Several endangered bird nests have been "significantly disturbed" after a 150-strong 4WD Crate Day convoy up a Canterbury river yesterday despite the pleas of conservationists.
Around 150 vehicles gathered near the Okuku Bridge yesterday morning to embark on a 22km drive along the Ashley River/Rakahuri.
It comes after conservationists warned four-wheel-drive enthusiasts in Canterbury to take care on Crate Day when driving on and around braided rivers where endangered birds are nesting.
From early September to the end of January, several threatened native birds breed in the South Island braided rivers like the Ashley River/Rakahuri, with three colonies of the endangered tarapiroe or black-fronted tern nesting along the river's upper stretch.
Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group (ARRG), which formed in 1999 to protect riverbed birds and their habitats, said they were “angry that these rallies go ahead despite the fact it is peak breeding season”.
“They drove into nesting areas which were clearly signposted, and in one case past protesters,” said spokesperson Grant Davey.
Protesters managed to keep vehicles away from an area where there were "little helpless chicks were running around all over the place”, he said.
Davey told 1News at least four nests have been found to be damaged in the small section of the river searched so far.
"Black-fronted terns are very seriously threatened, in the last few years approximately one fledgling has been produced for every 10 nests on the Ashley River," he said.
"This year the outlook is much better, but it is not helped by the actions of irresponsible people."
Department of Conservation operations manager Leeann Ellis said while there were "apparent good intentions, there was still damage to nationally endangered black-fronted tern nests, eggs and chicks" after they were hit by flying stones.
Ellis said DOC would like to see the activity take place outside of breeding season, potentially in late summer.
"It could be better for both birds and drivers," she said.
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