whio

The blue duck or whio,( pronounced fee-oh) is an iconic species of clear fast-flowing rivers, now mostly confined to high altitude segments of rivers in North and South Island mountain regions only in Zealand, it lives at low densities and its shrill “whio” whistle above the noise of turbulent waters will usher in a long-remembered encounter. This beautiful duck is nationally vulnerable  and is being bred in captivity, then released to try and raise the numbers. It is most beautiful blue/grey. These are juveniles ready to be released.