Kia ora and welcome to the Awana Catchment Trust newsletter
Spring and
Summer 2008/2009.
Maaka was back working
on the Barrier on an intensive cat trapping and wildlife monitoring programme
which ran right through from November
08 to February 09.
The main focus continues to be protecting the native bird life from
predation during the nesting season when they are most vulnerable.
Cat Trapping
Many of the cages were moved at the beginning of the programme
to concentrate on nesting and roosting areas of Brown Teal, Dotterel and
Oystercatchers in particular. Cat trapping got off to a slow start at the end
of 2008;
this is
a potential result of the unlawful release of the Calici virus to the island
the previous year. Rabbit numbers were so low in the Awana Catchment that
the feral cats had fewer prey and consequently may have moved to areas
of more
mature forest in the centre of the island in search of other food sources.
In total six cats were caught using 17 traps during the four month programme
and an additional three were caught before Maaka departed from the island
at the end of May; this was a good result.
Results of the trapping that was conducted
over the 2008/09 summe were recorded – click
here to the view map.
Rat Trapping
The trust has not conducted any rat trapping during the 08/09
summer. However the earlier work of the ACT trapping program contributed
information to a recent article in the Biological Invasions Journal. This article
by
John
Ogden and
Judy Gilbert describes the prospects for eradication of rats from Great
Barrier
and the current role of community based trusts to support this pest
eradication.
Click
here to download the prospects of eradication article in pdf format. (Courtesy
of Springer publication - WEBSITE)
Bird
Monitoring
Awana Catchment is home to four pairs of Variable Oystercatchers
and this season three oystercatcher chicks were hatched, although only
two reached
the flying
stage. Two more oystercatcher eggs were located on the beach, but were
unfortunately washed away during a heavy storm and flooding of the valley
and estuary.
They were later found and replaced in their original position but were
abandoned by the parents.
Brown Teal numbers were counted early on in the
season and found to be low; there were fears that the Calici Virus outbreak
may have had a negative
influence
on the Teal flock. Fortunately numbers grew as the season progressed
and a large flock of 57 Teal was recorded in mid February. Also sighted this
season
was a flock of ten Kereru (native wood pigeons) that were seen to be
spilling
over into the
Awana Catchment area.
Dotterel behaviour early in the season indicated that
perhaps there were eggs or chicks in the dune area but none were ever sighted.
Older Dotterels
that
had been previously caught and tagged with leg bands were also not
seen again over the summer season.
Awana Education Gateway
Awana Catchment Trust is in the process of launching
a proposal for an Education Initiative on Great Barrier Island – the
Aotea Education Gateway (AEG). This is an exciting new project that seeks to
use the existing
assets available
on Great Barrier Island to stimulate environmental education. The initiative
is designed to bring off-peak visitors to the island who can undertake
courses of study and gain hands on experience of active biodiversity
conservation projects.
The AEG will invest in the prosperity of Great Barrier Island and increase
conservation education both on a local, national and international scale.
Although funding is tight at the moment, we hope to see developments
on the Aotea Education
Gateway in the near future.
Once again, many thanks for all the help we
receive from the local community, and to the Department of Conservation
for providing funding, which enables
us to continue to maintain Awana Catchment as a unique and diverse environment
for everybody to enjoy.
The Awana Catchment Trust
Great Barrier Island
June 2009
Past Newsletters
|
ACT has continued to remove feral predators and monitor wildlife in
the Awana area on
Great Barrier Island.
Click below to find out more
Awana News
more
The Awana Catchment Trust relies on the goodwill and generosity of public and private donors. If you would
like to make a donation please contact us
(info@awana.co.nz).
These days you're only likely to spot the Brown Teal in parts of Auckland
and Northland. And
Great Barrier Island is
the only place where
their
numbers are
not declining!
more
|
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