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Dawn ChorusDawn ChorusBulletin 89

ISSN 1171-8595 May 2012

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Volunteer Opportunities - Page 4Volunteer Opportunities - Page 4How to Catch a Duck - Page 5How to Catch a Duck - Page 5

Photo Competition Results - Pages 5, 8 and 9Photo Competition Results - Pages 5, 8 and 9The Big Picture: Cape SanctuaryThe Big Picture: Cape Sanctuary - 0 - Page 10

Makaka - Leafl ess Broom - Page 14Makaka - Leafl ess Broom - Page 14

2 Dawn Chorus 89 May 2012

InformationSchool VisitsSchools wishing to visit Tiritiri Matangi should fi rst visit our website:

www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/schoolvisits.htm

Advance bookings are essential

Overnight VisitsAlthough camping is not permitted on the Island, there is limited bunkhouse accommodation available.

For information on booking overnight visits, go to:

www.doc.govt.nz/tiritiribunkhouse

Bookings can also be made by phoning the Warkworth Area Offi ce on 09 425 7812, although an additional booking fee will apply.

Volunteers who are undertaking offi cial SoTM work can obtain accommodation at no charge but this must be booked through the Guiding and Shop Manager (contact details below).

SoTM members who wish to visit in a private capacity can get a discounted rate by booking through the Warkworth Area Offi ce 09 425 7812.

Supporters of Tiritiri MatangiDawn Chorus is the quarterly newsletter of the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi (SoTM). We are a volunteer incorporated society working closely with the Department of Conservation to make the most of the wonderful conservation restoration project that is Tiritiri Matangi. Every year volunteers put thousands of hours into the project and raise funds through membership, guiding and also through our island-based gift shop.

For further information, visit www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Getting to Tiritiri Matangi360 Discovery operates daily services every Wednesday through Sunday from Downtown Auckland and Gulf Harbour Marina.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!

Phone 0800 360 347 or visit

www.360discovery.co.nz

Weather Cancellations: Please call 0800 FANTAIL (0800 326 824) after 7.00 AM on the day to confi rm if vessel is running.

Upcoming Events 2012

21 - 22 JulyHosted Supporters’ Weekend

8 - 9 September Hosted Supporters' Weekend

10 SeptemberAGM

(see page 6 for details)

20 - 22 OctoberLabour Working Weekend

10 DecemberTiri Talk: Kevin Parker

(Greg’s birthday and end of year 'do').

Bookings for blue events can only be made with the Guiding and

Shop Manager(contact details below)

360 Discovery kindly offers a discount to SoTM members for special weekends and events, and complimentary fares for working weekends.

Contacts Phone Email

Chairperson Peter Lee 418 1332 [email protected]

Secretary Trish Wells 578 1011 [email protected]

Guiding and Shop Mary-Ann Rowland 476 0010 [email protected]

Membership Zhea Warden 940 6739 [email protected]

Dawn Chorus Editor Simon Fordham 274 1828 [email protected]

Island Rangers Dave Jenkins and Jess Clark 476 0920 [email protected]

SoTM CommitteeChairpersonSecretaryTreasurer

Committee

Peter LeeTrish WellsKevin Vaughan

Alison BrayRoger BrayHester CooperMike DyeCarl Hayson

Kay Milton Andrew NelsonJohn StewartRay Walter

The opinions of contributors expressed in Dawn Chorus do not

necessarily represent the views of the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc.

Unless otherwise indicated, photos in Dawn Chorus articles are attributed to

the author.

3www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Where to for the Supporters? As a group, we are 24 years old this October. By conservation volunteer group standards, that makes us positively elderly. The treeplanting is done, most of the original planned translocations are a success. We could be forgiven for thinking life will carry on as it is. But changes are in the air – changes which present the Supporters with both a challenge and an opportunity. DOC is updating its Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) for the Auckland region. The CMS sets out the objectives, principles and policies that govern the conservation estate, and the changes DOC is proposing present the most signifi cant change in our external environment in over two decades. We are all aware of the increasing fi scal pressures on DOC by a government keen to cut costs and increase revenues. Now we are seeing what this could actually mean for the Tiritiri Matangi project. DOC is proposing signifi cant changes in everything from daily guiding limits, to overnight numbers, to helicopter landings. Why? Because there is a demand, and the Tiritiri ‘brand’ is such that people want to go there. DOC expect many will pay handsomely for the privilege.

Some change is inevitable. But our job is to work as hard as possible to see that appropriate limits are set and/or maintained, so that the special characteristics of this magical place are not lost. We have already given feedback and will continue to do so. Along the way, we’ll also keep you, our members, informed. What we are increasingly aware of is that the very model of the Supporters may have to change. We have probably reached the limits of what we can do as an almost entirely volunteer-based organisation. The issues and requirements on a daily and weekly basis are signifi cantly more than they were even ten years ago. So we are going to take a good, hard look at what we can do, what we need to do more of – and, probably, what we will step back from, given the likely new environment. Do we take a leap forward with more responsibilities? Do we need to employ more staff? Do we set up a trust to take care of the fi nancial side of things? Do we start providing and managing accommodation – or not? Or do we focus on our 'core competencies', the loyalty and power and commitment and knowledge of our volunteers? The committee and subcommittees will have much to consider over the coming months!

From the Chair Peter Lee

r job e that intained,

Call for Nominations

Nominations are sought for Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and up to nine Committee members, to be elected at the AGM in September 2012.

Chairperson, Peter Lee, and Secretary, Trish Wells, have already indicated that they are not available for re-election.

If you are keen to become further involved in the management of our outstanding organization, do consider a role on the Committee. Meetings are held every six weeks at a central location.

Nominations (including nominator and seconder) must be received in writing by the Secretary, on or before 31 July 2012.

PO Box 90 814, Victoria Street West 1142 or [email protected]

Please include a brief resume for inclusion in the August Dawn Chorus.

ErratumIn the last Dawn Chorus, it was incorrectly stated that the new mower, purchased by SoTM, cost $39,000. The correct fi gure is $19,000.

Volunteer, Brian Chandler, mowing the fi re-break on the recent Easter Working Weekend

Photo: Simon Fordham


Volunteer Opportunities on Tiritiri MatangiVolunteer Opportunities on Tiritiri MatangiSue Cameron, Volunteer Coordinator, Warkworth Great Barrier Area Offi ce

When asked, 'What was the best thing about the volunteer project?' on a feedback form, volunteers have responded:

'The people, the Island, the birds. The rangers were so welcoming and inclusive that you really feel like you were part of the Tiri community.'

'I was involved in lots of different kinds of work, so I learnt a lot.'

'Being able to be part of what’s happening, not just observing.'

These comments come from some of this year’s DOC volunteers who spent seven days / six nights assisting the rangers with a variety of tasks. As the volunteer coordinator for the Warkworth Great Barrier Area Offi ce, I have the job of sourcing volunteers for the Department of Conservation’s volunteer programme each week on Tiritiri Matangi.

Weekly volunteers have a set schedule of jobs that include cleaning the Island’s Visitor Centre, joining the ranger for the morning bird round, cleaning and refi lling the wildlife water troughs, making up the sugar water mix for the bird feeders and accompanying the ranger on the sugar water round each day (non-peak season). Additional tasks are outlined by the rangers as required each week and are conditional on volunteers’ skills and fi tness levels.

DOC volunteers are given complimentary transport on board the ferry, courtesy of 360 Discovery; their accommodation in the bunkhouse is also free, but they are responsible for their own food, drinks and snacks. A gear list is provided to those who are offered placements, to give an idea of what you need in terms of work clothes, sleeping gear, etc.

Volunteers are asked to contribute six hours of work each day on the Island, and, preferably, have a medium fi tness level so they are able to carry out their allotted tasks effi ciently and safely. Toward the end of the year another opportunity begins, where volunteers are able to assist with monitoring the hihi breeding season. These volunteers are asked to commit to at least three stints of four days (Sunday to Wednesday), over September to February, to assist the hihi contractor with the increased demand for sugar water and the cleaning required to maintain hygiene around the feeding stations, as well as nest box maintenance and research observations. These opportunities are valued by conservation / environmental students wishing to gain fi eld experience. I would be especially pleased to hear from any members of the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi, and their networks, who would like more information about these opportunities. You can contact Sue on 09 425 0978 or email:

[email protected] Alternatively, call in to the Warkworth DOC offi ce for a chat.

You can also browse more volunteer opportunities on other islands in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and other sites in the Auckland DOC region at:

www.doc.govt.nz/aucklandvolunteers

Volunteer Kelly mixing sugar water

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Volunteers Kelly and Donovan restocking feeder

Photo: Kenya Calder

Photo: self-portrait, Kelly


2012 Photo Competition ResultsFauna:1st Martin Sanders – Saddleback Duet2nd Toya Heatley – Singing Bellbird3rd Simon Fordham – Tuatara Flora:1st Steve Pearson – Cabbage Tree2nd Steffan Friedrich – Cabbage Tree Flowers3rd Martin Sanders – New Zealand Gloxinia Landscape:1st Brendon Doran – Tiri Night Sky2nd Edward Duncan – Bunkhouse at Night3rd Darren Wolley – Fishermans Bay

People:1st Simon Fordham – Chris Green2nd Helen Bucksey – Wetapunga Release3rd Martin Sanders – Rat Autopsy Under 16:Oxana Repina – North Island Robin

Winning entries may be viewed on pages 8 and 9. A number of these images will be included in the 2013 Tiritiri Matangi calendar. Thank you to Geoff Beals for judging the many entries.

Hi, my name is Tui. I am a 26-year-old (well, in dog years - my owners still think I’m a two-and-a-half-year-old baby) German short-haired pointer (with a touch of black labrador). I swing to the pointer, obsessed with birds rather than food, which my owners are rather pleased about, as they are obsessed with birds too. I work as a ranger for the DOC Kauri Coast offi ce. My main skill is searching out pateke, but I am training to fi nd kiwi too. Other times I keep my master company as he traps our local bush, showing him where the goats are. In November I was very lucky to be invited to Tiri – I hear only the elite in my profession get to work there. Luckily I could take my owners too; they love Tiri’s birdlife and really needed a holiday. To my delight Tiri had a great pateke breeding season this year, which meant there was work to be done. My owners explained that we needed to catch all the juveniles so that we could give them individual ID bands as well as colour combinations, so that when the juveniles leave their brood ponds and fl y away to new territories we would know they came from Tiri. We also wanted to band the adults on the Island so the volunteers and rangers would know who was who. My mistress had built some funnel traps which, when baited with bread, entire families would go into to feed. Once caught in this trap they couldn’t fi nd their way back out and we could band them one by one. A couple of the birds were not so keen on the bread and traps, and at one pond we could not see any birds, but I knew they were hiding up on the bank and showed my owners where they were. My owners caught some of these birds by gently herding them into mist-nets strung across the water. Others I helped to round up, using my sensitive nose to indicate to my master where the ducks

were hiding. He then reached in to pick up the birds.

Once we had caught and banded 20 pateke (six adults and 14 juveniles) we went to search the remainder of the wet spots on the Island. I thoroughly enjoyed sniffi ng around these areas looking for ducks. Although at times the temptation to follow the scent of kakariki or kiwi was tough to ignore, I know when I wear my DOC jacket I must behave and respect the honour of being allowed to work in such special places. We didn’t fi nd any other birds, so we believe the Tiri population currently stands at 10 adults (fi ve pairs) and the 14 juveniles. A big thank-you to my duck-catching team-mates Jen and James, the Tiri supporters and ranger-Dave for having us visit the Island – but one last thing, Dave, there was this pesky bird, looked like an overweight pukeko, tried to steal my breakfast one morning. I had to growl at it and it still wasn’t perturbed! 'Cheesecake', I think my mistress called it – keep an eye on that one.

How to catch a duck... or twenty... Tui(with assistance from Jenny Rickett)

'Everyone needs a cause, even if it is only bloody ducks.' Sir Peter Scott


The following speech, a story on a well-known personality, was written by Harry Duncan for his Year 9 class at Mt Albert Grammar School. Harry also presented this speech to the Tiri Guides' end of year function at Unitec.

Staying low to the ground, he begins to hurry forward through the cover of the bush. Ahead of him he sees his target – his loot. He breaks into a run. Now out in the open, he sprints into battle. Jumping, he forcefully seizes his prize. Victory! – as he dashes out of sight.

The story I have just told you is one of the legendary exploits of a vicious, terrorizing thief and highway man, that has developed a taste for other people’s pic-a-nics. And no, he is not Yogi Bear. This daring outlaw is wanted for robbery-under-wings.

Greg the takahe is a known endangered resident of Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf. He is partially endangered because the blue and green birds were nearly hunted to extinction earlier last century, but also because of his strange behaviour and liking for things that he does not have. This story is about Greg engaging in a day-to-day activity: him stealing an unfortunate day-tripper to the Island’s lunch, instead of eating takahe feed and tussock.

Some say it is Greg’s thirst for danger that gets him into trouble, but it is actually his sixth sense. Greg’s sixth sense has been developed over the years. Something in his brain goes 'Ding! Greg! There is food nearby, yummy food, other people’s food, SQUAWK' and Greg will run off. As he runs off, Greg has no idea that he is one of only approximately 230 takahe left in the world.

The roar of the vehicle gets louder as Greg runs through the bush towards it, armed with his endangered status. Out on

the gravel road the enormous vehicle bears down upon him. And shudders to a halt. He squawks. A human he has so often exploited gets out, sprinkling the glossy golden pellets in front of Greg. Greg squawks as the vehicle starts up and moves on. Greg has had a very productive meal from this highway stick-up.

But how does he do this? How does Greg milk us? The rangers and regular visitors respect him, knowing his power. What is everyone’s mistake?

Greg runs as fast as his legs will take him through the bush. The American tourists have been warned of Greg, so have set their picnic up in a circle of chairs. Greg dashes through the legs of the chairs and people to relieve them of their lunch. 'We have grossly underestimated Greg the takahe,' they comment, as he runs into the distance. That’s everyone’s mistake. 'He is only a bird'. Our arrogance can’t comprehend Greg being smart. So, ladies and gentleman, to conclude, Greg is a quirky and strange bird (those traits don’t mean he is related to me of course). He has adapted to like other people’s pic-a-nics. All of the stories I have told you are how Greg gets his breakfast, lunch and dinner. Greg is not 'just a bird', that’s everyone’ s mistake. He has the same intelligence as some people coming to his Island. He has outsmarted many people, and using his endangered status he has managed to extort tonnes of food from the rangers.

So when you go to Tiritiri, zip up your bags, keep your lunch in your sight, and beware: HERE BE GREG

Here Be GregHere Be Greg Harry Duncan

Notice of Annual General MeetingNotice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi will be held as follows:

7.30pm Monday 10th September 2012Kohia Teachers’ Centre, 74 Epsom Ave, Epsom

At this meeting, the following items of business will be included:

Welcome, Apologies ................. Peter LeeMinutes of Previous AGM ......... Trish WellsChairperson’s Report ............... Peter LeeFinancial Report ....................... Kevin VaughanElection of Offi cers ................... (see next bulletin for details of candidates)General Business

Further details will be included in the August bulletin

7www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz 7www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz

TakaheTo help monitor takahe, feeding hoppers are being trialled with family groups. They will be portable so that the ground where the birds feed does not become soiled, which could create a disease risk. During the trial period Jess reported the following behaviour from each group:

Cheesecake group: Cheesecake was fi rst, with no hesitation about using the hopper. Wal took only seconds to follow suit. Te Mingi and chick took no notice of the hopper and kept searching the ground for pellets. By the third time, all were taking pellets out of it.

Mahuika group: These guys refused to take pellets out of the hopper, and kept searching the ground. Blackwatch showed the most interest, actually looking into the hopper but not taking any pellets. Since then the pellets are going each day, but we have yet to see who is eating them, takahe or pukeko!

Ahikaea group: Raumati was very curious and it didn't take her long to dig into the pellets. Soon all three were happily eating out of the hopper. Raumati is the most bold and curious out of this family group.

On 10 April Jess removed Greg’s transmitter as it had been fl ipping over, causing rubbing on his left wing. Greg has been enjoying time back up at the Visitor Centre, checking out possible food opportunities when the visitors are around. Every now and then Te Mingi, Cheesecake and family stride through and poor old Greg high-tails it down to the implement shed until the coast is clear again!

All three takahe chicks are male and have now been banded. Blackwatch and Mahuika’s chick has been named Beacon (a shining light / lighthouse which seems appropriate as he hatched in this area). As Te Mingi and Cheesecake spend a lot of time around Jess’s house, their chick has been named Westy (Jess hails from West Auckland). Mungo and Edge’s chick is Ariki, which means chief.

KokakoThis year’s chicks, Miharo, Flieder and Sarang, are all males, so we now have sixteen males, nine females and one unknown.

Stitchbird / HihiDue to the recent emergence of Salmonella, it was decided to postpone the translocation of birds to Bushy Park. A team of people, including representatives of Auckland Zoo, Massey University, DOC, SoTM and ZSL, has been monitoring and researching this outbreak to attempt to understand this disease emergence.

Birds translocated to Maungatautari in past years are doing well. Kate Richardson reports that in 2010/11 a minimum of 42 adults (18 females and 24 males) were identifi ed breeding. In 2011/12 a minimum of 71 adults (25 females and 46 males) were identifi ed as breeding. There appear to be fewer juveniles fl edged this season than last, but this may be due to either the cold, wet spring or the high level of male harassment at nests which led to a number of early nests failing.

WhiteheadIn early May, 97 whitehead were translocated to Ark in the Park (Waitakere Ranges) as part of an ongoing project to repopulate this area.

Saddleback / TiekeAlthough we appear to have had fewer chicks this season, the birds moved to

Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands are doing well. Cheridan Mathers reports that, on Rangitoto, seven known pairs fl edged 18 chicks and, on Motutapu, seven known pairs fl edged 19 chicks.

Other BirdsDuring March, a long-tailed cuckoo was seen on Ridge Road and a shining cuckoo by the Wharf Road. Shining cuckoo are known to breed on the Island but, to date, there is no evidence of long-tailed cuckoo breeding.

Very early, on the morning of 3 May, a single kaka was seen fl ying around the Island.

On the same day, at least 30 to 40 tui were seen perched on the tops of the gum trees above the bunkhouse. There was another large fl ock fl ying above Little Wattle Valley, calling and swooping. At one point those in the gum trees all took off together to join this fl ock.

Argentine AntsAt the end of March, when Chris Green did his survey, he reported that for the fi rst time he didn’t

fi nd any ants. This is great news, but he cautions that it is just the fi rst year of a required two or three ant-free seasons before he can offi cially say that they have been eradicated. Last year Chris tested an improved method of treatment and it looks to be working.

Other FaunaOn 29 April a family of orca came in to the Wharf as the ferry arrived, while the rest of the pod swam by. Orca love to feed on eagle rays and, later on that day, 26 rays were counted near Hobbs Beach and a further 10 or more were seen in the Wharf area, along with a 50cm octopus.

In March, a dead rat was found on the beach at Fishermans Bay. After an autopsy, which included an analysis of stomach contents, as well as inspection of nearby rodent monitoring stations, it was determined that, in all likelihood, it was already dead when it washed up on the beach.

faunanotes

compiled by Morag Fordham

Although the breeding season has now fi nished, there is still much activity as young birds endeavour to establish territories.

Shining cuckoo by Wharf Road in March

Photo: Martin Sanders

8 Dawn Chorus 89 May 20128 Dawn Chorus 89 May 2012

2012 Photo Competition2012 For the third consecelusive shot for thewere judged by PScan be seen here. F

2nd Landscape: Edward Duncan

1st Fauna: Martin Sanders

3rd Landscape: Darren Wolley

2nd People: Helen Bucksey

2nd Flora: Steffan Friedrich

3rd Flora: Martin Sanders

2nd Fauna: Toya Heatley


2012 Photo CompetitionPhoto Competitioncutive summer, visitors to the Island set out to capture that e 2012 Tiri photographic competition. The many entries

SNZ Accredited Judge Geoff Beals and the winning entries Full results are listed on page 5.

1st Landscape: Brendon Doran

1st Under 16: Oxana Repina

3rd People: Martin Sanders

1st People: Simon Fordham

1st Flora: Steve Pearson

3rd Fauna: Simon Fordham

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The landowners share a vision to restore the coastal communities of land birds, sea birds, reptiles and invertebrates that would once have existed on the Cape Kidnappers peninsula. It is a vision which extends more than 50 years, beyond their lifetimes. Andy Lowe, a landowner on the southern side of the peninsula, dreamed up the idea almost 12 years ago. He realised that fencing the neck of the peninsula would enable a large amount of land to be protected by a relatively short amount of fence. Although predators could still invade around the coast, potentially huge conservation gains could be achieved through a boundary fence in combination with a comprehensive predator-control programme. In the early stages many thought the idea not only crazy, but hugely ambitious and challenging; restoration would have to begin almost from scratch on a blank canvas. Decades of land clearance and farming have denuded most of the land of native vegetation, with only the odd remnant black maire, totara and kahikatea telling of a once much different landscape. Coastal vegetation clings to some of the steeper inaccessible cliff edges. Fossil remains in sand depressions in the hind dunes of Ocean Beach also tell of the animals that would once have roamed over the peninsula, many species which are now extinct, such as coastal moa, merganser, New Zealand raven, and extant species such as pateke, tieke, various seabird species, lizards and tuatara, lost from the area many years before. The initiative is unique in that it is the fi rst time large-scale wildlife conservation has been undertaken in a highly modifi ed farming and multi-use landscape. If successful, the project will be a leading model for conservation restoration, achieving nationally signifi cant species conservation gains without compromising the existing land use. In 2006, construction began on a 10.6km predator-proof fence stretching across the neck of the peninsula from coast to coast. The

fence took almost a year to build and was completed in early 2007. Mesh commonly used for NZ predator fences performed poorly in trials in the harsh, salty conditions of Ocean Beach and this motivated the landowners to develop their own more durable mesh made from double galvanised long-life wire. The wire is woven into a ‘chainmail’ and has an aperture that excludes all but the smallest of mice. A few other adaptations such as the close (1.5 metre) spacing of posts and vertical hanging mesh have all helped provide strength and ease of maintenance.

An intensive predator-control programme operates continuously to 'mop-up' any pests that can sneak around the fence ends from time to time. Two people are involved 24/7 servicing over 1,200 traps for mustelids (stoats, ferrets

Tuatara were released in March 2012

Cape Sanctuary: Hawkes Bay Tamsin Ward-Smith

One of the most exciting things in conservation today is the sheer number

of emerging volunteer projects, both local and nationwide, many having been inspired by what has happened on Tiri. Each serves as a reminder that, whilst our project is a leader in many ways, we are but one piece of the jigsaw that forms the Big Picture of conservation in New Zealand.

Cape Kidnappers is well known for its gannet colony. However, a private initiative is restoring the habitat on the peninsula and reintroducing many native species.

THE BIG PICTURE

Cape Sanctuary is the largest privately owned and funded wildlife restoration project of its kind in New Zealand. The sanctuary is situated on the Cape Kidnappers peninsula, owned by Julian Robertson and the Hansen and Lowe families.

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and weasels) and 2,500 bait stations for rodents (rats and mice). A regular volunteer army also assists on a regular basis. Rat tracking indices have declined from 30% in 2006 to an average of below 5% for the last three years. Ferret, stoat and weasel captures are low (only 17, 49 and 99 animals respectively have been caught since the project began). Possums and hedgehogs have almost been eradicated from the peninsula, but feral cats still pose a problem, with over 750 caught since 2007. Rabbits are also a problem, with the peninsula ranking as one of the worst rabbit-prone areas in Hawkes Bay.

The 2,500 hectares behind the fence are a mosaic of grazed farmland, pine forest, regenerating native forest and coastal cliffs, dune systems, a world famous gannet colony (the largest in the southern hemisphere), a world famous international golf course, and even a luxury lodge.

Reintroductions began in 2007 with the transfer of locally common forest birds such as tomtit, whitehead, rifl eman and robin. With the exception of tomtit, none of the species is likely to have been present on the peninsula for at least 50 years. Robin, tomtit and whitehead were sourced from Maungataniwha Pine Forest, a 6,500ha block, two hours drive to the north and owned by Simon Hall. These species are now breeding successfully within the sanctuary and, much to everyone’s surprise, have preferred to establish in the pine forested areas rather than the regenerating native areas where they were initially released.

In 2008 the fi rst North Island brown kiwi were released at the sanctuary. The majority of these have been sourced from Simon Hall’s Maungataniwha Native Forest block (6,500 ha) as BNZ Operation Nest Egg eggs or chicks. Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua has raised the young chicks to around 800g, at which point they can be released back to the wild. Half of the chicks produced (and there have now been over 100, the 100th having been released in February by Rachel Hunter) have been released at the sanctuary and half returned to Maungataniwha to boost the wild population. The target of 60 founders for Cape Sanctuary was reached in 2011 with kiwi also sourced from the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges, and some from captive facilities. Despite very dry summers, the growth rates of young kiwi have been good, and comparable to growth rates at other wild areas such as Waikaremoana. The fi rst breeding attempts were detected this season. In time the sanctuary will be one of the largest secure sites for North Island brown kiwi, capable of supporting 400+ pairs. For the last two years the sanctuary has also crèched kiwi chicks for other projects. This season, 40 young (2-3-week-old) chicks, weighing only 300g, have spent their fi rst three months growing at the sanctuary before being returned to the wild to projects as far afi eld as Whirinaki. Little spotted kiwi are also planned to be released in the near future. Pateke / brown teal releases began in 2008. Pateke are NZ’s rarest waterfowl, numbering only 2000 or so in the wild.

There were initially some doubts as to how well pateke would fare in the dry Cape environment during summer. Following a trial release of 40 in May 2008 there has now been a total of 250 captive-bred individuals released at the sanctuary. Survival of releases in the fi rst two years was 60%, which was higher than that achieved at other monitored sites. Breeding occurred in the fi rst season, and in both 2010 and 2011 seasons over 80 chicks survived to adult size. The sanctuary is now likely to be close to capacity.

Restoring seabird colonies to the peninsula has become a big focus over the last few years. With 17km of coastal perimeter, the sanctuary offers enormous potential to restore breeding colonies of a number of species. The dark, loamy soils on the cliff-tops indicate that the area would once have been home to thousands and thousands of burrowing sea birds. Seabirds are the missing fertilisers from many mainland restoration systems; they feed at sea and return to the land to deposit nutrients in the form of faeces, dead bodies, eggs, and vomit, and so would once have provided

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Crop tube feeding a common diving petrel chick

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Photo: Cape Sanctuary


the nutrient-rich environment that invertebrates, reptiles and plants thrive in. Seabirds tend to return to the place they fl edge from, so encouraging them to return to breed at sites that have become safe, such as the Cape Sanctuary, is not that easy. Techniques to establish new colonies have involved transferring chicks from their natal burrows before they have emerged and hand-raising them at the new site. In 2008 we began a six-year programme to transfer and hand-raise grey-faced petrel chicks collected from Moutohora Island, off the coast from Whakatane; 276 chicks have now been transferred to artifi cial burrows at the sanctuary. The chicks have been carefully fed a sardine 'smoothie', using a crop tube, until they fl edge and begin their journey to maturity out at sea. At fi ve to seven years of age they are expected to return to the sanctuary to prospect and eventually breed. We are expecting prospectors shortly.

Similar programmes have also been established for the endangered Cook’s petrel and common diving petrel. We have just completed the third year of Cook’s petrel chick transfers from Hauturu / Little Barrier Island and the fi rst year of diving petrel chick transfers from Motumahanga Island, in the Sugar Loaf Group off the coast of New Plymouth. Feeding trials to test techniques to hand-raise white-faced storm petrel (weighing a tiny 45g) and mottled petrel are also underway in preparation for chick translocation programmes beginning in 2013. A speaker system installed on the cliff edge that plays the calls of a range of species is also hoped to entice passers-by to investigate. The aim is to have a year-round presence of breeding seabirds on the headland of the peninsula.

Little penguins are fairly numerous in Hawkes Bay. However, in 2006 the peninsula had very little protective habitat for roosting and nesting. Over 200 penguin boxes have been dug in along the coastline. It took a few years for the penguins to fi nd their new accommodation, but there are now 40 of the boxes being used regularly and many last season contained eggs and chicks.

On 30th March 2012, 20 tuatara were collected from Nga

Manu Wildlife Reserve in Waikanae and escorted to Cape Sanctuary by Ngati Koata, sanctuary landowners and staff, for the fi rst release onto the peninsula. The tuatara originated from Takapourewa (Stephens Island) in the Marlborough Sounds, where they were collected as eggs. The eggs were incubated and hatched at Victoria University, Wellington, and the young taken to Nga Manu for rearing when they were about a year old. The tuatara that have been released are approximately fi ve years old. Other releases of older animals are planned for the near future. The day was a huge success despite the rain and was celebrated by many people. Tuatara jaw bones dated at approximately 600 years old have been found in the midden sites at Ocean Beach. Anecdotal reports also suggest that tuatara may still have roamed the Ocean Beach dunes and Karamu Stream areas as recently as the early 1930s, although the source is still to be confi rmed. Most evidence suggests that tuatara have not survived on mainland New Zealand for at least 200 years.

Variable oystercatchers are now breeding successfully in the sanctuary, along with the rare New Zealand dotterel. In 2006, only one pair of dotterels was known along the sanctuary coastline and, despite sometimes producing chicks, none were ever recorded to have fl edged successfully. 18+ chicks were produced in the 2010 breeding season and nine pairs now have territories established next door to each other stretching from Rangaiika Beach south to Ocean Beach.

Volunteers continue to play a huge part in this project, with over 600 on the database and close to 50+ active monthly with regular chores. The Department of Conservation and local Iwi have also been very supportive of the efforts of the landowners. The achievements thus far would not have happened without the support of so many people.

If you would like more information or to become involved as a volunteer please contact Tamsin on 027 2273 543 or email:

[email protected]

SoTM MembersWinter Special

From 1 June to 31 August, 360 Discovery are kindly offering discounted fares for SoTM

members.

Auckland $38 (adult) / $20 (child)Gulf Harbour $22 (adult) / $14 (child)

Bookings to be made directly with 360 Discovery

Phone 0800 360 347

(online bookings are unavailable for this promotion)

12

Tiri Talks Originally intended for guide training purposes, these informative evenings have been renamed ‘Tiri Talks’ and all SoTM members are now welcome to attend.

• December 10th: Dr Kevin Parker

Further details will be included in the August bulletin.

(Please note that the previously advertised talk on 30 July has been cancelled as it is now a guide training evening.)


A cool and wet autumn has kept the forest on Tiritiri Matangi looking fresh and green. Fruit is maturing on many trees, and buds are bursting on some of the early winter fl owering species.

Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile) has fruit ripening, with the brown capsules splitting open to expose a red, fl eshy aril around the seeds. Birds are active in the canopy, visiting to feed, especially hihi, tui and kokako.

Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium) has ripe green capsules wide open, allowing birds access to sticky black seeds.

Pate (Scheffl era digitata), puka (Meryta sinclairii) and houpara (Pseudopanax lessonii), all members of the ivy family, also have fruit maturing.

Five-fi nger (Pseudopanax arboreus) is decorated with tight fl ower buds. It is one of our winter fl owering trees and will provide a valuable nectar source during the cooler weeks to come.

Brush wattle (Paraserianthes lophanatha) has already begun to fl ower. A tolerated exotic, its yellow 'bottlebrush-like' blossoms provide a sustained nectar supply for our honeyeaters over winter.

fl oranotes

compiled by Warren Brewer

Mature kohekohe fruit

Unripe puka fruit

Ripe fi ve-fi nger fruit can be expected in Spring

Open karo seed capsule





These leaf-substitutes are described as cladodes, an adaptation seen in desert plants such as cactus, which enables them to fl ourish in arid conditions. Cladodes lose less moisture through having fewer pores. Makaka does have leaves in its seedling phase and some young plants growing in shade have small leaves composed of three to fi ve tiny leafl ets.

Makaka grows as a shrub or small tree and is widespread in the North Island. It also occurs throughout most of the South Island. In mid-November delicate white fl owers appear. They are fl ecked with purple veins, giving them a pale lilac hue. In mid-December small, green pods with pointed tips form. As the pods mature and ripen they darken to a blackish shade and their sides fall away to expose small reddish-orange seeds. The genus is named after Captain Dugald Carmichael (1772 – 1827), a Scottish army offi cer. He had studied medicine in Edinburgh and began his army life as a surgeon in the 72nd

Highlanders. Carmichael had a strong interest in botany, beginning during his childhood in Scotland. His army career enabled him to travel widely and he botanised in South Africa, India and New Zealand.

The genus Carmichaelia displays great diversity as its species range from prostrate forms, a few centimetres high, to trees. There are 24 species in the genus, all endemic to New Zealand except for one species on Lord Howe Island, Carmichaelia exsul (exsul is Latin for exile).

Carmichaelia belongs in the legume family, Fabaceae.

Makaka - Leafl ess Broom Warren Brewer

Makaka (Carmichaelia australis) contrasts starkly with the other trees on Tiritiri Matangi. Its fl attened green branches and stems function as leaf-substitutes.

Makaka fl owers

Leaves and cladodes of shaded, young makaka plant

Makaka cladodes and exposed seeds

Makaka seed pods

I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.

Joseph Addison, essayist and poet (1672-1719)


Hey everyone! An important part of an animal’s life is finding food. We can draw a picture of all the animals, plants, and other organisms in an environment or habitat, and draw arrows to show what eats what. The arrows go from the thing that gets eaten, to the thing eating it, and show the flow of energy. This is called a food web. Below is a simple one to get you started. Have fun! Jo

Hand this to your kids – or pass it on to someone else’s kids – to enjoy a range of activities about Tiritiri Matangi Island.

FOOD WEB ACTIVITIES:

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc. PO Box 90 814, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142

Dawn Chorus

Hand-printedCloth Coin Purses

made in NZ

$9

Paua Zip-up Tote Bag

$16

You can pay by credit card or chequeeither ring or email your order

[email protected] 476 0010

Luggage Tags for all the lucky winter

escapees

$10.50

Passport Holders

$15

Coin Purses$11

Glass Coasters made in NZ

$29 (pack 4)

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