by DOC, whio rangers and whio dogs, blue duck might be on their way to becoming more stable. Genesis Energy has also been the main sponsor for whio in New Zealand with the Whio Forever Project, and have been critical in protecting them and bringing them back.

Let’s help!

whio new zealand

Image by Andrew Glasser

whio new zealand

10. Pucker up for Whio Awareness Month

March is Whio Awareness Month in New Zealand, so help spread the word of these awesome birds if you can.

You can chat with your local DOC office to see how you can get involved and if they’re whio in your area, and be sure to report any sightings of them.

And in the meantime, you can enter to win the chance to be a whio ranger for the day. Just upload your best duck face selfie here (never thought I’d writ that on the blog), and share why you want to help save the whio!

Have you heard of whio before? Are you interested in animals and local wildlife when traveling? Are you a bird nerd like me? Spill!

whio new zealand

Image by Andrew Glasser

whio new zealand

About the author

29 Comments on “10 reasons to love whio – the world’s coolest duck

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Please post audio! Very cool, a bird I’d never heard of. Thanks for sharing their story. Yes, I always look for wildlife when traveling. Wildlife, bookstores, and libraries are my deal.

    1. Janet, try this link to listen to the whio call. You can also listen to other NZ bird calls on the Department of Conservation website. http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/conservation/native-animals/birds/bird-song/blue-duck.mp3

      Liz, what a cool experience to spend time with Max and Oskar on a whio hunt. I was lucky enough to join the whio survey in the Clinton a couple of years ago, and this past summer I was warden at Iris Burn hut on the Kepler where there are a few whio in residence. I found your blog after seeing the NBC piece you did about Americans coming to NZ – hope you’re enjoying our patch of paradise.

      1. Oh cool! I love their call. I love the Kepler track, what a great spot to be a warden, will you be back next summer?

  2. Absolutely love your post! I adore nature, and the Whio sounds like such an important animal to be the centre of more posts like these! I hope one day I can make it out to NZ – it looks like such a gorgeous place!

    I hope you’re having a lovely Tuesday,
    Michael

  3. Ahh I love this post, nature deserves more post of this kind. Hope I’ll find my way to New Zealand one day. 🙂
    Cheers from London,

  4. Aw, what cuties. NZ does seem like a bird lover’s paradise, although I’m pretty happy with what my county of Australia has on offer. I understand your excitement over seeing your first whio in the world – would have had a similar reaction.

1 2 3 5

Related Adventures

css.php