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Archives For 30/11/1999

Wandering albatross chick on Chatham Islands

Dave Houston —  24/10/2012

Antipodean wandering albatross chick atop Hapeka on Pitt Island

By Dave Houston

Remote Ranger

For 5 years Kenny Dix was DOC’s ranger in New Zealand’s most remote community – Pitt Island.  Situated 25km south of Chatham Island, the 6,000 ha Pitt Island is home to around 30 people – and one pair of Antipodean wandering albatross.

Now working on the “big smoke” of Chatham Island, Kenny recently took the opportunity to return to Pitt to band the wandering albatross chick atop Hakepa, one of the islands high points.   This is the sixth Antipodean wandering albatross chick to be raised on Pitt Island and the fouth for the Hapeka pair.  Taking almost a full year to raise, this chick will hopefully fledge in January and commence wandering the Southern Ocean.  It may be up to 10 years before the chick settles down and breeds for the first time.

Northern Antipodes?

As the name suggests, the primary home of the Antipodean wandering albatross are the Antipodes Islands, some 700km to the south.  Having visited the Antipodes myself, I can see why Hakepa’s windswept plateau,  tussock and fern vegetation and magnificent views seem like home to the albatross.

Kenny Dix and Albatross

Kenny with one of the proud albatross parents

Southern neighbours

Another pair of albatross at the Southern end of Pitt produced a chick two years ago, however failed to return this year to breed.  We’re hoping that they might show up next year so than Kenny can keep up his banding skills.

Pitt Island panorama

Pitt Island

In Chatham Islands, Native animals , , ,
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Tuatara on Tour

Department of Conservation —  18/10/2012

Codenamed ‘Tuatara on Tour’, DOC, together with Air New Zealand and Ngāti Koata, have just achieved the largest and most complex tuatara relocation ever undertaken.

Over 260 tuatara were transported, on commercial flights from Wellington to Gisborne, Hamilton and Dunedin, to live in new homes at predator-free locations on the mainland. DOC staff were on hand to help facilitate the relocation.

The tuatara traveled by helicopter from Takapourewa (Stephens Island) in the Marlborough Sounds to Wellington Airport. After hanging out in the Koru Lounge and meeting some of their fellow passengers, the ancient reptiles boarded their flights, housed in their own travelling tubes complete with “handle with care” baggage tags.

Mike Elkington (Ngati Koata), Chris Birmingham (DOC), Rob Fyfe (Air New Zealand) and one Takapourewa tuatara on board an Air New Zealand plane.

Mike Elkington (Ngati Koata), Chris Birmingham (DOC), Rob Fyfe (Air New Zealand) and one Takapourewa tuatara

Carrianne Boyd checks the tuatara through to Maugatautari in the Waikato

Carrianne Boyd checks the tuatara through to Maugatautari in the Waikato

Tuatara are not well known for being frequent flyers, in fact they don’t generally travel more than about 20 metres from their burrows over the entire course of their lives. Luckily Air New Zealand stepped in and was happy to provide them with the transport needed to ensure these mainland populations could be re-established throughout the country.

60 of the tuatara flew to Dunedin where they were relocated to the Orokonui Sanctuary. This marks the first return of the species to the wild in the South Island and is by far the furthest south that tuatara have been free to roam in 100 years.

Other groups of tuatara went to Whangaokeno Island in north east of Gisborne, Cape Sanctuary in Hawke’s Bay, Young Nicks Head Sanctuary near Gisborne and Maungatautari in Central Waikato.

Takapourewa, where the reptiles originate, is also predator free and home to around 30,000 tuatara, which is around half of the country’s population.

Handle with care tags attached to the tuatara cargo.

‘Handle with care’ tags were attached to this precious cargo

Because Takapourewa is home to so many tuatara it is hoped that relocating these living fossils will enable them to grow bigger. The overpopulation on Takapourewa means that the tuatara won’t grow to their full capacity. There has also been evidence that some of the mature males have hunted juveniles.

The relocation was a great success and all the tuatara arrived safe and sound at their new homes.

Have you been lucky enough to see a tuatara in real life? What did you think of these amazing and ancient creatures? We’d love to hear your story. Leave us a comment.

Tuatara facts

  • Tuatara were once widespread in New Zealand but were extinct on the mainland by the late 1700s due to predation by introduced mammals, human harvest and habitat changes.
  • Tuatara survive naturally on about 30 offshore islands – the equivalent of just 0.5% of their former range.
  • New Zealand’s total tuatara population is estimated at greater than 60,000.
In Native animals, Regions , , , ,
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Bird of the Year – who to put your money on!

Sirocco the Spokesbird —  09/10/2012

Skrraaaarrk! When it comes to choosing which bird to back you’ll never go wrong putting your money (or in this case vote) on kākāpō. However, in my official role as Spokesbird for Conservation, I thought I should be a little less biased. So today, filled with benevolence, I’m going to profile some of the lesser contenders for 2012 Bird of the Year.

And what better place to start than the native birds on that rare species – New Zealand’s bank notes…

Yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho

A New Zealand $5 bank note featuring a Hoiho/Yellow-eyed penguin.

Yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho

Kākāpō and hoiho are more similar than you’d think: We’re one of the world’s rarest parrots and they’re one of the world’s rarest penguins. We mostly live on small islands around the south of New Zealand, and so do they (although they’ve got a colony on the Otago Peninsula just out of Dunedin too). We’re also both flight challenged, but make up for it with dashing good looks.

Blue duck/whio

A New Zealand $10 bank note with the Whio/Blue duck.

Whio/Blue duck

Kākāpō aren’t the biggest fans of water (although I have been known to take a dip), but whio are built to swim. While the fast flowing mountain streams are too rough for most ducks, whio love these hectic habitats and can easily negotiate rapids, boulders and logs in these swift currents. Whio are reluctant flyers, but I say flying is overrated anyway!

New Zealand falcon/Kārearea

A New Zealand $20 bank note featuring a Kārearea/NZ falcon.

Kārearea/New Zealand falcon

I may hold the title of New Zealand’s biggest show-off, but kārearea aren’t far behind. They can fly, and love to rub it in, with acrobatics and speeds of 230 km/hr. Boom! And with vision six times more powerful than a human and a terrifying scream, usually executed before descending on its prey, kārearea are a force to be reckoned with.

Kōkako

A New Zealand $50 bank note featuring a Kōkako.

Kōkako

Even I don’t mind admitting, kōkako are beautiful singers. Once upon a time kākāpō and kōkako use to run into each other all the time, but the introduction of pests saw both our species start to disappear – the South Island sub-species hasn’t been seen since 1967 – skrraaaaarrk!

Yellowhead/mohua

A New Zealand $100 bank note featuring a Mohua/Yellowhead.

Mohua/Yellowhead

Like many of us natives, a few hundred years ago mohua were quite common. They weren’t built to survive rats and stoats though, and now this beautiful, bright bird is counted among New Zealand’s threatened species. Luckily, they’re quite good at reproducing (unlike a certain large, green, flightless parrot :<>) so, if we can get rid of the nasties that have caused their decline, then mohua have a good chance of recovery.

Mohua in a tree: photo from the Department of Conservation.

Mohua/yellowhead in a tree.

So there you have it, a quick profile of some of the competition that kākāpō are up against for Bird of the Year. Remember to vote before October 10 and let me know in the comments what your favourite New Zealand bird is (after the kākāpō of course!)

In Native animals, Sirocco the kakapo , , , ,
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Jobs at DOC Jonathan Kearvell, Biodiversity Ranger – Orange-fronted Parakeet

Department of Conservation —  05/10/2012

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Jonathan Kearvell, Biodiversity Ranger orange-fronted parakeet.

Taking an orange-front out of a mist net and trying not to get my fingers too badly torn!

Taking an orange-front out of a mist net and trying not to get my fingers too badly torn

Name: Jonathan Kearvell

Position: Biodiversity Ranger Orange-fronted Parakeet, Waimakariri Area.

At work…

What kind of things do you do in your role?

My primary role is acting as Team Leader for the Orange-fronted Parakeet team, which entails guiding the breeding season team when searching for and protecting nests, monitoring parakeet numbers and general valley searches. Apart from lots of data entry in the winter I also have a freshwater role, including Mudfish monitoring.

What is the best part of your job?

Easy—working with the best people ever; makes the job a joy. Thanks all.


What is the hardest part about the job?

Working a 10 day away (four at home) roster for seven months of the year, and this for most years since 1995. I’m sure quite a few do this but it sure makes it hard on my long suffering wife.

What led you to your role in DOC?

I simply had to work for DOC, right from the day we emigrated here in 1993; who wouldn’t. So I walked in the door on the first day and asked. So thanks Andy Grant and Ian Hill for giving me my first jobs; volunteering and then some historic inventory research.

John trying to find orange-fronts on Maud Island.

Trying to find orange-fronts on Maud Island

John checking out a parakeet nest.

Checking out a parakeet nest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What was the highlight from the month just gone?

Hearing that they had spotted an unbanded orange-fronted parakeet on Blumine Island; they were first translocated there 9 months ago and they are breeding; just great.

The rule of three…..

3 loves

  1. My wife
  2. My family
  3. My crazy dog Murphy

3 pet peeves

  1. Litter
  2. Wasting food
  3. Failing to identify yet another parakeet
  4. …and of course wee Kirsty. I know that’s four but she will understand

3 foods

In no particular order:

  1. Homemade coffee cake
  2. Chocolate
  3. Real ale
A photo from John of the hurunui river with mountains in the background.

The south branch of the Hurunui river

3 favourite places in New Zealand

  • The South Branch of the Hurunui (in Lake Sumner Forest Park) will always be special to me and I never tired of going there
  • Mangere Island in the Chathams is also a huge favourite
  • Akaroa, it is just such a cool place

Favourite movie, album, book

  • Movie – just has to be the quirky French comedy ‘Amelie’
  • Album – easily Loreena McKennitt and ‘Nights from the Alhambra’, although Imelda May is a close second these days
  • Book – I first read it 47 years ago; it has to be Lord of the Rings

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?
Don’t panic, don’t rush, life will show you the way.

Who or what inspires you?
People like Aung San Suu Kyi; she believes, she has faith.

Electric fishing in Arthur’s Pass National Park, with my super supervisor, Simon Elkington..

Electric fishing in Arthur’s Pass National Park, with my supervisor, Simon Elkington

The trials of working on Mangere Island; and this skua drew blood!

The trials of working on Mangere Island; and this skua drew blood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A soldier in the Royal Marines, but I ended up in the junior TA instead.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?
Either a jump jockey or an archaeologist; and I’ve been one in a wee way.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?
Second hand is OK.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year-at home? At work?
Grow even more wonderful vegetables and cycle more often to work, even when it’s raining.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?
Sorry all but it is going to have to be an orange-fronted parakeet. I want to know what it is like flying really fast through dense vegetation; they are just awesome at it. Especially when a falcon is on their tail!

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?
I quote from Maggie Kuhn; “Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind even if your voice shakes”.

The Orange-fronted Parakeet is a beautiful bird, what is your favourite New Zealand bird species?

In Canterbury, Jobs at DOC, Native animals, Regions , , ,
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Sirocco’s photo contest: we have a winner!

Sirocco the Spokesbird —  02/10/2012

Skraaarrrk!  You’ve probably already noticed that as the Spokesbird for Conversation I’ve been running a photo contest to celebrate people and parks for Conservation Week 2012.

Well, after a frenzied voting period on my Facebook page to get our top ten photos, my pal (and internationally recognised nature photographer extraordinaire) Rob Suisted has chosen the winner. Boom-roll please…

Winner

Congratulations Jill Hoffman from Invercargill!

Photo of three children tramping in the Iris Burn Valley, Kepler Track, Te Anau with a rainbow in the background.

Early morning in the Iris Burn Valley, Kepler Track, Te Anau

Rob says…

“To me this photo captures a great interaction with one of our National Parks and wild places – a beautiful location, well framed, lots of interest, great lighting and mood. Well done”

DOC says…

“The Kepler Track is a a great track for you and your family, especially if you love the outdoors, want an adventure with a bit of a physical challenge that is not too hard to get to and has excellent facilities. The scenery is just spectacular as evidenced by this beautiful photo. Good work Jill.”

So, a big boom to you Jill! You are the winner of the amazing Fiordland adventure.

Rob also chose two other photos that he thought deserved honourable mentions.

Honourable Mentions

Greta File, Napier

A beautiful early morning view from the long drop. A cold winter morning in the Kaweka forest is greeted by the early morning sun melting the frost atop of the Makino Hut.

A beautiful early morning view from the long drop. A cold winter morning in the Kaweka forest is greeted by the early morning sun melting the frost atop of the Makino Hut.

Rob says…

“I think this image has the strongest pure photographic qualities of the selection – It has strong composition, is bravely shot into the light, slightly mystical, and it doesn’t fully reveal its subject, there by allowing the viewer to ponder it.”

DOC Says…

“Kaweka Forest is a backcountry park that offers everything from rafting, canoeing, and fishing to hot springs, hunting and tramping. An array of huts are on offer – like Makino Hut which has been gloriously captured by Greta in this shot”

Christel van Krieken, Gisborne

Harakeke in flower, Punakaiki; the gateway to Paparoa National Park.

Harakeke in flower, Punakaiki; the gateway to Paparoa National Park

Rob says…

“I liked the textures and colours with this. If the photographer had have lifted the camera a little the mid ground would have revealed itself more and given a stronger sense of depth, something that’s important when shooting in high sunlight in the middle of the day when less shadow reduces form to an image.”

DOC Says…

“Limestone cliffs and canyons, caves and underground streams, and an absolutely spectacular coastline, are all packed into Paparoa National Park. Paparoa’s luxuriant coastal forest is on display in this image from Christel.”

A corkboard with the other photos, in polaroid format, that made it in to the top ten.

The other photos that made it into the top ten of the photo contest

So, that’s the end of my competition, but that doesn’t mean we should stop enjoying New Zealand’s great parks. So keep taking those photos and share them with me.

Rob Suisted with a South Georgia elephant seal pup.

Rob Suisted with a South Georgia elephant seal pup resting on his legs

A big thanks to Rob for lending us his time and expert eye to help us find our winner. Rob has a passion for the parks and the wild places of New Zealand and was therefore a great choice to judge our contest.

Rob is an internationally respected wilderness and nature photographer. He has published many books and calendars, and his photos have featured on countless magazine covers.

Rob also runs a very successful image library of over 50,000 of his own NZ natural images. You can learn more about his work and view some of his beautiful photos on his site www.naturespic.com.

In Fiordland, Old Conservation Week posts, Sirocco the kakapo , , , , , ,
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