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Archives For 30/11/1999

Westland black petrel grows up

Department of Conservation —  18/11/2013

By Lisa Hamker, Visitor Centre Ranger at Paparoa National Park.

Last month I shared a photo of one of our newest, cutest, and fluffiest additions here on the West Coast — a one month old Westland black petrel chick in its burrow just south of Punakaiki.

One month later and look what the fluffy petrel chick has turned into!

A juvenile Westland black petrel in a burrow. Photo: Bruce Stuart-Menteath.

The fluffy Westland black petrel has grown up

Like all children, this one grew up very fast, and has turned into an almost adult looking Westland black petrel. He has kept his handsome smile though, as well as some fluff on his belly.

His parents fed him well but, when he got too chubby to fit through the tunnel to get out of the burrow, they left him to get back into fighting fit shape for his next big adventure — flying practice!

Flying practice involves jumping off a cliff, launching into the air and, most of the time, a not so graceful crash landing. Good luck petrel, we’ve got our fingers crossed for you!

Thanks to Bruce Stuart-Menteath from Paparoa Nature Tours for the photograph.

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Ladies for Takahē night

Department of Conservation —  14/11/2013

By Amy Brasch

Last month, Mitre 10 MEGA Petone teamed up with DOC to host the first annual “Ladies for Takahē” night. With over 400 ladies present, the evening was a lot of fun, and helped raise money and awareness for the DOC Takahē Recovery Programme.

Ladies flocked to the store after-hours to visit various themed booths, including: takahē conservation information, DIY demos, gardening tips, pin-the-beak on the takahē, a mini manicure station, a chocolate fondue and cheese tasting booth, forklift driving lessons, paintball activities, a sausage sizzle and more.

The wild critters at Mitre 10 Mega Petone.

Wild critters at Mitre 10 Mega Petone.

Tark the takahē striking a pose.

Tark the takahē striking a pose

Tark the takahē particularly enjoyed meeting Levi. However, he waddled as fast as possible past the ‘Pin-the-beak on the takahē’ competition to avoid getting pricked!

At the DOC stall, the ladies learned all about Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue and the Department of Conservation Takahē Recovery Programme.

Their knowledge was tested when they completed a brief quiz. Six winners were drawn from the pile of completed takahē quizzes to receive free family passes to Zealandia to visit the local takahē residents, Puffin and T2.

Amy Brasch pinning the nose on the takahē.

Amy Brasch pinning the nose on the takahē

Have you met Puffin and T2 yet? - posterParticipants also learnt that Wellington has two safe sites for takahē to call home—on Kapiti and Mana Islands. These offshore islands are two of five pest-free islands around New Zealand where takahē can breed safely without the threat of predation.

“Mitre 10 MEGA Petone knows how to attract the ladies—what a well attended event!

“It was great to interact with the women and make the connection to the local takahē on Kapiti Island, Mana Island, Mt. Bruce and Zealandia,” said Janna Kostus, DOC Community Partnerships Coordinator.

It is amazing to think that just 65 years ago takahē were so rare that people assumed they were extinct. It’s through conservation efforts, like the DOC Takahē Recovery Programme, that takahē were saved from extinction.

But, takahē still need our help! There are only 260 alive today, which is why Tark is so happy that Mitre 10 MEGA, Zealandia and the lovely ladies of Wellington supported the work of the Takahē Recovery Programme.

The evening raised $775 to give to Takahē Rescue.

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Photo of the week: Takahē at Tiritiri Matangi

Department of Conservation —  06/11/2013

Today’s photo of the week is of a curious takahē making new friends during a sunny day at the beach.

This photo was taken by Peter Harrison at Tiritiri Matangi Island, a wildlife sanctuary and one of the most important conservation projects in the Auckland region.

Takahe at the beach on Tiritiri Matangi. Photo: Peter Harrison/flickr.

November marks the 65th anniversary of the rediscovery of the takahē in 1948. Previously takahē were assumed extinct but were rediscovered by Geoffrey Orbell near Lake Te Anau in the Murchison Mountains.

To celebrate this anniversary November has been chosen as Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue Month. To find out more about the planned celebrations visit the Mitre 10 Takahe Rescue Facebook page.

Related links:

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Teaching dogs new kiwi tricks

Department of Conservation —  05/11/2013

By Cherry Beaver, Trustee, Puketi Forest Trust

The Department of Conservation recently organised a kiwi aversion training day at Puketi Forest in the Bay of Islands. The training course was well supported with over 60 dogs and their owners attending ― luckily for the trainers not all at once!

A dog in front of the sign at kiwi aversion training. Photo: Cherry Beaver.

Over 60 dogs attended kiwi aversion training at Puketi Forest, including Nichol

The training days are a really important lesson for any dog that is likely to encounter a kiwi. It is an important tool in teaching dogs that kiwi are something they should stay away from.

As part of the training three model kiwis are placed along a small bush track. The dog wears a collar and receives a mild electric shock when they pass and sniff the kiwi. Generally they only need one shock and they learn to avoid the next bird.

A dog in the forest learning to avoid kiwi. Photo: Cherry Beaver.

Nichol in the bush during his kiwi aversion training

I took my dog Nichol, and I was amazed at how fast the process worked and how the dogs learn to avoid the kiwi so quickly.

The training is not foolproof and it is recommended that dogs complete the training each year, but many kiwi could be saved if all dogs went through this simple and effective training.

A North Island brown kiwi. Photo: Eric Carlson.

North Island brown kiwi

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Giveaway: Native birds of New Zealand poster

Elizabeth Marenzi —  21/10/2013

We have had so many great comments telling us why you want this beautiful poster. The giveaway is now closed and the winning comment (picked at random) is from Anna Margaret. Em Scott also picks up a copy for naming all of the birds. Thanks for commenting.

If you’ve been following the Conservation Blog for a while you might remember that last November we gave away a copy of Buller’s Birds of New Zealand.

At the time I said that each painting was a masterpiece that I wanted to frame for my wall. I also said that pulling apart such a precious book for a piece of wall art would be criminal. This month I found the solution to my problem. May I present to you Native Birds of New Zealand—the poster.

The image used in this poster is a cromolithograph (c. 1900) by William Shaw Diedrich Schmidt. The birds in Schmidt’s work were based on the artwork of J.G Keulemans in Walter Buller’s A History of the Birds of New Zealand.

Buller's birds of New Zealand. The poster.

How gorgeous is that? How perfect would it look on my (ahem, I mean your) wall? How great would it be to win a copy?

Well, today you have a chance, thanks to Te Papa Press.

All you need to do to be in with a shot of winning the Native Birds of New Zealand poster is to leave a comment on this post before 12 noon, Wednesday 23 October 2013, telling us why you want it. 

A winner will be selected at random and contacted by email.

For an extra chance to win (yes, that’s two copies of the poster we’re giving away), and a fun challenge for the dedicated bird lovers amongst us, who can name the most birds in the poster?

Good luck!

Unfortunately we can only post to New Zealand addresses.

The Native Birds of New Zealand poster (755mm x 449mm) is valued at $24.99 and is available to purchase from Te Papa (and their online store).

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