Have you seen this bird?

Department of Conservation —  10/10/2013

By DOC’s Sandra Jack, Auckland District Office

DOC Rangers in Auckland have been kept busy recently with sightings of the notorious red-vented bulbul in Auckland.

Red-vented bulbul.

Red-vented bulbul

These birds are a major pest to agriculture and horticulture, and have the potential to negatively impact on New Zealand’s native species. They are an aggressive bird, chasing off other birds and competing with them for food and space – some have nicknamed them the true ‘angry birds’.

Red-vented bulbul.

Hanging out

Rangers in Auckland have been following up sightings and talking to locals about the threat. However these birds are prolific breeders and the fear is that these birds are spreading. This fear seems to have been confirmed with a bird recently being sighted in rural Waikato.

Red-vented bulbul.

A model of a red-vented bulbul

The Minister of Conservation, Nick Smith recently announced that a reward of $300 is being offered for information leading to the red-vented bulbuls’ successful capture and removal from the wild.

What to look out for:

• Red-vented bulbuls are the size of a starling, generally dark brown/black in colour with a light coloured belly.

• They have a black head with small peaked crest (a bit like a mohawk!).

• Their distinguishing feature is their ‘red vent’ or small patch of bright red feathers beneath their tail.

• They like urban settings – one was recently found in Devonport but there have been sightings in rural areas too.

• Their distinctive call stands out from the usual mix of exotic and native birds.

Red-vented bulbul.

Up in the trees

If you see this bird, contact the Ministry of Primary Industries immediately on the Pest and Diseases Hotline (0800 80 99 66) and report its location. If possible take a photo.

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Photo of the week: Powelliphanta snails

Department of Conservation —  09/10/2013

Our photo of the week is this beautiful Powelliphanta snail, a large, air-breathing, carnivorous land snail endemic to New Zealand.

Powelliphanta snail. Photo: John Mason.

Their shells come in an array of colours and patterns, ranging from hues of red and brown to yellow and black. Their favourite prey is earthworms, but they are also known to eat slugs. Powelliphanta snails are an integral part of New Zealand’s unique fauna, and were as important in evolutionary terms as kiwi, kākāpō or moa.

Predation and habitat loss are the major threats to this species, although their outlook is improving with DOC undertaking work to protect these snails on the West Coast through long-term monitoring, translocation and captive breeding.

This photo that was taken by DOC’s John Mason.

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Book giveaway: Wild About New Zealand

Elizabeth Marenzi —  08/10/2013

Thanks for all your comments telling us why you want this fantastic book. The giveaway is now closed and the winners (picked at random) are: Gloria Williams and Darryn Anderson.

New Zealand is blessed with some of the most remarkable natural landscapes on Earth. The most unique and iconic of these areas are set aside as national parks.

For the last few weeks I’ve loved having these special places in my living room, courtesy of the Natural History New Zealand produced television series Wild About New Zealand — made to celebrate the 125th anniversary of New Zealand’s first national park.

Tonight’s the last episode (8:30 pm, TV One) but you can continue your living room adventures with Gus in the book, Wild About New Zealand: A Guide to Our National Parks.

Cover of Wild About New Zealand.

Written by outdoor adventurer Gus Roxburgh and illustrated with magnificent photographs and bird’s-eye view maps, this is both an entertaining and comprehensive visitor’s guide as well as a stunning celebration of New Zealand’s amazingly diverse national parks.

And, here’s the bit you’ve been waiting for:

Thanks to Random House New Zealand, we’ve got copies to give away!

To be in to win leave a comment on this post before 12 noon on Thursday 10 October 2013, telling us why you want the book. Winners will be selected at random and contacted by email.

Please note: We can only ship to New Zealand addresses.

Wild About New Zealand: A Guide to our National Parks is valued at $55.00 and is available to purchase from book stores nationwide.

Watch Wild About New Zealand On Demand

Start planning your own New Zealand National Park escape

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Petrel cuteness at Punakaiki

Department of Conservation —  07/10/2013

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

This fluffy thing, with the big, black and beautiful puppy dog eyes, is a one month old Westland black petrel chick in its burrow just south of Punakaiki.

Westland black petrel chick in a burrow.

Petrel chick cuteness. Photo: Bruce Stuart-Menteath | Paparoa Nature Tours

The chick’s parents still come in for feeding time in the evenings by doing an “elegant” crash landing in the canopy. They then drop to the ground, looking slightly disorientated for a few minutes, before regaining composure and waddling off to their burrow to have a noisy and somewhat reproachful chat with their partner. A bit like: “Did you actually forget to bring the Hoki? Do I now have to fly ALL THE WAY back to Hokitika to get one!”

Adult Westland black petrel in flight. Photo: Arthur Chapman | flickr (cc)

Adult black petrel out at sea. Photo: Arthur Chapman

In the morning mum and/or dad petrel will have to jump off the cliff to get airborne as their legs are too short to get them going on even ground. And off to another day at sea. Isn’t it amazing what these guys take on to raise their chick?

But let’s be honest – who wouldn’t, looking at a fluffy thing like that?

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Protecting the cheeky shades of green

Department of Conservation —  03/10/2013

There has been some good news for the cheeky kea with Dulux recently announcing they will be contributing $150,000 to the Kea Conservation Trust nest monitoring programme over the next three years as they continue to build upon their partnership with DOC.

A kea in flight displaying colourful feathers. Photo: Mat Goodman.

This photo by Mat Goodman shows the amazing colours found in kea feathers

In addition to that funding, Dulux will also be raising funds through through the sale of specially marked promotional pails of paint, with one dollar being donated to the Kea Conservation Trust with every pail purchase.

Artwork from the Dulux promotional kea paint pails.

Sample artwork for promotional pails. Look out for them at a store near you!

Dulux’s involvement in the Kea Nest Monitoring Programme means the programme can continue, and grow into other areas to improve our knowledge about how well predator control is working and how quickly kea are declining in areas without predator control.

Female kea and chick in their nest. Photo: Corey Mosen.

Female kea and chick in their nest. Photo: Corey Mosen

Dulux began working together with DOC under the Protecting Our Place partnership this year to help protect and preserve huts all around New Zealand. By supporting programmes to protect our wildlife and backcountry shelters, Dulux is helping to ensure that our future generations can experience the unique sights and sounds of New Zealand.

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