Sirocco supports DOC rangers in their fight to save kiwi

Sirocco the Spokesbird —  10/08/2010

I’m a sad Sirocco today. If I could fly I’d be heading off to Pukaha Mount Bruce to support my kiwi friends who are dying at the hands, or should I say jaws, of a ferret.

Nine have died in the last month – it shows how deadly these predators like ferrets and stoats can be when they get in amongst the likes of us chubby birds. We need people like the DOC rangers looking after us – and I know they’re doing everything they can up there on Pukaha Mount Bruce.

A kiwi at Pukaha Mount Bruce. Photo: Mike Heydon, Jet Photography.

A kiwi at Pukaha Mount Bruce. Photo: Mike Heydon, Jet Photography.

It’s a real tricky one. The safest place for kākāpō like me, my mates the kiwi and lots of other native New Zealand birds and animals are the special islands where DOC has got rid of the predators so we can be safe. But if we’re ever going to get back on the mainland, which used to be our home, we need places like Pukaha Mount Bruce where they’re trying to keep a large area safe but without fences which cost a lot of money.

They’re using 540 traps targeting ferrets, stoats and weasels, and more than 1,000 bait stations aimed at rats and possums – that’s twice as many as anywhere else in the country in terms of traps per area. But still the bad guys get in.

So good luck DOC rangers – they’re bringing in the dogs now to hunt down the ferret. A big WOOF to you guys, and a BOOM from me to all my kiwi mates – hang in there guys, there’s a lot of good people fighting in your corner.

Links

Media releases:

In Animal pests, Native animals, Sirocco the kakapo
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Wingin’ it for conservation

Sirocco the Spokesbird —  10/08/2010

Be on the look-out for some over-sized kākāpō heading your way. Since the International Day of Biodiversity last May, DOC’s two steel-mesh kākāpō have been travelling around gathering conservation messages from people all over New Zealand. That’s a good thing since they were both looking a little down on their luck until their feather messages started appearing. Now they are sporting plumage that any kākāpō would be proud of.

Kids at Miramar North School recently had a special visitor. Photo courtesy Citylife Newspapers.

Kids at Miramar North School recently had a special visitor. Photo courtesy Citylife Newspapers.

I’m pretty stoked on the messages that are being put on the two kākāpō too. My favourite so far is “kiss a kākāpō”, but don’t worry people are looking out for all us native plants and animals…like the person who wrote “native bats need protection too”.

During Conservation Week all those special feathers are going to be collected by my friends at DOC and then sent to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan so that world leaders can hear how Kiwi feel about their environment.

Check out Words on a Wing to learn how you can have your say whether one of the over-sized green kākāpō comes to your town or not. DOC staff have been getting messages from people all over the country and they’re putting every one of those feathers on the two kākāpō.

What’s in a name?

A lot if you’re a big kākāpō. So, if you’re in Wellington in the next couple of weeks go visit one of the kākāpō at Te Papa’s Nature Space. Add a feather message and enter the kākāpō naming competition to help the poor bugger get a proper name.

Some pretty cool bird experts like my mate Deidre from DOC’s kākāpō recovery programme will be choosing the winner of the naming competition. The competition winner receives an annual pass for them and their family to ZEALANDIA. Not only that, but I’ll be announcing the winning name!

Links

Kākāpō

Words on a Wing

Nature Space

ZEALANDIA

In International, Old Conservation Week posts, Sirocco the kakapo
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Ohakune gets on its bike

Dave Conley —  04/08/2010

Prime Minister John Key opens the Ohakune Old Coach Road section of the Ruapehu-Whanganui cycle trail.

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In Central North Island, Historic, Recreation
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New Matiu/Somes Interactive Tour online

Matt Barnett —  26/07/2010

Noticed that little island in the middle of Wellington Harbour? Not sure whether it’s worth a visit? Didn’t even know you could go there?

Matiu/Somes Island, Wellington Harbour.

Matiu/Somes Island, Wellington Harbour

Well Matiu/Somes Island Scientific and Historic Reserve is open to the public 364 days of the year. Now with the Matiu/Somes Interactive Tour you can check it out before you go! 

Matiu/Somes Island lighthouse

Matiu/Somes Island lighthouse

Before I joined the Department of Conservation I wasn’t sure what the deal was with Matiu/Somes Island. One person told me there were heaps of lizards and a lighthouse – not much else. But then I didn’t have the benefit of the interactive tour to get a taste of what’s really there.  

I know I’m the Wellington community relations ranger, and I don’t use this word lightly, but Matiu is an AWESOME place with a lot more to see than just lizards and a lighthouse! You can see for yourself by following the link and having a virtual wander around to glimpse some of the things that make it such an important place for helping to conserve some of our endangered species, habitats and historic heritage. 

The historic caretakers cottage

The historic caretakers cottage

The team at Beek developed the Matiu/Somes Virtual Tour using 360° panoramic views to maximise the interactive experience, allowing you to ‘stop’ at the click of a button and look all around at some of the views and features, explore information panels and discover some ‘hidden’ attractions, including Wellington’s iconic little blue penguin and the gentle giant weta – one of the world’s heaviest insects.  

Blue penguin

Blue penguin

You can even enter some of the buildings to explore and get a real sense of some of the island’s history. See if you can spot the World War II anti-aircraft gun… 

Now if you’re a bit of a natural cynic like me you might be thinking why do I need to bother going to the island if I can see it all from the (relative) comfort of my own chair? Well, for a start you don’t get to take the Dominion Post Ferry ride (look out for feeding penguins on the way) or meet the friendly island rangers – who are always happy to answer questions and spin you a yarn or two about island life. 

You can also stay the night on the island in one of two houses available to rent or at the campsite, dotted with majestic cabbage trees with a stunning view down the gully towards the southern part of the harbour. Another thing you can’t do online is take a nightwalk where you’re almost guaranteed to see penguins and if you’re lucky and very quiet a tuatara or two – the only surviving reptile of an order that roamed the earth 200 million years ago. Tuatara are also regularly seen in the daytime, along with a host of other animals including seven species of skink and gecko and many people’s favourite – the chattering red-crowned parakeet (kakariki). 

Tuatara

Tuatara

Tempted to take a trip over? 

For more information check out Matiu/Somes Island on the DOC website.

In Animal pests, Historic, Native animals, Native plants, Recreation, Wellington/Kapiti
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Hunting on conservation land

Brent Beaven —  26/07/2010

Hunters and DOC often seem to be seen as opponents, when the reality is that we both have very much in common. Hunting is a conservation activity, if for no other reason than the fact that hunters are out amongst it, enjoying and revelling in New Zealand’s fantastic outdoors.

A successful hunter at Hopkins River above Lake Ohau, Canterbury

A successful hunter at Hopkins River above Lake Ohau, Canterbury

Realising what an important component hunters were of our conservation oriented park users, DOC has been working toward providing better service for hunters. One of these key improvements has been to redevelop the hunting pages of the DOC website. The first phase of this upgrade has now gone live and can be viewed at www.doc.govt.nz/hunting. The new structure provides simpler and clearer pathways for finding information, held together in one place.

We know it isn’t yet perfect, but it is a lot better than what existed previously. We have set up a feedback link off the homepage, so that users can suggest any improvements, but you can also supply suggestions here via the DOC Conservation Blog.

Over the coming year, we will be improving the quality and standardising the Where to hunt information, as well as looking to create an on-line hunting permit facility.

In Hunting, Recreation
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