Awana Catchment Trust Newsletter Spring/Summer 2006/2007

Welcome to the latest Awana Catchment Trust Newsletter.
Bird breeding and nesting season is almost at an end – however behaviour by one of our local beach birds, the NZ Dotterel, suggests that maybe they are not quite finished as yet.

As in previous year’s conservation awareness among beachgoers, campers and the local community has been fantastic. So much so, that even the local Awana surfie boys supplied us unexpectedly with valuable information regarding this year’s bird breeding program.

• In September 2006, Maaka McCandless the Trust’s ranger, left the island for a six month sabbatical, and was replaced by two other local Awana residents, Ms. Amanda Yates and assistant Emma Hunt. Amanda and Emma were selected because of their former conservation work with the Awana Beachcare Group. The pair took over the Trust’s pest control programme, bird surveying, community liaison raising awareness of environmental issues, and species information gathering.
  
  
• The temporary summer fencing of the NZ Dotterel’s sand dune habitat area was reestablished again in early September, in anticipation of the coming nesting and breeding season, which clashes also with the summer tourist season. Signage and summer newsletters provided to local campers has helped reduce the number of threats to this habitat, and the birds nesting cycle, over the Xmas period.
  
  
• Other threats such as Flooding of the valley and estuary during storm conditions, has compromised the NZ Dotterel fence this season. However, the floods were few and far between, and happened well before any nesting took place. As with previous years, the fence will remain in place until the end of March, which coincides with the end of the public holidays.
  
  
• The Awana Catchment Trust’s first Variable Oystercatcher nest (see inset photo) was observed in early October. This is unusually early for the birds, and we suspect that it is due to the warmer weather that arrived early this season. Amanda and Emma were very excited with the discovery of the nest and eggs.
  
  
  
  
• Unfortunately, nature dealt some hard lessons for all this season, and regrettably none of the three Variable Oystercatcher nests in the fenced area, were to successfully raise any chicks.
  
  
• Predation is suspected from sightings of a black-backed seagull, which was observed to be frequenting the Awana beach and estuary area during this time. No other predators such as feral cats were observed around any of the nests.
  
  
• The first NZ Dotterel nest was observed right on Christmas time, just as the adjoining Dept of Conservation campground reached full capacity. Unfortunately the first nest was outside the temporary fenceline, so an ‘island’ fenceline was created temporarily around this nest containing three eggs.
  
  
• Alas, as with the Variable Oystercatchers this season, the Dotterel eggs were gone within a few days from suspected aerial predation. However, one member of the small band of 9 Dotterels has been exhibiting strange broken-wing behaviour at the moment, which would indicate that a second batch of eggs maybe on the go. We are optimistic that with our help we will see some chicks this season.
  
  
• This season has seen four pairs of oystercatchers (two at roughly either end of the beach) and four pairs of dotterels, including the pair that has been previously leg tagged by the Dept of Conservation. At the moment we are also playing host to a pair of rare Caspian terns, which are also on the threatened list of seabirds. Storm conditions seem to have driven the pair ashore for a well earned rest on their way south.
  

Pest control

• Pest control has concentrated heavily on feral cats this season within the catchment area, and specific trapping of habitats has been targeted, in an attempt to have a more successful fledgling survival rate. As with previous successful programmes specific areas such as the sand dunes, estuary/swamp areas and known bush tracks where signs of cats had been spotted were focused upon. Drop-door steel cages are used, and now that Amanda and Emma collected a photo gallery of local pet cats, no longer can feral cats masquerade as someone’s little moggy. This small undertaking not only helped Amanda and Emma meet the local landowners, but also put at rest the minds of local cat owners.
  
  
• The trapping of the feral cats was halted over the busy Christmas period, for minor safety reasons with the influx of holidaymakers, but will resume again during mid-January, and continue through to the departure of the NZ Dotterels and Variable Oystercatchers.
  
• 
  Local Awana residents have shown a keen interest in conservation, and are now asking for equipment to carry out trapping (for both feral cats and rats) on their own private land. Some people prefer to do their own work on their own land, but with the easy access to the Trust’s equipment, the Trust feels that this helps raise the overall awareness, while at the same time enhances the Awana Catchment area.
  

Grey-faced petrel

• Early July saw Maaka and Prof John Ogden undertake a survey of a known Grey-faced Petrel site on the cliffs above Awana beach. Of the 50 burrows recorded, some 40 burrows were in use by birds. Using a simple method of placing sticks over the burrow entrance, Amanda and Emma have been able to confirm that 35 of the possible 50 burrows were occupied, and two new burrows were found. This is a good sign for the Awana region as no other Grey-faced Petrel sites are known on the eastern coastline of Great Barrier Island. Amanda and Emma set feral cat traps close to the site as signs of cat activity were evident.
  
  
• In mid-September Amanda and Emma were involved in an island wide bird count for the Great Barrier Island Charitable Trust. Local Awana youth Esra Kendall also joined in. Esra is the younger brother of Reuben who worked for the ACT last summer season. Esra is showing the same keenness and enthusiasm for helping conserve the local fauna, and he is intending to further this at university in a couple of year’s time. His input is much appreciated. Much was learned from the island wide bird count, and excitingly a rare spotless crake (a shy little marsh bird) was both heard and seen which made the day very rewarding.
  
  
• A positive reaction was received from all summer tourists and campers this Christmas season. Amanda undertook the PR side of work by distributing the ACT fliers in both the Dept of Conservation campground, and at the campground of local resident Mickey’. Mickey’s campground is a private campground, however Mickey was most obliging by allowing Amanda to hand out fliers to campers there, and to ask dog owners to control their animals when out of the campground. Local dog owners also, for the most part, have been consistently following the Auckland City Council’s dog rules when visiting the beach with their dog. Certainly makes for very settled and happy birds.
  
  
• Our most current informal Brown teal count showed a small group of birds located at ‘Shag tree’ (their favoured nesting site) on the Awana river, and a larger group of 40 birds located down towards the Awana estuary mouth. Our formal annual teal count is planned to take place in late February where last year we recorded 97 Brown Teal in total.
  

Finally, it is hoped that through this newsletter local landowners and residents now have some insight into what the Awana Catchment Trust is all about, and the work they undertake. The Trust thanks all those locals who make an effort to protect and enhance the area that we live in, in whichever way that they can. By protecting the natural, physical and cultural taonga / treasures that Awana holds so we can all enjoy the rewards of these efforts.

All the best to everyone and remember to do your bit to prevent climate change.
Yours Faithfully

Mr.Maaka McCandless

Project Manager / Ranger
Awana Catchment Trust
Great Barrier Island
New Zealand
September 07

Past Newsletters

• Awana News - Autumn 2007
• Awana News - Spring 2007
• Awana News - Autumn 2006
• Awana News - Summer 2006
• Awana News - Autumn 2005
• Awana News - Summer 2005
• Awana News - Spring 2004