South Island pied oystercatcher with eggs

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.

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