Aotea/Great Barrier Natural Environment-Islands monthly update - December & January Prepared for the Great Barrier Local Board
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Aotea/Great Barrier Natural Environment-Islands monthly update December & January Prepared for the Great Barrier Local Board 28/01/2020
Aotea Great Barrier Local Board funded programmes
Argentine ant & Plague skink surveillance
• Rosalie bay Rd – Because of the connectivity with the Mulberry Grove Argentine ant site, sites at
top of road were monitored with nothing detected.
• A selection of sites between Okiwi airfield and Orama were monitored with neither Argentine
ants nor Plague skinks detected.
Okiwi Community Pest Coordinator
• Rat trapping is continuing, cat trapping will resume in February.
• The coordinator is in the process of doing a door to door visit with people revisiting priorities for
the project given a number have dropped out of rat trapping. The survey completed in 2017 will
be revisited as a prompt, however the visits will be more focused as an opportunity to chat face
to face with individuals about where they see the project going.
• The results will be available in March 2020.
• feedback to date indicates a desire to continue with community led bird counts in addition to the
island wide counts, to continue rat trapping on public land, to put more emphasis on rat
monitoring than recording every capture on all private land (many are using rat bait or a combo
of traps and rat bait).
Pest Pathways
• Pest pathway ambassadors attended training with Conservation Advisors in December.
• Key message: Buy Locally - This message covers three aspects of environmental protection,
waste minimisation, low carbon and biosecurity. By reducing freight to Aotea visitors can reduce
their carbon footprint and reduce the risk of inadvertently transporting pest species.
• Ambassadors will be advocating the use of local nurseries and providing information on
biosecurity programs e.g. feral cat control, argentine ant eradication and provide information on
the species present and absent on Aotea.
• Ambassadors were present at Shoal Bay Wharf, Claris Airport and Port FitzRoy wharf periodically
during the Christmas new year period.
Rabbit Control
• A Scope of Works has been finalized for the Local Board funded rabbit control occurring in
March, this work has been contracted to Glen Coulston of Goodwood Aotearoa Ltd. and will
include night shoots in Kaitoke, Claris, Okiwi and Orama.
• Pre-control spotlight counts are planned for the last two weeks of February.
Pest prevention
Norway rat surveillance
• Norway rats are not known to be established on Aotea. Norway rat surveillance occurs
annually at key entry and exit points on Aotea to confirm the absence of this species.
• Norway rat surveillance occurred in January using Victor professional rat traps, these traps
are larger and more robust than the commonly used Snap-E or T-Rex traps primarily used to
catch ship/roof rats on Aotea.
Victor trap at Port FitzRoy Doc 200 Port FitzRoy
• The traps are checked weekly over January to ensure rats are not too decomposed to
identify. See identification tips below for ship rats/roof rats (Rattus rattus) and the absent
Norway Rat (Rattus Norvegicus)
Stoat sighting
• On Tuesday 25th December - DOC Okiwi received a phone message reporting a potential
Stoat sighting on Oruawharo lane, Medlands. The message was not picked up due to the
closure of the DOC office.
• The informant later informed the Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision Group of the sighting (date
unknown) who informed Auckland Council on the 30th of December 2019 at 2.38pm. Auckland
Council contacted the informant by 3.12pm and recorded an interview.
• The Informant had witnessed an animal crossing his property in a loping fashion, the animal
then disappeared behind a Pohutukawa tree. The sighting occurred on the 25th December at
approximately 10am.
• After interviewing the informant Auckland Council were not convinced that this was not a
genuine sighting. However, due to the seven-day delay between the sighting and the report it
was decided a detection dog would not be immediately deployed.
• A decision was made to deploy a trap network of DOC200s within the proximity of the
sighting. Should further reports come in or any sign of stoat presence observed a stoat
detection dog would be deployed immediately.
Doc200 trap Network deployed in Medlands
Great Barrier Island Pest Animal Programs
Feral Cats
• Feral cat control has been on hold for the last two months due to expected poor catch rates at
the peak of summer. Feral cat trapping is forecast to resume in March.
Broken Islands-Rodent control
• Contractors have installed further rodent management stations on Opakau Island with the
intension of managing increasing rat numbers on this islet.
Argentine & Darwin’s ants
• Only one (Sugarloaf) of the 12 sites has yet to receive a first round of monitoring.
• 60,042 pottles have been deployed (across all sites) in this first round. Of these, 66 returned with
Target ants (Argentine or Darwin’s) at a percentage of 0.1.
• Comparatively, the percentage of target ants found after round 1 of the 2018/2019 season was
1.57% (see table 1.0 below)
Table 1.0 Monitoring totals and target ant detections across all sites – Round 1
Site Total Total % of # of pottles % of Target % of Target
Tubes Pottles pottles with Target ants ants from
used deployed returned ants 2019/20 2018/19
empty (Round 1) (Round 1)
Oceanview RD 16 15,384 8.75 4 0.03 0.45
Sandhills Rd 8.4 8290 0.8 4 0.05 0.02
Gray Rd 10 9755 11 18 0.2 11
Blind bay Rd 1 553 9.8 0 0 0.4
Mason Rd 5 2615 20 0 0 0.46
Thomas Rd* 1.5 1923 3 7 0.4 1.24
Okupu 4.5 3598 7 6 0.16 0.12
44 Medland Rd 6.5 6435 2.5 19 0.3 0.09
Puriri Bay Rd* 1.2 1149 1.5 2 0.4 3.7
Sugarloaf TBC TBC 1.03
Mohunga 2 741 4 2 0.3 0.5
(Darwin’s)
Mulberry Grove 10 9599 16.7 4 0.04 0
Totals 66.1 60,042 6.6 66 0.1 1.57
• Small infestations discovered within the Mulberry Grove and Sandhills sites (after the previous
season had no detections). This is typical when reducing high densities over a large area where it
can become difficult to detect nests of this size when only visiting a site once in a season.
• A secondary round of monitoring has been added to operations to increase the likelihood of
detection of such small infestations and assist in auditing round 1 operations.
Plague skinks
• Between October and December Insect Sticky Traps (used to catch skinks) were active for 40
nights in all five trial cells. Three adult plague skinks were caught in trial cell 6 (2nd trap only
cell), this was the only cell where plague skink captures were recorded.
• This concludes the first round of trapping to determine plague skink extinction in each cell.
Trapping will resume in cell 6 over January and February to increase the likelihood of plague
skink extinction. Trapping will be rested in the four remaining cells until March when the
second round of 40 nights trapping will commence.
• Between October and December thirteen native skinks were trapped in trial cell two (1st trap
only cell) this was comprised of eleven ornate skink and two copper skinks. Four native
skinks were trapped in trial cell 6 (second trap only cell) which included one moko, one
copper and two ornate skinks. One ornate skink was trapped in trial cell 8 (low density chook
cell).
• No skinks were trapped in cell seven (high density chook cell) or cell one (pilot chicken cell)
during the first round of trapping. See summary table of skink captures below.
• A small fence breach in cell two was reported on the 6th January and fixed the same day. The
cause was attributed to high winds. It is possible this breach was open for one week over the
contractor’s holiday break.
Figure 1: Location of trial Cells GBI
# of Trap Skinks detected
Grid/Line Dates # of traps nights nights
7th - 10/10/19, 11 Ornate
21st - 25/10/19 2 copper
12th-30/11/19
Cell 2 (1st trap
1st-16/12/19
only cell) 512 40 20,480
7th - 10/10/19, 3 plague skinks
21st - 25/10/19 1 moko skink
1 copper
12th-30/11/19 2 ornate
Cell 6 (2nd trap
1st-16/12/19
only cell) 292 40 11,680
7th - 10/10/19,
21st - 25/10/19
Cell 1 (CC1 pilot
12th-30/11/19
chicken cell) 294 40 11,760
1st-16/12/19
7th - 10/10/19,
21st - 25/10/19
12th-30/11/19
Cell 7 (CC3 high
1st-16/12/19
density chook cell) 115 40 4600
7th - 10/10/19, 1 Ornate skink
21st - 25/10/19
12th-30/11/19
Cell 8 (CC2 low
1st-16/12/19
density chook cell) 150 40 6000
3 plague skinks
14 Ornate skinks
3 copper skinks
Round one totals 54,520 1 moko skink
Great Barrier Island Pest Plant Programmes
Strategic Weed initiative (SWI)
• Bushy Asparagus – Claris site completed, and NO target plants found
• Kahilli Ginger – Puriri Bay Road (ongoing)
• Kahilli Ginger – Okupu (ongoing) Some access issues with new landowner, contractor to discuss
program and report back if access is not granted. Boneseed was identified within this site with
approx. 15 plants in total found. One of which was mature and in seed.
• Kahili Ginger/Boneseed – Palmers Lookout (ongoing)
• Moth plant – Fitzroy site (1st visit completed) report on finds pending
Total Control Weeds
• Royal fern – Golf club & Okiwi site completed, report on finds pending
• Japanese Honeysuckle – Rosalie Bay site (1st visit completed) report on finds pending
• Asparagus Umbellatus – Roaslie Bay site completed, and NO plants found
• Pennywort - Claris Landfill site completed, and NO plants found
Juvenile kahili ginger (puriri Bay Road) Juvenile Boneseed (Okupu foreshore)
Weed surveillance
• The Weed surveillance program continued with a concentrated effort within the Tryphena area.
A week of surveillance was carried out in early December with a few points of interest that are
marked to be followed up:
• Pericallis x hybria ( Cineraria or common ragwort) found on Shoal Bay rd. – first recording for the
island and has the potential to become established on coastal slopes
• Potential Homalanthus populifolius (Queensland poplar) needs to be confirmed. Also found on
Shoal bay Rd.
• Hawthorn located on Blackwell drive
• A potential Woolly Nightshade was reported at the beginning of Puriri bay Rd. This was
investigated and confirmed as Brugmansia (Angels trumpets) by the Envirokiwi team who were
visiting the area to carry out other weed work.
Community, Education and Advocacy
Publications/media
• The bird of the month adverts on AoteaFM will be recorded in January for the months of
February-July, each month an accompanying article will be published in the Barrier bulletin to
highlight the bird and message. Focus species and messages are:
o February: Ruru, Morepork are nesting, keep cats inside at night - Beau Daly
o March: Miromiro, north Island tomtit are nesting, trap rats in your backyard – Troy
Currie
o April: koekoeā, long tailed cuckoo are starting to migrate, put stickers on windows to
stop bird strike! – Korah Reid
o May: Kereru, New Zealand wood pigeon are declining, trap rats in your back yard. – Van Currin
o June: korimako, New Zealand Bell bird love fruit and flowers, plant natives in your
backyard! – One of Taryn Cowell’s kids
o July: moho pererū, Banded rail share our roads, slow down and watch for roadrunners! (article
written in January)- Maisy Currie
• A pamphlet advocating local nurseries and pest prevention has been designed and is expected to
be finalised next month. Pest pathway ambassadors will use this during advocacy work at
wharves and airports.
• The “Pests of Aotea” booklet is being updated prior to a reprint. The new version will have more
images, a section on “how to trap rats” and wasp control.
Pest Fish Surveillance
A combined surveillance operation between DoC and Auckland Council sampled areas of Kaitoke
wetland and creek for pest fish. The only exotic fish of note that was captured was the Australian
bridled goby which is a burrowing coastal and estuarine goby from temperate areas of Australia. The
first record of this species in New Zealand was in the Whangateau Harbour in 1998. It is thought that
it arrived in New Zealand waters as the result of accidental transport in shipping ballast water.
In-addition the Auckland Council team inspect other high-risk water bodies for pest animals and
plants with nothing to report.
Cooks Scurvy Grass (Lepidium oleracium) census
• All vegetation plots re surveyed (Lepidium and associated species) on Mahuki Island
• All Lepidium on site was marked and entered into data base (collector)
• Photo points re-done and pest plant control (manual weeding) of ink weed carried out around
survey site
• Sites where Cooks Scurvy grass has been recorded in the past on islands and islets off the
west coast of Great Barrier were visited. Unfortunately, none of these locations had Cook
Scurvy grass present however a satellite population was confirmed close to the survey site
on Mahuki Island.
Jeremy Warden on a recent survey of Te Manu IslandLeptinella Census
A review of the known populations of L. tenella at both the Awana and Mabeys Rd sites and current
management (Awana site). A full report to be provided by members of the AC Biodiversity team that
attended the trip.
Awana
• Leptinella tenella was located in all known areas from previous surveys. Some of the
populations are doing well (persisting), particularly in areas where there is adequate cover
from mature manuka and kanauka.
• Some previously suitable habitat where cattle were keeping areas open via grazing, has now
been closed in by sedges and rushes. This has made it difficult for the L. tenella to persist
here however, it is thought that eventually as the manuka and kanuka mature and start to
shade the rushes and sedges, areas will thin out and allow L. tenella to re populate.
• The native mistletoe (Korthalsella salicornioides) appears to be doing well and is easily
visible from the roadside. No formal monitoring was carried out, but this may be added to
the future management plan for this site.
Mabey Road
• Larger populations seen here than in the Awana site (see image below)
• Cattle can graze here but don’t seem to visit or impact this area of the paddock
• The main difference between these sites is the more mature, taller manuka and kanuka
which create shaded areas where L. tenella is situated between the dense rushesAotea Bird Count
• December 6th & 7th saw the inaugural Aotea Bird count carried out across 17 of 18 allocated
Transects. Each transect has five count points which were visit twice. This gave a grand total
of 170 5-minute counts carried out across the two days. The Motu Kaikoura transect was the
only omission from the collected data.
• The ‘five-minute bird count’ is a well-established, standardised way of monitoring birds in New
Zealand and will allow for all data collected on Aotea to be compared to other counts across
the country.
• A simple but statistically robust methodology was chosen and carried out by a wide range of
keen bird spotting volunteers from our community.
• On November the 19th volunteers (experienced and novice) were introduced to the counting
and recording techniques as well as some common bird calls, they should be prepared to
hear and confidently identify. Approx. 50 volunteers squeezed into the Old School House
venue for this methodology meeting.
• December the 4th all participants were then required to attend a ‘practice run’ at Windy Hill
Sanctuary before the 6th and 7th to give all counters a chance to brush up on skills and cover
anything that may be in question.
• All the data collected has recently been analysed (analyst employed by GBIET and regionally
funded) and the GBIET will look to release this data back to the community as it comes in.
Next month (February 2020)
• Rabbit control operation
• Feral cat trapping
• Argentine ant program review
• Shanti Morgan on parental leave February 14th- August 2020Pathways
Environmental Services Biosecurity and Biodiversity are now re-named Natural Environment Delivery and
Natural Environment Design. The Islands workstream has now been split into two programmes – Islands and
Pathways.
Biosecurity measures on mainland to protect pest pathways to Aotea/Great Barrier have continued to
improve in the last quarter. Included in the improvements are:
• Increased inspections with biosecurity detector dogs, which now are tracking at 90% of all vehicle
ferries to Aotea/Great Barrier; and in addition the inspection of charters, especially when
transporting risk goods;
• The new Hammer St Sealink wharf has a dedicated valve for waste, so that it would be possible to
clean a dirty vehicle or equipment/plant that otherwise might be declined to sail;
• A summer Hauraki Gulf biosecurity comms campaign is underway, which includes messaging at
departure points, marinas, and on MetService marine weather forecasting website;
• AC36 planning is underway to increase biosecurity awareness at the points of contact in advance of
Americas Cup race series.
• Cruise ships visiting islands: biosecurity collateral is being provided to cruise ships with Hauraki
Gulf islands on their itinerary. Two ships are scheduled this season – one visiting Aotea and one
to Waiheke. This (island excursions) is expected to increase rapidly, according to industry.
• The Hauraki Gulf Controlled Area Biosecurity Management Plan is being reviewed and revised in
light of the upcoming Regional Pest Management Plan. The implications for the HGCAN are
substantial and significant. An update will be provided to the Board once the draft is complete.ECOLOGY VISION REPORT
Prepared for Aotea, Great Barrier Island Local Board
24th January 2020
Photo: Oruwharo Medlands Eco-vision community group, paddle up Oruwharo Creek, November 2019
Prepared by Taryn Wilks, Ecology Vision Facilitator, Sustainable AoteaCommunity Survey A community survey went out to gather information on residents’ opinions and priorities for restoration and enhancement of Aotea October 2019. The key aim being to try and identify if people knew of the Ecology Vision, what people value in their local community, the wider Aotea and what they would be interested in being involved in. These results are currently being summarized and results will be released in February 2020. Beach Clean-up An immediate area of interest identified from the above survey results and community discussions were around beach clean-ups. A Beach Clean-up event was organised in Okupu on November 23rd 2019. It had all that Aotea spirit oozing with 57 people participating. After the mahi, a shared BBQ was enjoyed by all. A total of 50 kg of rubbish collected. Guest speakers included: Sarah Dwyer, Marine Biologist DOC, Jo O’Reilly Waste Minimisation Co-ordinator, Shanti Morgan, Community Conservation Advisor, Auckland Council, Dead Seabird Identification and Local Sue Daly, Nature lover and spoke on Dog rules. In collaboration with DOC and Sustainable Coastlines, the next beach clean up is being organised for March 2020. Linked in with schools over sea education week.
Note: Many community members expressed opinions about the new landfill charges, primarily relating to the cost of paying for rubbish that they regularly collect off the beach and/or roadside. As an interim measure Auckland Council provide 20 prepaid bags, community members have also donated bags that they are not using. Seventeen bags have thus far been handed out the community. Longer term solution: The Department of Conservation (DoC) have offered their support and are providing $150 to go towards the cost of landfill fees, this adds up to 1 TONNE of rubbish that could be collected from our shores. DOC have also provided equipment such as re-usable bags and gloves for community events. Website Development and Logo An interactive, engaging, easy to access ecology vision website is currently being developed. This will provide a platform for community groups, an online educational information resource i.e., bird identification, trapping methods, healthy waters and more. This website will also be home for other community projects such as the Aotea Bird Count and Aotea Trap Library. Launch planned for end of February 2020. Three potential logos for the Ecology Vision have been put to the community via social media (facebook) to vote. Images below, ranked in order of most votes to date. Voting will close January 31st 2020. Option 1 Option 2
Option 3 Feedback received so far indicates that the ‘kaka’ might be a more suitable logo for the barrier – very iconic, distinctive and unique. The designer has been asked if there is time/budget available to do one more mark up – changing the face of option 1 to a kaka. Celebrating success - A short film A short 2-3 minute clip, introducing the Ecology Vision and the new Ourwharo Medlands Eco-vision community group is planned for the end of February/March 2020. Celebrating community success and aimed to inspire and engage more people to get active in ecological restoration and protection within the community of Great Barrier Island, Aotea. To be played at Barrier Pestival in May, Eco-Art Event July, Sealink, Airport, and online media. Driving Engagement - An Eco-Art exhibition “Expression Through Nature” A collaboration of Ecology, Art and Sustainability. An “Expression through Nature” exhibition where by groups (for example schools, Aotea Learning Hub, Businesses, Organisations, and neighbourhoods) can create a sculpture using recycled/reused or natural (i.e., wood, shell, feather) products which displays their connection to the environment. Structures will be temporarily displayed along the trail from the Claris airport to the Community Art Gallery and Museum and will also be on display during the evening using solar lights (in accordance with Dark Sky Sanctuary requirements). On the opening night, include a short film and star gazing experience. This event is planned for the week before Matariki, July 11th 2020. Oruwharo Medlands Eco-vision (OME) The OME group has funding for 2 part time positions, filled by Annamarie Clough and Lotte McIntyre. The group has been busy laying tracking tunnels, setting and checking traps (# 104) and monitoring shore birds. They are now planning on extending the trapping lines and investigating options for inclusion of waterway monitoring program. In November 2010 the group paddled up Oruwharo Creek, with Taryn talking on stream health and Thomas Daly on weeds. The group also hosted a successful Sandcastle competition in Medlands in January. To maintain momentum and the continued functioning of the OME community group and ecological restoration of Aotea, a ‘Community Conservation Facilitator’ grant application was applied for on January 10th. If successful this would secure the two roles until June 30th 2020.
Aotea Trap Library Great Barrier Island Environmental Trust secured funding from WWF for a part-time 6-7 hours per week Trap Library Co-ordinator position. This was awarded to Lotte McIntyre. The focus for now is to assess how people are going, are they using the traps and logging the data. The Trap Library Coordinator will be working in collaboration with the Ecology Vision Facilitator who will help oversee the project. Barrier Pestival: Inaugural Ecology Vision Symposium The Barrier Pestival symposium on Aotea, Great Barrier Island will be the first of its kind. It is scheduled for May 2nd 2020. A one day educational and networking symposium for the community and organizations involved in the goal of pest free Auckland/predator free NZ across New Zealand. The symposium will also be zero waste, carbon neutral and will include six guest speakers (two key note and four shorter presentations) and an outdoor display of retailers for pest control projects. These retailers will be invited to show case their products during morning tea and afternoon tea breaks. A day trip will also be organised for the following day - May 3rd to recently pest free Rakitu Island- this event will be organised and led by the Department of Conservation (numbers will be limited). Driving Engagement Aotea Learning Hub – Shanti Morgan and Taryn Wilks talked with the students at the hub about all things environmental and explored what the students might like to be involved in. Of most interest to them and the teachers, was to set up a small nursery, vegetable patch – to have workshops teaching the students about propagation and growing. However, this is on hold due to water shortage over summer and until more certainty around the longer- term location of the Hub. Destination Great Barrier Island (DGBI) – Initial discussions have been had with DGBI on potential eco-sustainable tourism initiatives / carbon offset idea such as plant a tree. DBGI and Aotea as a community are in a unique position where there is real opportunity to be world leaders in Eco-sustainable tourism Native trees are culturally and spiritually important to us all. They not only sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but they provide habitat for our native birds, better water quality in our streams, and more beautiful places for future generations to explore. DGBI are supportive of such a project, however at this stage any further project work is outside the scope of the current Ecology Vision Facilitator budget. Okupu Community – during the beach clean-up event local community members expressed interest in having a sign in the bay about local fauna, marine / boating rules. A local hui will be organised for early this year to explore options, discuss ideas and the potential formation of an Eco-vision community group. A newsletter was produced in November 2019 and emailed out to those whom registered their interest and also published on social media (Attached). Warm Regards Taryn Wilks, Ecology Vision Facilitator, Sustainable Aotea
N EW SLETTER
ECO LO GY V I SI O N
Term: Spring | Issue 1 | Date: November 28, 2019
OCT-NOV 2019 SURVEY BEACH CLEAN-UP
What a fantastic 2 months in the A community survey went out for A community beach clean-up event
role as the Ecology Vision Facilitator. the month of October to gather at Okupu on November 23rd, had all
that Aotea spirit oozing with over 50
Lots of conversations within the information on residents?opinions PEOPLE participating and 50 kg of
community and a successful and priorities for restoration and rubbish collected! It was so great to
see so many people there, from
community event at Okupu. Thanks enhancement of Aotea. The key aim young families, through to
for all your support, bring on 2020! being to try and figure out what great-grandparents. Top effort team!
Hope you all have a great Christmas . people want to see where and why, Thanks to DOC for covering landfill
and to see if people have knowledge fees. Auckland council pre-paid
rubbish bags are available for
ECO-ART of what the Ecology Vision is. These disposing of beach collected rubbish,
results are currently being please get in contact, details below.
An Eco-Art exhibition ?Expression summarised and results will be
Through Nature?an outdoor sculpture released in the new year. A huge
exhibition to create awareness of our thanks to all those who participated.
native wildlife treasures and ecological
restoration on Aotea. This event is
planned as part of Matariki July 2020.
You can enter as an individual or group
(i.e., school, business, trust) working
together to create a sculpture using SHORT FILM AOTEA TRAP LIBRARY
recycled/reused or natural (i.e., wood,
A short film (currently in planning Rat Season is upon us - so let?s get
shell, feather) products which displays trapping! The Aotea Trap Library is up
process) will provide a unique
your connection to the environment. opportunity for people to hear local and operational. Traps and wooden
More information to come! stories (journey through years past housings are FREE in exchange for your
and learn of what the environment catch data. Please contact myself or
was like on Aotea), celebrate through a trap l ibrary coordinator near
community success and inspire and you. For more information see
engage people in ecological https://www.gbiet.org/trap-library
restoration and protection within
the community.INTEREST PIECE ORUAW HARO M EDLANDS ECO-VISION
By Sarah Dwyer, DOC Dolphin Expert
On the evening of Sunday 17th
November, a single dolphin was found
in the shallows at the southern end of
Okupu beach. A group of dolphins had
been seen in the bay during the day but
had since departed. DOC, who are
responsible for the welfare of all
stranded cetaceans (whales, dolphins,
and porpoises), were grateful to
receive the report via the DOC
emergency hot line and set about
coordinating a response. Photographs
from observers on the beach confirmed
that it was a common dolphin
(Delphinussp.) and that there was no
sign of external injury or trauma. Given Oruwharo Medlands Eco-vision (OME) group now has funding for 2 part time
that it was almost dark, the tide was positions to help with the community-led ecological protection and restoration
incoming and there was no danger of project. The group has been busy laying tracking tunnels, setting and checking traps
the dolphin overheating, a response (>100), monitoring shore birds, and working with local children to make penguin
was planned for first light. There was crossing signs. The group will be touring up Oruawhao Creek this week to discuss
no sign of the dolphin the following stream health and restoration planting. Here is a summary from Lotte:
morning, so it seems the best-case
?The OME have completed the first of weekly checks of the trapsin the dunes and reserves
scenario occurred during the night
around Medlands. Aspredicted by the monitoring carried out in early November, there was
with the dolphin swimming away on its
quite a high catch rate of both ratsand mice. The monitoring also showed printsof at least
own accord. Thanks go to Phillipa
two different types of skinks, moko and copper. In the last week we have noticed both
Howcroft for reporting the stranding
dotterel and oyster catcher chicksappearing on the beach at Medlands. Good work
and checking the beach early the
everyone for giving them enough space and peace to hatch. There are still more neststo be
following morning along with the DOC
aware of though, so keep your eyespeeled for distressed parents trying to protect their
team, and to Hannah Gale for being on
eggs, and please don't linger if you see them.?
standby as one of our Aotea trained
Project Jonah marine mammal medics.
Please remember to report all wildlife Ecology vision websit e current ly under development ! To be launched 2020
emergencies to DOC via the DOC
Hotline ? 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 Ecology Vision, proudly supported and Feedback welcome. For more
468). funded by the Aotea, Great Barrier information please contact:
Island Local Board .
Taryn Wilks, Ecology Vision Facilitator
Email: taryn@sustainableaotea.co.nz
Phone: 09 4290 626You can also read
