New Zealand dabchick  (Poliocephalus rufopectus)

At present, the New Zealand dabchick population is thought to be stable, as their preferred lake habitat is not declining and they have proven to be able to co-exist successfully with humans (9). However, the extinction of this species on the South Island in the 1960s shows that the dabchick is vulnerable to some threats. The reasons for the species decline and extinction on the South Island are not clear, but possible causes, and therefore factors that could threaten the North Island population, include changes in water quality, destruction of nesting habitat, increased human activity around nesting areas, and predation by introduced rats and mustelids (3). The drainage of marshes in the past would have affected the dabchick, but since the 1940s, further habitat would have become available through the creation of sewage ponds and farm water supplies (10). Nests on lakes are also vulnerable to disturbance from boat wakes, and jet and water-skiers that operate too close to lake margins (9).

In 1997 the IUCN Grebe Specialist Group created a Global Conservation Strategy to ensure the successful recovery of grebe populations and the management of wetlands (10). Particular conservation actions recommended for this species include implementing a regular monitoring programme to detect any population changes, and preparing a species recovery plan should numbers begin to decline again (10). Additionally, existing laws limiting boat and ski speeds on lakes should continue to be enforced and steps should be taken to maintain suitable lake habitats, preventing pollution and the establishment of any further introduced species (9).