The Australasian Crested Grebe (Podiceps australis), also known as Puteketeke (Maori), belongs to an ancient order of diving water birds found on every continent in the world. Crested Grebes are renowned for their mating displays and the occurance of the young grebes riding amongst the plumage on the back of their swimming parents. They inhabit subalpine lakes in the South Island, particularly within inland Canterbury & Otago. Populations have declined mainly due to introduced predators, loss of habitat through drainage of wetlands, the establishment of hydro schemes and associated fluctions in lake levels, but also motor boat wash and noise disrupting nesting activity. It is estimated there are only 300-400 widely-dispersed birds remaining in the South Island.