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Archives For 30/11/1999

Te Karaka kids send Waihirere Reserve pests packing

Department of Conservation —  19/12/2013

By Awhina White, DOC Conservation Partnership Manager, East Coast

It’s great to see the kids of Te Karaka Area School doing their bit to ensure native species are safe by keeping stoat numbers down at Waihirere Domain, in Gisborne.

DOC Ranger, Joe Waikari, shows Te Karaka students how to GPS their trap location, so that when they come back to check the trap-line they can find the trap again.

DOC Ranger, Joe Waikari, shows Te Karaka students how to GPS
their trap location, so that when they come back to check
the trap-line they can find it again

“Kids have been finding out about the importance of protecting our natural heritage; planting native trees at Te Wherowhero Lagoon; learning about the pest control programme in the Whinray Scenic Reserve; and doing the stoat trapping in Waihirere Domain. It’s a win-win: the native species thrive and the kids get to learn new skills,” says Ms Ranier Davie, a teacher at the school.

At a recent ‘bio blitz’, which surveyed native species in Waihirere Domain, it was great to discover taonga species like longfin eel, inanga and pekapeka (native bat) that are very rare and disappearing. It is really impressive how the school has turned awareness into action.

Te Karaka student, Courtney Fleming, hammers a pink triangle, indicating the trap number location, onto a nearby tree on the main track

Te Karaka student, Courtney Fleming, hammers a pink triangle, indicating the trap number location, onto a nearby tree on the main track

The kids each built and named their own box for a stoat trap, baited it with an egg, and put it out on the reserve.

What the kids are doing is very inspiring and I hope it encourages other schools to get involved in similar projects.

Pests such as stoats, ferrets and rodents are a major threat to native species. Control programmes to manage and remove pests are essential if we want our natural treasures to live alongside us in the forests and around the places we live.

Visitors to the reserve are asked to support the trapping programme by not disturbing these traps.

In Animal pests, East Coast, Native animals, Native plants, Volunteers , , , ,
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Champion for godwits

Department of Conservation —  02/12/2013

By Rudy Tetteroo, Programme Manager (Community Relations), Motueka

Pauline Samways, together with the Motueka Arts Council, has greatly increased local community awareness of godwits: birds who complete their non-stop migration from Alaska to here in New Zealand.

Pauline observing the godwits on the Motueka sandspit.

Pauline in Motueka with the godwits

Pauline was recently recognised as a Conservation Champion for her tireless work in helping raise the profile of Motueka’s most important annual visitor.

Just over ten years ago, Pauline left the classroom behind after being awarded a Science, Mathematics and Technology Teaching Fellowship by the Royal Society of New Zealand. This allowed Pauline to spend a year on the Motueka sandspit learning about its ecology. It was this experience that made Pauline realise just how truly amazing godwits are.

After following the progress of the satellite-tagged birds, Pauline saw how important the DOC managed Motueka sandspit was to the long-haul travellers who nested there. After her submission to the local council to ban dogs from roaming on the spit was unsuccessful, Pauline wrote articles for the local newspapers about the different birds that were found on the spit and relied on it for their survival. Her submission was later revised and the last 200 meters of the sandspit are now dog free thanks to her efforts.

People viewing the godwits using telescopes.

People viewing the godwits

In 2008 the Motueka Arts Council joined the unofficial Godwits Appreciation Club whilst looking for a new project that would be special to the Motueka Township. They came up with the idea of a ‘Welcome to the Godwits’ celebration—an exhibition of art, photography, poetry and sculpture by adults and school children, along with information about the birds and the importance of the estuary.

“We visited schools to enthuse the children who in turn carried the message to their parents,” says Pauline.

Pauline’s own “Viewing of the Godwits” event saw local Ornithological Society of New Zealand members set up their telescopes on the old wharf over-looking the estuary. People came out to view the godwits feeding and to hear about the amazing journey they made every year. The “Viewing of the Godwits” event paired up with the Motueka Arts Councils festival for three years following its debut and included guest speakers, a dress up parade and art on the waterfront. These events encouraged one local school to publish a book (called ‘Never Ending Summer’) on the topic with the first 200 copies selling out.

Godwits landing on the Motueka sandspit after their migration from Alaska.

Godwits landing in Motueka

In the past three years, a colony of white fronted terns has been nesting at the end of the sandspit. To help manage these predators, DOC provided Pauline with six traps, which she and a friend now monitor regularly.

The increased awareness of godwits in the Motueka community is greatly due to Pauline’s hard work and her partnership with the Motueka Arts Council, as well as the support from DOC and the Tasman District Council.

Pauline has been the community voice working in a methodical and persistent fashion in the best interest of the birds. It’s the quiet, unassuming style that has allowed her to succeed where others have failed.

Pauline using her telescope to observe the godwits.

Pauline using her telescope

In Native animals , , , , , , ,
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A ‘birdie’ for conservation

Department of Conservation —  28/11/2013

By Anna McKnight, DOC Partnership Ranger

Twelve year old Dylan Bagley came to Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary, near Lake Taupō, to practice his golf swings after school, and ended up helping to release a baby kiwi.

Kiwi chick Georgie, with David Speirs and Renee Potae from DOC, and kiwi kids Dylan and Amy Bagley.

Kiwi chick, Georgie, with David Speirs and Renee Potae from DOC,
and kiwi kids Dylan and Amy Bagley

Ten kiwi chicks will be released within the predator proof fenced golf course over the spring and summer months.

Dylan and his family were in the right place at the right time to get a kiwi experience of a lifetime—helping the Department of Conservation kiwi team release a chick into the forest.

Dylan couldn’t wait to go to school the next day and say, “You’ll never guess what I did at golf last night?!”

Making Georgie's burrow to release her in.

Making Georgie’s burrow to release her in

The Tongariro chick was named ‘Georgie’ as she hatched on the date of Prince George’s christening.

DOC are using the private sanctuary as a local opportunity to crèche baby kiwi chicks.

“Partnering with DOC has allowed us to contribute to the conservation of one of New Zealand’s endangered species and broadens the experience of our golfers,” says Nigel Lloyd, Wairakei Golf course manager.

The use of the local sanctuary has many advantages for the Tongariro Kiwi Team, not only reducing travel time for rangers and volunteers, but also experiencing the novelty of transporting kiwi in golf carts!

Experiencing the novelty of transporting kiwi in golf carts.

DOC’s Jo de Lange and Renee Potae experience the novelty
of transporting kiwi in golf carts

David Speirs with Dylan and Amy.

DOC’s new partnership director for the Central North Island region,
David Speirs, with Dylan and Amy Bagley

BNZ Operation Nest Egg (ONE) enables DOC to take kiwi eggs from the local Tongariro Forest, one of five national sanctuaries for kiwi.

The eggs are hatched at Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter and reared to about 400 grams. The chicks then stay at Wairakei until they weigh about 1 kilogram, big enough to fight off stoats, giving them a higher chance of survival for their release back into the wild.

Amy, David and kiwi Georgie.

Amy, David and the gorgeous Georgie

While young Dylan has a promising future in golf with a handicap of 12, Georgie is lowering her handicap without having to play against stoats. It would also be fair to say that Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary are playing above par for conservation with this birdie!

Plus a bonus for Dylan – he scored some lost golf balls from the forest where Georgie was released!

Plus a bonus for Dylan – he scored some lost golf balls from the
forest where Georgie was released!

In Central North Island, Kiwi, Native animals , , , ,
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Photo of the week: Takahē Expedition

Department of Conservation —  20/11/2013

If you’re a regular reader of the blog then you’d be aware that this month we’re giving special attention to the critically endangered takahē. Today, however, is extra special because on 20 November 1948 — exactly 65 years ago — takahē were rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland.

“It’s either a damned big swampy [swamp hen, or pukeko], or it’s it,” whispered Dr Geoffrey Orbell to his companions, when they spotted the first bird.

Today’s photo of the week shows Dr Robert Falla (left) holding a  takahē chick and Dr Geoffrey Orbell (right), in Takahe Valley, Fiordland.

Takahe Expedition, photo of Dr R. Falla (left) holding takahe chick and Dr G.B. Orbell (right), Takahe Valley, Fiordland. Original photo probably taken by J. H. Sorenson.

To celebrate takahē, and to highlight their plight, Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue are running events throughout November, including the chance to win the Ultimate Takahē Experience in the Murchison Mountains.

Learn more about Takahē Awareness Month on the DOC website.

In Fiordland, Native animals , , ,
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These are the Days of our ‘takahē’ Lives

Department of Conservation —  19/11/2013

By Jeff Hall, Biodiversity Ranger, Mana Island.

The takahē population on Mana Island have had a few new pairings formed over recent months, as a result of the sort of behaviour that could only be likened to an episode of “Days of our Lives” or “The Young and the Restless”.

Fence around takahē home on Mana Island.

Takahē home on Mana Island

While it is not always a good idea to anthropomorphise a wild animals behaviour, the antics of one of our recent immigrants does seem to warrant it.

McCaw (named when she hatched soon after the All Blacks won the 2011 Rugby World Cup) came to Mana Island from Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds for an “arranged marriage” with one of our young lads.

McCaw spent three weeks in a large enclosure with her new suitor, Nohorua. They appeared to be getting along, but as it turned out she had other plans. The male from another pair that lived beside the enclosure had caught her eye. Within a couple of days of release McCaw left Nohorua, and used her youthful energy and good looks to split up the long established pairing of Kat and Santi.

Two takahē on Mana Island.

McCaw and Santi the takahē are nesting

But like all good day time television dramas these heart breaking acts had a happy outcome for some; McCaw and Santi have just started nesting. Kat – after licking her wounds and shaking her tail feathers has landed herself a younger man in Hori. But what of the jilted Nohorua you ask? His quest to find the perfect match continues.

Our takahē are well into another breeding season, with nine pairs nesting. The first nests of the season have started to hatch so hopefully we get a reasonable run of weather to help the chicks establish.

Three children coming face to face with a takahē on Mana Island.

Meeting a takahē

We had planned to do another egg transfer to Southland this year, but the birds had other plans. Our birds were a bit tardy in getting going while the southern “foster” pairs started earlier. The requirement for them to start around the same time was lost on the takahē, but at least they’re nesting!

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In Native animals , , , , , , ,
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