Eileen Mayo

Exhibited with EIleen Mayo's 'Pāteke / Brown Duck or Brown Teal' for the exhibition 'Bird Land: Te Kāhui Manu'.

The two endemic ducks portrayed here—whio (blue duck) and pāteke (brown teal)—can appear as a pair at first glance, although they occupy very different habitats. The whio is adapted to fast-flowing rivers and torrent-fed waterways, while the pāteke inhabits still, sheltered wetlands, ponds and estuaries. Both are uncommon and have declined through habitat loss, including changes to freshwater systems and the impact of introduced predators. Populations are now supported through ongoing conservation work.

(Bird Land: Te Kāhui Manu 15 August 2026 – 8 February 2027)