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Archives For 30/11/1999

Photo of the week: Kapiti Island

Department of Conservation —  02/07/2014

Kapiti Island is host to one of the largest accessible island bird sanctuaries in New Zealand and deserves to be enjoyed by as many of us as possible.

Kapiti Island.

To encourage you to visit Kapiti Island permit fees have been reduced:

–  If you’re an adult the permit fee is now $10 (down from $28.75).

–  If you’re 17 or under you don’t have to pay a permit fee at all.

Kapiti Island is only one hour from Wellington, and boasts a unique environment populated with birds and wildlife rarely seen on the mainland.

Have you visited Kapiti Island yet?

Photo by Kathrin & Stefan Marks | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

In Islands, Photo of the week , , , , ,
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Biodiversity day creates a storm

Department of Conservation —  28/06/2014

Partnerships Ranger John Barkla writes about the recent community day in Dunedin to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity.

In a scene reminiscent of the Pied Piper of Hamelin I watched as Ranger Jim Fyfe, grim determination etched on his face, led the unsuspecting children up the hill away from their parents. Actually it was all above board and the kids were willing and enthusiastic tree planters on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua in the Otago Harbour.

Ranger Jim Fyfe leading the children up the hill on Biodiversity Day.

Ranger Jim Fyfe leads the children up the hill

The day started with a gathering on the Otago Peninsula. Four speakers gave unique perspectives on what islands meant to them, with historical, ecological, spiritual and management themes all explored.

While the adults were being enthralled with this, the children were off having a fun learning time under the watchful eye of local Kiwi Conservation Club organiser Tiff Stewart.

For the DOC rangers present it was a chance to reconnect with old friends, make new acquaintances and share island experiences and stories.

Ranger Jim Fyfe planting trees with the children.

Ranger Jim explains the finer points of tree planting

Following a sumptuous lunch we all took the short boat journey to Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua where resident caretaker Gordon Douglas gave a brief welcome before everyone grabbed a plant or two and carried them up to the planting site amongst tall rank grass.

Once the planting was dispensed with it was time to explore the forest. What started as a pleasant wander, under warm north-westerly conditions, turned into an unforgettable show of the force of nature. With little warning, a south-westerly front hit the island bringing 70 km/hr plus winds that whipped the sea into a fury and drove rain and stinging hail onto those caught by the onslaught.

The storm front approaching the island.

The south-westerly front about to hit

The group was quickly and safely shepherded back along the spine of the island to the ’The Lodge’ where hot drinks and food restored composure. Conditions soon eased enough for everyone to be ferried back to the wharf on the mainland.

This was a day to be remembered; great company and fascinating perspectives with some wild island weather thrown in for good measure!

In Islands, Native plants , ,
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Tracking titi’s travels

Department of Conservation —  24/06/2014

Titi, or sooty shearwaters, have one of the longest migrations of any bird on the planet.

Department of Conservation sea bird scientist, Graeme Taylor, is on Rangatira Island, in the Chatham Islands, to find out where they go.

His team employ a novel approach to try to retrieve 16 geolocators in 10 days.

Have a watch…

Rangatira Island, is one of New Zealand’s premier sea bird islands. It is free of all introduced pests and it is riddled with sea bird burrows.

In Chatham Islands, Islands, Native animals , , ,
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Volunteering on Matiu/Somes Island

Kurt Sharpe —  16/06/2014

We’re celebrating National Volunteer Week (15-21 June 2014). Join us as we share stories of the volunteers who contribute to conservation.

Matiu/Somes Island had been on my list of places to visit in Wellington since I moved here 7 years ago and, when I recently spotted a volunteering opportunity online, I knew it would be a great way to see some of the island and at the same time play my part in helping to protect and restore it.

Kurt holding a giant weta on Matiu/Somes Island.

Cook Strait giant weta

It was a calm morning when I arrived down on the Wellington waterfront to catch the ferry across to the island.

15 of us showed up (all complete strangers) and we were all keen to get stuck in and help out Rangers Jo and Emma, who live on the island and look after it.

On the ferry with Wellington City in the background.

Taking the ferry over to Matiu/Somes Island

Once on the island we were taken through the biosecurity process and then made our way up to the Visitor Centre.

Jo and Emma had jobs lined up for us and gave us plenty of options to make sure we did jobs that we enjoyed.

Visitor Centre sign on Matiu/Somes Island.

First stop – Visitor centre

I chose some of the more physical jobs and ended up helping regravel some tracks, clear overgrown paths and gutters and clean out the gun emplacements on the top of the island – the last of which offered some amazing 360° views around the harbour.

Gun emplacements at the top of Matiu/Somes Island.

Gun emplacements after a good clean out

At lunch time we were able to explore the island and check out the historic lighthouse and quarantine facilities. There was also an array of native species on the island to look out for, including kākāriki, tuatara, giant weta and little blue penguins.

The lighthouse on Matiu/Somes Island.

The lighthouse

The volunteers were a great group of people and it was the enthusiasm that everyone bought to the day that made sure it was never dull or difficult.

The time seemed to fly by and after a few more jobs after lunch it was time to head back down to the ferry.

Matiu/Somes Island at the end of the day.

Heading home.

A stunning island, a sunny day, some physical activity (who needs a gym?) and meeting a great group of people. What more could you want? I can’t wait to go back and help out again!

In Islands, Volunteers, Wellington/Kapiti , , , , ,
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DOC helps Gough Island eradicate mice

Department of Conservation —  03/06/2014

Keith Broome is part of DOC’s Island Eradication Advisory Group (IEAG), which provides expert knowledge to help rid pests on islands both in New Zealand and across the world.

Today, Keith tells us about his trip to Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, to help plan the removal of mice. 

Keith Broome. Photo: Chris Bell.

Keith Broome on Gough Island

Last September, at the request of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), I travelled to Cape Town to join a voyage to Gough Island to help develop the project to eradicate mice from the 6500 ha island.

The wild coast of Gough Island the most significant seabird island in the Atlantic.

The wild coast of Gough Island the most significant seabird island in the Atlantic

DOC has been long involved in the Gough mouse eradication project, following an offer in 2005 by the then Minister of Conservation to support the project with technical advice.

Accompanying me on this voyage was Peter Garden, a very experienced helicopter pilot based in Wanaka, who has flown several aerially applied rodent eradication projects in New Zealand and around the world.

Peter Garden on the deck of Agulhas II. Gough Island in the background.

Peter Garden on the deck of Agulhas II. Gough Island in the background

The brief was to gather some first-hand knowledge of the island and to work with Peter to update the current draft operational plan.

The project has many parallels with our Antipodes mouse eradication project, so the experience was valuable in thinking through the planning issues and eradication design, as well as the logistical issues and options to address them.

Gough bunting—endemic to Gough Island.

Gough bunting—endemic to Gough Island

The impacts of mice on the Gough ecosystem is substantial, and their impact on the endemic endangered Tristan albatross is catastrophic, with some study sites losing 9 of every 10 nests to mice.

Mouse predation is widespread among other seabird species as well, with records of attacks on yellow-nosed albatross, Sooty albatross and Atlantic petrel.

Yellow-nosed albatross on its nest.

Yellow-nosed albatross on its nest

I found that the island biosecurity system operating for Gough was good and I picked up a few tips.

Tristan albatross chick. Mouse attacks on younger birds kill about 70% per year

Tristan albatross chick. Mouse attacks on younger birds kill about 70% per year

For example, they use sticky traps with ultraviolet lights to attract flying insects. These are throughout the cargo store and on board the ship that sails to the island. The ship also has a policy of no food consumed outside the dining and lounge areas.

Spending time with Peter was extremely helpful in learning more about how helicopters operate in eradication operations and how pilots view various issues.

Seeing the aerial weather station resupply really brought home to me the incredible skill and efficiency with which Kiwi pilots work and how so much of this comes from our unique situation of having a large agricultural aviation industry, which supports the sort of flying skills we need in DOC work.

Keith at Tarn Moss, Gough Island.

Keith at Tarn Moss, Gough Island

On the whole, it was a great experience and great project to contribute to. I made a number of new contacts and grew my knowledge of island management and pest eradication.

In Animal pests, Islands , ,
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