Footnotes December 2008
Welcome to the December 2008 edition of Footnotes. We're producing briefer and more frequent editions of Footnotes from now on, to bring you the latest in news and information from the Department of Conservation's Wellington Conservancy, which includes the Chatham Islands. We welcome your feedback
Conservation awards celebrate vital role of volunteers
Restoring ecosystems, preserving a historic rail icon, promoting heritage trees and reconnecting urban children to local wildlife, are among the projects being undertaken by the seven recipients of this year’s Wellington Conservation Awards.
Awarded annually by the Department of Conservation and the Wellington Conservation Board, to acknowledge sustained commitment to volunteer conservation projects, they were presented on 12 November by former Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick.
Enjoy the great outdoors over summer
There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in the Wellington region over summer. Camping, picnicking, tramping, walking, mountain biking, swimming, snorkelling, diving, and kayaking are among the activities you can enjoy in three forest parks, two marine reserves and a variety of scenic, scientific, recreational and historic reserves Find out about the places you can visit in the Wellington region
Visitor facility updates
The popular Gentle Annie Track in the Tararua Forest Park is undergoing a facelift, a new campsite is opening in the Wairarapa, and campsites, picnic areas and tracks are being spruced up throughout the region. Information about work currently underway and other important notices for people planning to visit DOC-managed areas in the Wellington Conservancy can be found on the Wellington alerts page
Details of the new campsite opening at Corner Creek, western Palliser Bay, Rimutaka Forest Park in the Wairarapa in time for Christmas, will shortly be added to the Wairarapa conservation campsites section of the DOC website
Pukaha Mount Bruce opens new visitor attraction
The colours, sights and sounds of an ancient forest, inhabited by huia and moa, have been recreated indoors as part of a $1.4 million redevelopment at Pukaha Mount Bruce, the National Wildlife Centre. Find out more...
Pukaha grandad turning 21
There will be extra reason for celebration at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre on New Years Day, with a special someone turning 21.
The birthday boy, named Koro, has plenty to reflect upon on reaching this important milestone in life. His exploits, which include taking on four wives, and producing 31 offspring who have made him a granddad many times over, would raise more than a few eyebrows – if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s a kaka – a New Zealand native parrot. And his sexual antics have been actively encouraged by his Department of Conservation minders at Pukaha Mount Bruce. Find out more...
DOC rangers treat a sick little spotted
kiwi at Pukaha Mount Bruce
Convalescing kiwi catches train to capital
A little spotted kiwi from Kapiti Island that has been convalescing at Pukaha Mount Bruce after succumbing to the toxic effects of karaka berries, was well enough to travel by train for the next stage in his recovery - a stint in the protected wilderness of Karori Sanctuary. Find out more
New arrivals on Mana Island
The proverbial stork has been busy on Mana Island, delivering new generations of takahe, pateke, and shore plover, as well as a new baby for the resident ranger!
At least one of the recent female takahe arrivals from Fiordland has boosted the Mana Island population, producing a chick fathered by one of the local male birds. Introduced shore plover have produced their first chick of the season, and the pateke (brown teal) had a better than anticipated season, producing at least 10 large chicks. And ranger Sue Caldwell and partner Frank Higgott are returning to the island with their new daughter Heni (a sister for Piripi) to resume work after a four month break on parental leave.
Meanwhile, the jetty on the island is out of bounds while shore plover nest in the vicinity. Another 40 or so shore plover will be transferred to the island in January.
Mana seabirds under scrutiny
An American student is keeping a close eye on 12 of Mana Island's diving petrels to assess the rate and volume of marine nutrient that burrowing seabirds bring to islands. Data obtained by a transponder (a small microchip injected into the neck of the birds) as they enter their burrows, will enhance understanding of the role they play in driving ecological processes.
Find out more about Mana Island
Read Motu Moments - a newsletter about Mana and Kapiti Islands
Children release green geckos onto Matiu/Somes Island
Fifteen rare Wellington green geckos were released by school children onto Matiu/Somes Island in November, as part of an annual translocation programme – the largest to date.
Wellington green gecko
DOC has been transferring green geckos to the predator-free island sanctuary since 2006, working with local lizard breeders to ensure a genetically diverse supply for release. Karori Sanctuary plays a support role, with one-year-old animals taken to the sanctuary for display in a special gecko enclosure before being released onto the island a year later.
The Wellington green gecko is in gradual decline due to habitat loss and predation by introduced species. All lizards are fully protected, which means they can be handled but not kept in captivity without permission.
Call the DOCHotline 0800 362 468 to report sightings of Wellington green geckos, which are bright green, and often marked by two rows of cream or white blotches. The inside of their mouth is blue.
See also:
Attract lizards to your garden
Geckos
Students develop Matiu/Somes activity book, audio tours
A BP Community Enterprise Project award of $1000 has enabled a group of year 10 Wellington Girls College students to design and produce fun activity booklets, and a cellphone audio tour for families visiting Matiu/Somes Island
Fifty colour and 50 black and white booklets are being produced and will be trialled on the island from February, along with the audio tour.
See also: Matiu/Somes Island
Seascape mural education resource for schools now online
A marine education resource centred around the seascape mural at Wellington's Oriental Parade is now available online. The mural was developed by local artists and marine experts from DOC, NIWA and Te Papa with support from DOC's Poneke Area Office and Wellington City Council. Easily accessible to Wellington schools, the mural provides an exciting "outdoor classroom", illustrating the types of marine life found around Wellington's coast. Find out more...
Funding support for Important ecosystems
Wellington and Chathams projects are among 71 nationwide to benefit from Biodiversity Funding announced in October 2008, The projects involve advising private landowners, and enhancing biodiversity on private land through, fencing, restoration planting, weed and animal pest control work programmes.
The Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds recognise the important role played by landowners and community groups in the protection of our country's native species. Much of this work is being done in collaboration with regional and local councils, QEII National Trust and DOC. Find out more...
Tui nesting in central Wellington? Yeah right!
Tui are regularly seen and heard throughout downtown Wellington, but it's assumed they retire to the town belt, and especially Karori Sanctuary, to breed. So DOC's Wellington Conservancy staff were delighted when an adventurous pair nested in an elderberry tree in full view of their Thorndon office. The conservancy office backs on to century-old Thorndon villas, with well-established gardens, which tui have obviously found to their liking.
Location of tui nest in Wellington City
Sadly though, the nest failed when storm-force winds in November snapped the top off the tree. The nest was retrieved, and on close inspection was found to contain egg shell fragments and rat droppings. The nest is now being used as an educational resource at Karori Sanctuary.
As a footnote to this tale of nature in the city, a bush falcon provided another spectacle for DOC staff several days later, feeding on a song thrush fledgling on a pohutakawa tree outside the same row of windows in the conservancy office. View images
New book reveals dramatic conservation gains on Chathams
A revision of the book Chatham Islands: heritage and conservation has revealed dramatic progress with conservation on the Chatham Islands over the last 12 years. Not only have several endangered bird and plant species been brought back from the brink of extinction, but there has been a huge change in community attitudes to conservation.
Edited by DOC Wellington Conservancy conservation analyst Dr Colin Miskelly and published by the Canterbury University Press (CUP), Chatham Islands: heritage and conservation is a wide-ranging exploration of the islands, featuring contributions from a team of experts working in the fields of history, geology, marine and land ecology, and flora and fauna.
Dr Miskelly reports that there are now over 3000 hectares of protected private land on the Chatham Islands, including about 40 conservation covenants and kawenata. "It is great to see the real effort that Chatham Islanders are making to protect their heritage". Find out more...
DNA fingerprinting helping to save Chatham Island toetoe
DNA fingerprinting is being used to help save one of the world's most seriously threatened plants - the Chatham Island toetoe. Find out more...
Wellingtonians explore old Government Buildings
People gather to hear the stories of
Wellington's old Government Buildings
Nearly 300 Wellingtonians took up an offer to explore off-limits areas of the 132-year-old Government Buildings during an open day this month. Highlights included an opportunity to view the historic birdcage lift, and a talk about the ambitious restoration of this grand old wooden building, the former seat of Government.
The open day was also a chance for DOC to seek volunteers so that old Government Buildings can be open to the public during weekends and public holidays. If you're interested in volunteering contact Paulette Wallace. Ph: +64 4 470 8439
Find out more: Old Government Buildings
Volunteers needed for Sheridan Creek workshop
From 9 to 13 February 2009 the valley of Sheridan Creek at Otaki Forks will echo to the sound of hammer on steel, in an effort to preserve a historic logging industry site from the 1930s. Keen volunteers are sought to participate in the sixth annual workshop, a unique opportunity to learn new skills. DOC will provide accommodation and food for the week. Participants will learn the methods used to stabilise metal objects in an environment which threatens their integrity.
Contact Richard Nester. Ph: +64 4 470 8438 or +27 276 6069.
Turnbull House room hire increase for commercial groups
The cost of hiring a room at Wellington's historic Turnbull House will rise by 5 percent, for commercial groups from 1 January 2009 to cover inflation and rising overhead expenses. View the new rates on the DOC website
Whale survey will benefit from Canon Environmental Grant
DOC marine mammal specialist
Nadine Bott receives Canon equipment
from Declan Ryan, Canon
Wellington Conservancy marine mammal specialist Nadine Bott will find it easier to record images of humpback whales after being awarded one of three 2008 Canon Environmental Grants.
DOC received $5000 worth of specialised Canon equipment for observation work and study of humpback whales, a project co-ordinated by Nadine, to determine the present status and level of recovery of the whales in NZ waters since commercial whaling ended in New Zealand in 1963. Find out more:
DOC's work with humpback whales
Canon awards environmental grant to benefit humpback whales
Taputeranga Marine Reserve book launched
The history of the newly-established Taputeranga Marine Reserve, its natural history, and the role it will play in New Zealand’s coastal conservation is outlined in a new book about the reserve.
Edited by Dr Jonathan Gardner, director of the Victoria University Centre for Marine Environmental & Economic Research, and published by First Edition Publishers of Wellington, the book The Taputeranga Marine Reserve was launched this month by Conservation Minister Tim Groser at DOC's Conservation House in Wellington.
It can be purchased from the Department of Conservation's Wellington Visitor Centre, 18 Manners Street. Ph: +64 4 384 7770. Email: wellingtonvc@doc.govt.nz
See also: Taputeranga Marine Reserve
Staff farewelled
Two Kapiti Area DOC staff were farewelled this month. After five years as community relations programme manager, Stacy Moore has returned home to Oregon in the United States. Mana Island field centre supervisor Grant Timlin is also moving on after two years as field centre supervisor. During the previous decade he had worked on the island as an assistant ranger and contractor. Both have made a big contribution to conservation and will be missed by their colleagues and the community groups that they work with. They've enjoyed the enthusiasm that community groups have brought to the conservation projects they've been involved with.
Poneke Area ranger Bex Wolfe is also leaving, to embark on her big OE. Bex was involved with the little blue penguin monitoring and intrepretation projects on Matiu/Somes Island, and servicing huts and other visitor amenities in the Catchpool and Orongorongo Valleys.
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