On the crest of a wave

by Metropol | December 6, 2023 8:00 am

The pūteketeke, also known as the Australasian crested grebe, is New Zealand’s Bird of the Century.

The native bird was awarded the title after American-British comedian John Oliver launched his own campaign for it to win, garnering 290,374 votes (83%) out of the total 350,000 in the competition.

The crested grebe is found on up to 100 lakes, mainly in the Canterbury and Otago high country. According to the Rare Species website, the species suffered a major decline in many New Zealand regions, except for parts of inland Canterbury. Numbers hit a low of c.200 in the 1980s, but are slowly increasing and the population may now number 1000 birds. They have recently been recorded breeding on the Canterbury coast, and numbers are increasing in this region.

Interesting facts

• Crested grebes require lakes surrounded by vegetation for breeding.

• They are native to New Zealand, although also found in Australia, Europe, and central/southern Asia.

• The Lake Wānaka Grebe Project has seen more than 500 chicks hatch from its nest platforms.

• They build floating nests, and ferry their chicks on their backs.

• Crested grebes mate by approaching prospective partners with a mouthful of wet grass before chest bumping each other.

Photo credit: Paul Francis Photography

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