Story: Wading birds

South Island pied oystercatcher with eggs

This South Island pied oystercatcher is nesting in the Cass valley, a typical stony riverbed of inland Canterbury’s Southern Alps. The nest consists of a shallow scrape, and the eggs are well camouflaged. This makes them inconspicuous to predatory birds, but vulnerable to careless crushing by drivers and stock that use the river flats as a thoroughfare.

Listen to the pied oystercatcher’s call, with paradise shelducks in the background.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10045161
Photograph by Rod Morris

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Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (New Zealand birds/Reference number T7702).

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Wading birds - Oystercatchers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/natural-sounds/9149/south-island-pied-oystercatcher-with-eggs (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015