Jobs at DOC: Fiordland Conservation Services Ranger, Chloe Corne

Department of Conservation —  28/02/2014

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 Chloe Corne, Conservation Services Ranger, Fiordland

Chloe Corne restraining a feisty fur seal pup on Breaksea Island.

Restraining a feisty fur seal pup on Breaksea Island

At work

Some things I do in my job include monitoring the populations of Fiordland bottlenose dolphins in Dusky and Doubtful Sounds in conjunction with Otago University.

These dolphins are unique, as they are the southernmost population of this species of dolphin, and have several unique morphological, behavioural and acoustic characteristics. They are also suffering from a number of potential threats.

Dolphins in Doubtful Sound. Photo: Rich Levine | flickr | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Dolphins in Doubtful Sound

Part of my job is to monitor compliance with the Code of Management that was put into place in Doubtful Sound complex to regulate interactions with marine mammals.

I will also participate in biodiversity monitoring in the Fiordland Marine Area, Undaria (Japanese kelp) eradication in Breaksea Sound, and freshwater monitoring and advocacy.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by working to catalogue and monitor the biodiversity and biosecurity of Fiordland Marine Area, so that appropriate sustainable management strategies can be applied.

The best bit about my job is the enormous potential for growing marine conservation. So much is still unknown about our oceans and the biodiversity that inhabits it.

My job already has an amazing amount of variety and I’ve only been here for a few weeks! I’m very excited to see what the future holds.

Young Fiordland fur seal. Photo: Andrea Schaffer | flickr | CC BY 2.0

Young fur seal, Fiordland

The most exciting DOC moment I’ve had so far is assisting a PhD thesis with collecting DNA samples from the southern fur seal population in order to assess the recolonisation pattern and gene flow of fur seal populations after the sealing era.

Not only has this not been attempted for the Fiordland rookeries thus far, the rookery we collected samples from was the pest-free Breaksea Island.

It felt like saddleback and robins were everywhere along the shoreline as we collected our tiny skin samples from the feisty fur seal pups, which were a lot harder to restrain than you would think!

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is Don Merton. While I never had the privilege to meet or work with him, Don’s achievements will be inspiring budding conservationists for years to come.

Don Merton holding kakapo "Richard Henry".

Don Merton holding kakapo “Richard Henry”

On a personal note…

If I could trade places with any other person for a week—famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional—it would be David Attenborough. Ideally he would be my grandfather.

My best ever holiday was in Mozambique. I could barely speak a word of Portuguese, and spent equal amounts of time avoiding dodgy looking characters and corrupt policemen alike.

Driving and navigation was an adventure with half the roads being 4WD tracks.

Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique. Photo: Richard Moross | flickr | CC BY 2.0

Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

About halfway up the coastline is an oasis called the Bazaruto Archipelago, with islands made of huge sand dunes, the east African coast’s last viable population of dugongs and some of the most pristine coral I have ever seen. Bliss.

My secret indulgence is travel, travel and more travel. Although this isn’t much of a secret.

Left: Releasing a Hawksbill turtle. Right: Exploring the crooked alleyways of Lamu.

Left: Releasing a rehabilitated Hawksbill turtle, Watamu, Kenya
Right: Exploring the crooked alleyways of Lamu

If I wasn’t working at DOC, I’d like to be a National Geographic wildlife photographer. It’s nice to dream.

Before working at DOC I lived and worked for a year and a half on Wasini Island, off the tropical coast of Kenya.

As a staff member for Global Vision International I spent my days monitoring cetaceans and sea turtles in a 300 kilometre squared study area, and snorkelling to gather in-water sea turtle habitat use data, and for coral and reef fish monitoring.

I originally went to Kenya for the dolphins, but ended up staying for the whales.

Photographing humpback whales off Mpunguti Marine Reserve, Kenya.

Photographing humpback whales off Mpunguti Marine Reserve, Kenya

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. – Leonardo da Vinci.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is to seize every opportunity that comes, as there is no guarantee that you will ever get that opportunity again.

In work and life I am motivated by others that have a really deep passion for something, and can communicate a bit of that passion to others.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is there are so many amazing, fun opportunities out there to get involved in conservation projects. Have a look at some of them and I promise you will be inspired.

Question of the week

Who would you like to play you in a film about your life?

Charlize Theron – but it would be the most boring film ever!

In Fiordland, Jobs at DOC, Marine , ,
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Cycling Central Otago gems

Department of Conservation —  27/02/2014

February is Bike Wise month and to celebrate Fiordland Biodiversity Ranger Chrissy Wickes tells us about her recent trip biking the Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold Trail.

Chrissy Wickes.

Chrissy Wickes

Having biked the Central Otago cycleway with my partner and son we were looking for another great cycle route in the Central Otago area.

We found a real gem, the Roxburgh Gorge and the Clutha Gold Trail and we headed off in January on a three day journey.

As we were doing it as a family we took our time doing 20-25 kilometres a day, and taking all day to do it! Why not!

Clutha river and cycle track between Roxburgh and Alexandra.

Schist country between Roxburgh and Alexandra

Starting at Alexandra we headed off on a fabulous purpose built bike trail. There is something so special about being able to bike free of traffic in an amazing gorge in the remote heartland of Central Otago schist country.

Biking the Roxburgh Gorge.

Following the Clutha/Mata-Au River

After the first 10 kilometres we met up with a jet boat (pre-arranged) that took us about 12 kilometres through the gorge to meet up with the trail again. This was a great luxury and currently the only way to do the trail without doubling back.

Chrissy's son Shannon in front of the jet boat.

Catching the jet boat

There was lots of history to learn about along the way, with old miners cottages made from the local stone. We stayed just out of Roxburgh the first night and headed off to Millers Flat the second day.

Millers flat is a charming settlement on the south side of the river — friendly and peaceful with plenty of history.

The third day got us back to Roxburgh, where the obliging owner of our first night’s accommodation had organised for our car to be relocated to. The people we met were amazingly friendly.

Cycling the Clutha Gold Trail.

Clutha Gold Trail between Millers Flat and Roxburgh

The gorge was our highlight. It was beautiful following the cool blue Clutha/Mata-au River all the way amongst the dry brown rocky landscape. I would choose your weather wisely it can be excessively hot in summer and extremely cold out of summer. It is also remote so you need to be prepared.

In Otago, Recreation , , , , , , , ,
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Photo of the week: Sandhill Point viaduct

Department of Conservation —  26/02/2014

Today’s photo of the week is the 17 metre high and 59 metre long Sandhill Point viaduct in the rugged Waitutu Forest.

It is one of four giant timber viaducts built nearly a century ago on the south coast of the Fiordland National Park that will be restored under an agreement announced by the Minister of Conservation last week.

Sandhill Point viaduct. Photo: digitaltrails | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The viaducts were originally built in the early 1920s as part of a timber tramline to a local logging and sawmill operation.

Nowadays the viaducts are a spectacular part of the Hump Ridge Track which travels along the south coast of Fiordland. The restoration will mean that generations of New Zealanders and international visitors will continue to enjoy the historic features of this track.

This photo was taken by digitaltrails | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

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Teeny, tiny bat babies!

Department of Conservation —  25/02/2014

This month Auckland Zoo celebrated successfully breeding and rearing lesser short-tailed bat twins. This was the first time this threatened, found nowhere else in the world, species has ever been bred and hand-reared in a zoo.

Now, if pekapeka / bats don’t normally register in your line-up of species that make your heart melt, I have a feeling they will after watching this:

Facts about the short-tailed bat

Adult short-tailed bats weighs 12-15 grams, have large pointed ears, and are a mousy-grey colour.

They eat insects, fruit, nectar and pollen.

They are the only pollinator of the rare native plant, dactylanthus (also known as woodrose).

Their heart rate is 250 -450 beats a minute at rest and 800 beats a minute while flying.

Unlike most bats, who catch their prey in the air, short-tailed bats have adapted to ground hunting and spend a lot of time on the forest floor, folding their wings to use as “front limbs” for scrambling around.

DOC’s work with pekapeka / bats

DOC has a recovery programme to ensure the survival of all species and subspecies of pekapeka / bat. The measures we are taking include education, community-based conservation projects, control of introduced predators at important sites, protection of roosts sites, the development of restoration techniques, and shifting the most vulnerable bat populations to predator-free habitats.

You can help

Become a bat-spotter and assist DOC to determine their distribution.

Work as a volunteer setting and checking traps for a predator-control programme in your area.

Protect native forests. By controlling predators and protecting native forest, you will assist other species as well as bats.

In Auckland, Native animals , , ,
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Experiencing Great Barrier Island

Department of Conservation —  24/02/2014

By making a pledge for Conservation Week last year, Gisbornites Robyn and Peter went into a draw to win a trip for four to Great Barrier Island — a prize they were lucky enough to win.

The amazing view from the track on Great Barrier Island.

Peter and Robyn with Lucy and Jake

So, thrilled and excited, they took their seven year old twins Jake and Lucy on the ‘trip of a lifetime’. Peter tells us about it:

The alarm buzzing at 5:30 am signalled the beginning of our Great Barrier Island adventure, after weeks of anticipation.

I was allowed to be in the co-pilot’s seat for our commute to Claris Airport on Great Barrier Island, where DOC Ranger, Fenella Christian, greeted us.

Plane to catch to Great Barrier Island.

The Fly My Sky chariot

Our vehicle was waiting and we headed up the drive to settle into our accommodation — The Lookout Homestead.

On Friday we drove to Okiwi Station to help rangers George and Adam monitor pāteke ducks. This involved creeping up to the verges of the reserves and carefully counting and recording the number of residents. It’s obvious that DOC staff have gone to great lengths to re-create a habitat that offers the ducks a place to breed away from predators.

Counting pāteke on Great Barrier Island.

49 pāteke in one pond

On Saturday and Sunday we drove on to Whangaparapara and Blind Bay. I pointed out the Old Whaling Station and we were entertained with gannets and shags diving for fish right next to Whangaparapara Wharf.

Sunday’s calmer weather allowed for a swim at Gooseberry Flat beach, touring around and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the island.

Twins Lucy and Jake beside a pāteke sign.

Lucy and Jake watching out for pāteke

On Monday, we met Fenella and her husband Peter at the track entrance to the Kaitoke Swamp, and walked to the hot springs. We all enjoyed a swim and lunch in this amazing location and on the return walk noticed an eel swimming under the bridge.

We were introduced to the shoe-cleaning stations to stop the spread of kauri dieback. We commented on the work done by DOC with the elevated walkways, and the excellent maintenance of the tracks.

The view from The Lookout Homestead on Great Barrier Island.

The view from The Lookout Homestead

The next day we were up early to prepare for a tramp up Mount Heale. Ranger Becs met us and we were off to the track entrance via Windy Canyon. This is a walk not to be missed!

With Becs’ encouragement we all set off to Mt Hobson Lookout. Becs’ ability to keep us all motivated, made the long hike enjoyable, but physically demanding all the same.

While we stopped for a rest and bite, we were told of DOC’s concerns with cats and rats killing black petrel. We came across a number of traps.

We all lost count of the many steps, both man-made and natural, and the elevated walkways are testament to the efforts made to protect the natural habitat for breeding success of the petrel.

Having made the final fork in the track, we dropped packs and climbed the final steps to the summit – wow, what a view!

After the obligatory photos we descended more steps to arrive at the Mt Heale Hut for the night.

Wednesday dawned fine. As we had a plane to catch, we had to return to the track and made good progress back to the summit fork, where we met Claudia, monitoring black petrel.

Lucy holding a black petrel.

Lucy holding her new black petrel friend

We were all given the unique experience of cradling a young, fluffy bundle of black petrel chick.

We were cautioned the only damage that this chick would do to us was to be pooed upon, or have a belly full of fish-meal spewed into our laps.

This was a highlight for us all! Fortunately neither poo nor spew happened!

We made good progress down the track and got back to the road with an hour to spare. We ate a farewell lunch at The Lunch Box, then took our flights home.

Jake’s and Lucy’s favourite part of the whole trip was getting the chance to hold the baby black petrel.

Thanks to all involved who conceived, planned and executed this “trip of a lifetime”.

To the team at DOC, please keep up the great work you are doing to preserve New Zealand’s natural indigenous species, so that Jake and Lucy and future generations have the ability to retrace these trips.

In Conservation Week 2013, Islands, Walking/hiking/tramping , , , , , , ,
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