DOCSLIB.ORG

The Magazine of the Ornithological

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

BIRDS NEW ZEALAND Te Kahui Matai Manu o Aotearoa No.29 March 2021 The Magazine of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand NO.29 MARCH 2021 Proud sponsors of Birds New Zealand Find us in your local 3 From the President's Desk New World or PAKn’ Save 4 NZ Bird Annual Conference & AGM 2021 5 Notices of Motion 6 Call for Applications to BNZRF 2021 7 Satellite tagging of Bar-tailed Godwits 8 Tracking Tawaki in fjord ecosystems 9 New Zealand Bird Atlas summer update 10 Fiordland Storm Petrels in the Spotlight PUBLISHERS 14 Oscar Thomas - True Young Explorer Published on behalf of the members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (Inc), P.O. Box 834, Nelson 7040, New Zealand. 15 Movements of Black-fronted Terns Email: [email protected] Website: www.birdsnz.org.nz Editor: Michael Szabo, 6/238 The Esplanade, Island Bay, Wellington 6023. 16 Regional Roundup Email: [email protected] Tel: (04) 383 5784 R.H.D. Stidolph's 100-year legacy ISSN 2357-1586 (Print) ISSN 2357-1594 (Online) 19 We welcome advertising enquiries. Free classified ads for members are at the editor’s discretion. Articles or illustrations related to birds in New Zealand and the South Pacific region are welcome in electronic form, such as news about birds, COVER IMAGE members’ activities, birding sites, identification, letters, reviews, or photographs. Black Stilt or Kakī. Photo by Mike Ashbee. Copy deadlines are 10th Feb, May, Aug and 1st Nov. https://www.mikeashbeephotography.com/ Weka, Opportunist and Battler Pete’s Nest This recently published book about Weka by Ralph Powlesland Situated in the ancient treetops, overlooking the ocean, and and Agnes Takacs draws from a variety of sources, but mainly just 30 minutes north of Coromandel town, the property is an ongoing study of Weka at Manaroa by Mary and Ralph encapsulated by giant native trees and a plethora of resident Powlesland. There is also information from published sources native bird life. Relax among an amazing array of Kaka, Kereru, such as books, websites, and scientific papers. We’ve tried to Riroriro, Tauhau, Korimako, Tui and more. Also within close include as much information about Weka as possible. proximity of the Waikawau Bay Wetland Sanctuary and The soft-cover book (15cm x 23cm) is 96 pages with 82 images. Colville Harbour, which hold many and varied shorebirds. Chapter titles include Different kinds of Weka, Territory and Email: [email protected] fighting, Calls, Foraging techniques, Foods, Roosting, Breeding, Phone. 027 3593 619 Juvenile dispersal, Lifespan, Weka and introduced mammalian More info: https://t.hmwy.io/82xeQtexkdb predators, Roles in the environment, and Translocations of Weka. The book has many wonderful images of Weka, some of them action shots showing Weka involved in a variety of activities, including sleeping, bathing, fighting, incubating and rearing chicks. The recommended retail price is $25. Copies are available from The CopyPress: www. copypress.co.nz/shop/ weka-opportunist-and- battler Bookshops and libraries may have copies (ISBN: 978-0-473-53864-4) 2 BIRDS NEW ZEALAND I Number 29 March 2021 From the President’s Desk I’ve had a wonderful summer so far, birding here in Otago/ before Christmas - at a time when there was already a lot of post Southland and also in the Tasman and Marlborough Districts. backed-up in the system awaiting delivery. The eBird Alerts that I get on my phone have encouraged me to go to new and different places to watch birds. It’s been a bit of a Applications for research funds struggle to get back to the daily work cycle. Applications for the David Medway Scholarship, and the Marj Davis Scholarship are open now with details posted on Council Meeting the Society’s website. Applications to the Birds New Zealand Council met by video call in November and you can see the Research Fund start on 1 April (see page 6). If you think that any results of some our work elsewhere in this edition of Birds of these could support the logistics and purchase of equipment New Zealand. and consumables for your project then please consider applying. Society Strategy New Zealand Bird Atlas Ian Armitage has continued to lead the review of the Society As of December Biz Bell reports that there are more than 97,000 Strategy. It has now been posted on the Society’s website and checklists contributed by 834 people and that 82% of all squares your comments on this are invited. For the strategy to be of are covered once or more. Observers have seen 255 species. The use to Council and you as members of the Society it needs to Atlas Team at Wildlife Management International continues be relevant, and to ensure relevancy membership engagement to respond to emails and phone calls regarding the Atlas. The is essential. Comments on the draft strategy are invited here: Atlas Team has also been engaging with more community https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/news/revised-draft-strategy/ groups, universities and other consultancies to advocate for the Atlas and their participation. One tool that the team has created Notices of Motion is a quick 3-minute promotional video that helps answer the This time a year ago as part of the lead-up to the 2020 three key questions, ‘what is the Atlas?’, ‘why is it important?’ Conference, Council had developed a number of Notices and ‘how can I get involved?’. This video can be viewed here: of Motion to amend the Constitution and review Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCcjKaTEnc&ab_ subscriptions. These matters need to be debated at an AGM channel=NewZealandBirdAtlas and so they have been re-endorsed by Council and have been included in this edition of Birds New Zealand for consideration A regional NZ eBird reviewer workshop was held via Zoom at the AGM in Thames. in November. This was to help all NZ eBird reviewers to chat with each other for the first time and to try formalise roles and The formal notices are published elsewhere in this edition promote better communication between reviewers. of Birds New Zealand but they cover changes relating to the The Atlas team are continuing to work on a data sharing Society’s name: how to get the most out of the newly updated agreement with the Department of Conservation. This will subscription database; and the need to review the Society’s enable the Department’s Tier One monitoring data to be added subscription rates. to the Atlas dataset. This will be a significant boost to coverage to remote and mountainous sites, but it will add to, and not replace Membership of the Royal Society of New Zealand Society efforts to attempt to ensure national coverage. Ian is also leading a discussion with the Royal Society of New Zealand about the merits and obligations of Birds New Zealand This project has been supported by the Society’s long-term becoming a constituent member of the Royal Society. partner Goodness Kitchen and I am grateful for their ongoing support. Health and Safety As part of the ongoing implementation of the Society’s Health Birds New Zealand Fledging Fund and Safety Policy Council has purchased a set of High Visibility I wish to remind you all that the Society’s Fledgling Fund vests for use on Society projects. The Executive Officer has is open to donations. The fund is dedicated to supporting distributed two to each region for their use. If more are required Student Members of the Society to attend a New Zealand Bird these can be purchased through the EO. Conference and to present at the conference. The fund will be an endowment fund and will disburse funds for student members Engagement with incoming ministers from donations received. If members wish to make a contribution Letters of introduction about the purpose and scope of Birds New to the fund so we can disburse grants for the 2021 Conference Zealand have been sent to new ministers in the Government. We then please do so by making a donation when registering for the have written to Hon. Kiritapu Allen, Minister of Conservation, conference, or by contacting the Membership Secretary. to Hon Dr. Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and New Zealand Bird Conference Innovation, and to Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Associate Minister of Research, Science and Innovation. We will continue to engage Registrations for the 2021 New Zealand Birds Conference to with leading ministers in the Government to ensure that they are be held in Thames on 5th-7th June are open. I’m really looking aware of the Society and its work. forward to catching up with you, the Society, on this weekend. David Lawrie and his team have put together a weekend filled Notornis with science opportunities to mingle and a good selection of field The last part, Volume 67, of Notornis was the significant edition trips. I strongly recommend that you register as early as you can on Wader Studies in New Zealand. This is a very elegant part of to ensure you can participate in one of the field trips and the the Society’s Journal. I'm aware that some members probably other activities. did not receive their December mailing of Birds New Zealand magazine and Notornis until after Christmas - in my case, the BRUCE McKINLAY second week of January. This was unfortunate and related to PRESIDENT the fact that the Wader Studies issue of Notornis was about three times bigger than a 'normal' issue and so took longer to produce, resulting in the mailing not going to NZ Post until about a week Number 29 March 2021 I BIRDS NEW ZEALAND 3 2021 NZ Bird Conference & AGM Benefits of membership The 2021 NZ Bird Conference and 82nd Annual General Meeting You can join Birds New Zealand today for just over a dollar a of Birds New Zealand will be held on Queen’s Birthday weekend week.
Recommended publications
  • The Wrybill <I>Anarhynchus Frontalis</I>: a Brief Review of Status, Threats and Work in Progress

    The Wrybill <I>Anarhynchus Frontalis</I>: a Brief Review of Status, Threats and Work in Progress

    The Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis: a brief review of status, threats and work in progress ADRIAN C. RIEGEN '1 & JOHN E. DOWDING 2 •231 ForestHill Road, Waiatarua, Auckland 8, NewZealand, e-maih riegen @xtra.co. nz; 2p.o. BOX36-274, Merivale, Christchurch 8030, New Zealand, e-maih [email protected]. nz Riegen,A.C. & Dowding, J.E. 2003. The Wrybill Anarhynchusfrontalis:a brief review of status,threats and work in progress.Wader Study Group Bull. 100: 20-24. The Wrybill is a threatenedplover endemic to New Zealandand unique in havinga bill curvedto the right.It is specializedfor breedingon bareshingle in thebraided riverbeds of Canterburyand Otago in the SouthIsland. After breeding,almost the entirepopulation migrates north and wintersin the harboursaround Auckland. The speciesis classifiedas Vulnerable. Based on countsof winteringflocks, the population currently appears to number4,500-5,000 individuals.However, countingproblems mean that trendsare difficult to determine. The mainthreats to theWrybill arebelieved to be predationon thebreeding grounds, degradation of breeding habitat,and floodingof nests.In a recentstudy in the MackenzieBasin, predation by introducedmammals (mainly stoats,cats and possibly ferrets) had a substantialimpact on Wrybill survivaland productivity. Prey- switchingby predatorsfollowing the introductionof rabbithaemorrhagic disease in 1997 probablyincreased predationrates on breedingwaders. A recentstudy of stoatsin the TasmanRiver showedthat 11% of stoat densexamined contained Wrybill remains.Breeding habitat is beinglost in somerivers and degraded in oth- ers,mainly by waterabstraction and flow manipulation,invasion of weeds,and human recreational use. Flood- ing causessome loss of nestsbut is alsobeneficial, keeping nesting areas weed-free. The breedingrange of the speciesappears to be contractingand fragmenting, with the bulk of the popula- tion now breedingin three large catchments.
  • New Zealand Comprehensive II Trip Report 31St October to 16Th November 2016 (17 Days)

    New Zealand Comprehensive II Trip Report 31St October to 16Th November 2016 (17 Days)

    New Zealand Comprehensive II Trip Report 31st October to 16th November 2016 (17 days) The Critically Endangered South Island Takahe by Erik Forsyth Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth RBL New Zealand – Comprehensive II Trip Report 2016 2 Tour Summary New Zealand is a must for the serious seabird enthusiast. Not only will you see a variety of albatross, petrels and shearwaters, there are multiple- chances of getting out on the high seas and finding something unusual. Seabirds dominate this tour and views of most birds are alongside the boat. There are also several land birds which are unique to these islands: kiwis - terrestrial nocturnal inhabitants, the huge swamp hen-like Takahe - prehistoric in its looks and movements, and wattlebirds, the saddlebacks and Kokako - poor flyers with short wings Salvin’s Albatross by Erik Forsyth which bound along the branches and on the ground. On this tour we had so many highlights, including close encounters with North Island, South Island and Little Spotted Kiwi, Wandering, Northern and Southern Royal, Black-browed, Shy, Salvin’s and Chatham Albatrosses, Mottled and Black Petrels, Buller’s and Hutton’s Shearwater and South Island Takahe, North Island Kokako, the tiny Rifleman and the very cute New Zealand (South Island wren) Rockwren. With a few members of the group already at the hotel (the afternoon before the tour started), we jumped into our van and drove to the nearby Puketutu Island. Here we had a good introduction to New Zealand birding. Arriving at a bay, the canals were teeming with Black Swans, Australasian Shovelers, Mallard and several White-faced Herons.
  • New Zealand Great Spotted Kiwi Quest 5Th January to 9Th January 2022 (5 Days)

    New Zealand Great Spotted Kiwi Quest 5Th January to 9Th January 2022 (5 Days)

    New Zealand Great Spotted Kiwi Quest 5th January to 9th January 2022 (5 days) Pipipi by Adam Riley Our Great Spotted Kiwi tour is designed to seek out one of New Zealand’s most sought-after endemics. By no means guaranteed, we have two nights each at prime localities where we will maximise searching for this species. RBL New Zealand – Great Spotted Kiwi Quest Itinerary 2 Other attractions are hiking through pristine Red Beech forest surrounded by breath-taking glacier-lined mountains, where Pipipi (Brown Creeper) Blue Duck, the cute New Zealand Rockwren, New Zealand Falcon, Malherb’s (Orange-fronted) Parakeet, Fernbird, Rifleman and the friendly Kea can be found. THE TOUR AT A GLANCE… THE ITINERARY Day 1 Christchurch to Arthurs Pass Day 2 Arthurs Pass area Day 3 Arthurs Pass to Punikaiki Day 4 Punikaiki area Day 5 Punikaiki to Christchurch and depart TOUR ROUTE MAP… RBL New Zealand – Great Spotted Kiwi Quest Itinerary 3 THE TOUR IN DETAIL… Day 1: Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass. After departing Christchurch, our first stop will be the Ashley River Mouth where we will scan the mudflats for Variable and South Island Pied Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwit, Pied Stilt, Wrybill and Royal Spoonbill. Less frequently recorded species may include Far Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, the rare Black Stilt and in the surrounding trees Little Owl. Later in the morning we will drive towards Arthur’s Pass keeping a careful watch for New Zealand Falcon. A small lake at the side of the road often has New Zealand Falcon by Erik Forsyth a breeding pair of Great Crested Grebe as well as Masked Lapwing and occasionally Double-banded Plover.
  • Signature Redacted

    Signature Redacted

    The Conservation Sacrifice: How Far New Zealand Will Go to Save Its Birds MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY by C) Brittany Flaherty Payne JUN 2 5 2019 nl Co B.S. Biology LIBRARIES B.A. Environmental Studies William Smith College, 2010 SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM IN COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES/WRITING IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SCIENCE WRITING AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SEPTEMBER 2019 © 2019 Brittany Flaherty Payne. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part in any medium now known or hereafter created. Signature redacted Signature of Author: Depa rnent of Comparative Media Studies/Writing May 21, 2019 Signature redacted Certified by: Marcia Bartusiak Professor of the Practice Thesis Supervisor Signature redacted Accepted by: Thomas Levenson Professor of Science Writing Director, Graduate Program in Science Writing 1 The Conservation Sacrifice: How Far New Zealand Will Go to Save Its Birds by Brittany Flaherty Payne Submitted to the Program in Comparative Media Studies/Writing on May 21, 2019 in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Science Writing ABSTRACT In July of 2016, the New Zealand government announced plans for Predator Free 2050, the biggest predator control effort ever undertaken in the country-and perhaps the world. Predator Free 2050 is a government-sanctioned goal to eliminate rats, stoats, and possums from New Zealand. Since New Zealand has no native land mammals, its bird species are poorly adapted to withstand predation from the mammals that have been introduced since humans first arrived on the nation's shores.
  • Birds New Zealand No. 11

    Birds New Zealand No. 11

    No. 11 September 2016 Birds New Zealand The Magazine of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand NO. 11 SEPTEMBER 2016 Proud supporter of Birds New Zealand Proud supporter of 3 President’s Report Birds New Zealand 5 New Birdwatching Location Maps We are thrilled with our decision 7 Subantarctic Penguins’ Marathon ‘Migration’ to support Birds New Zealand. Fruzio’s aim is to raise awareness of the dedicated 8 Laughing Owl related to Morepork work of Birds New Zealand and to enable wider public engagement with the organisation. We have 9 Fiordland Crested Penguin Update re-shaped our marketing strategy and made a firm commitment of $100,000 to be donated over the 11 Ancient New Zealand Wrens course of the next 3 years. Follow our journey on: www.facebook/fruzio. 12 Are Hihi Firing Blanks? 13 Birding Places - Waipu Estuary PUBLISHERS Hugh Clifford Tribute Published on behalf of the members of the Ornithological Society of 14 New Zealand (Inc). P.O. Box 834, Nelson 7040, New Zealand. Email: [email protected] 15 Minutes of the 77th AGM Website: www.osnz.org.nz Editor: Michael Szabo, 6/238, The Esplanade, Island Bay, Wellington 6023. Phone: (04) 383 5784 16 Regional Roundup Email: [email protected] ISSN 2357-1586 (Print) ISSN 2357-1594 (Online) 19 Bird News We welcome advertising enquiries. Free classified ads are available to members at the editor’s discretion. Articles and illustrations related to birds, birdwatching or ornithology in New Zealand and the South Pacific region for inclusion in Birds New Zealand are welcome in electronic form, including news about about birds, COVER IMAGE members’ activities, bird studies, birding sites, identification, letters to the editor, Front cover: Fiordland Crested Penguin or Tawaki in rainforest reviews, photographs and paintings.
  • SHOREBIRDS of the HAURAKI GULF Around the Shores of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park

    SHOREBIRDS of the HAURAKI GULF Around the Shores of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park

    This poster celebrates the species of birds commonly encountered SHOREBIRDS OF THE HAURAKI GULF around the shores of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Red knot Calidris canutus Huahou Eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis 24cm, 120g | Arctic migrant 63cm, 900g | Arctic migrant South Island pied oystercatcher Haematopus finschi Torea Black stilt 46cm, 550g | Endemic Himantopus novaezelandiae Kaki 40cm, 220g | Endemic Pied stilt Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus Poaka 35cm, 190g | Native (breeding) (non-breeding) Variable oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor Toreapango 48cm, 725g | Endemic Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica baueri Kuaka male: 39cm, 300g | female: 41cm, 350g | Arctic migrant Spur-winged plover Vanellus miles novaehollandiae 38cm, 360g | Native Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus variegatus Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis 43cm, 450g | Arctic migrant Ngutu pare Ruddy turnstone 20cm, 60g | Endemic Arenaria interpres Northern New Zealand dotterel Charadrius obscurus aquilonius Tuturiwhatu 23cm, 120g | Arctic migrant Shore plover 25cm, 160g | Endemic Thinornis novaeseelandiae Tuturuatu Banded dotterel Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus Pohowera 20cm, 60g | Endemic 20cm, 60g | Endemic (male breeding) Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva (juvenile) 25cm, 130g | Arctic migrant (female non-breeding) (breeding) Black-fronted dotterel Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Elseyornis melanops 19cm, 60g | Arctic migrant 17cm, 33g | Native (male-breeding) (non-breeding) (breeding) (non-breeding) Terek sandpiper Tringa cinerea 23cm, 70g | Arctic migrant
  • Which Subspecies of Mongolian Dotterel Visit New Zealand?

    Which Subspecies of Mongolian Dotterel Visit New Zealand?

    Notornis, 2000, Vol. 47: 125-126 0029-4470 O The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. 2000 SHORT NOTE Which subspecies of Mongolian dotterel visit New Zealand? G.R. PARRISH 145 Church Street, Whangarei The Mongolian dotterel (Lesser sand plover, Charadrius no white patches in its black mask. The crown was very mongolus) breeds across eastern Asia from the Himalayas pale chestnut with a pale whitish supercilium stripe. The to northeast Siberia. The five subspecies form two groups: nape, hindneck, side of neck, foreneck and breast were a the C. m. atifvons group includes C. m. atifrons, C. m. deep brick red colour. The band at the upper and lower pamirensis, and C. m. schaeferi, and breeds in central breast was sharply demarcated from the white of the throat Russia, the Himalayas, and southern and eastern Tibet; and belly. This band appeared to extend to the upper flanks the C. m. mongolus group comprises C. rn. mongolus, but my vision was obscured by glasswort. There was no and C. m. stegmanni which breed in eastern inland Russia, black line dividing the white of the throat and the red of Kamchatka, the Commander Islands, and the Chukotsk the breast. The back and wings were greyish brown with Peninsula. Members of the C. m. atifrons group winter some white around the edge of the wing feathers. I from Africa to India and the Greater Sunda Islands, concluded it was a Mongolian dotterel of the C. m. whereas those of the C. m. mongolus group winter "atrifrons group" (Hayman et al. 1986). It closely between Taiwan and Australia (Hayman et al.
  • Wetlands You Can Visit in the Northland Region

    Wetlands You Can Visit in the Northland Region

    Wetlands you can visit in the Northland Region The Northland Region tapers to a long remote The area includes: Rare wetland plants found here include milfoil peninsula at the top of the North Island, • Aupouri and Pouto Peninsulas , (Myriophyllum robustum ), hydatella, a tiny representing, in Maori mythology, the tail of the extensive wind-blown dunes with many relative of the water lily (Trithuria inconspicua ), great fish hauled up by the demi-god Maui. dune lakes, swamps & ephemeral ponds. marsh fern (Thelypteris confluens ), and the sand spike sedge (Eleocharis neozelandica ). The region has nine main types of wetlands • Ahipara Massif and Epikauri Gumfield, Borrow Cut wetland is the only known NZ including; bogs, fens, salt marshes, swamps, Northland’s best and biggest gumland location for the bittercress herb Rorippa shallow lakes, marshes, gumlands, seepages • Kaimaumau/ Motutangi Wetlands an laciniata. It contains an unnamed species of and ephemeral (seasonal) wetlands. extensive band of parallel sand dunes, rare Hebe and is one of the strongholds for peat bogs and gumlands. heart leaved kohuhu Pittosporum obcordatum. The 1,700 km coastline is indented with • Lake Ohia , an ephemeral lake studded several extensive, shallow harbours and with fossil kauri tree stumps. The area offers a diverse range of hunting and estuaries. Peninsulas are dotted with dune fishing with 10 game bird species. Contact Fish lakes (over 400 of them). They are often edged • Te Paki and Parengarenga Harbour , & Game for further information and permits. by marsh wetlands, and support a large extensive swamps, bogs, gumlands diversity of native plants and animals, including shrublands and dunelands with salt dwarf inanga, a rare freshwater fish found only marshes, mangroves and sand flats.
  • LOCAL ACTION PLAN for the COORONG FAIRY TERN Sternula

    LOCAL ACTION PLAN for the COORONG FAIRY TERN Sternula

    LOCAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE COORONG FAIRY TERN Sternula nereis SOUTH AUSTRALIA David Baker-Gabb and Clare Manning Cover Page: Adult Fairy Tern, Coorong National Park. P. Gower 2011 © Local Action Plan for the Coorong Fairy Tern Sternula nereis South Australia David Baker-Gabb1 and Clare Manning2 1 Elanus Pty Ltd, PO BOX 131, St. Andrews VICTORIA 3761, Australia 2 Department of Environment and Natural Resources, PO BOC 314, Goolwa, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5214, Australia Final Local Action Plan for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Recommended Citation: Baker-Gabb, D., and Manning, C., (2011) Local Action Plan the Coorong fairy tern Sternula nereis, South Australia. Final Plan for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Acknowledgements The authors express thanks to the people who shared their ideas and gave their time and comments. We are particularly grateful to Associate Professor David Paton of the University of Adelaide and to the following staff from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Daniel Rogers, Peter Copley, Erin Sautter, Kerri-Ann Bartley, Arkellah Hall, Ben Taylor, Glynn Ricketts and Hafiz Stewart for the care with which they reviewed the original draft. Through the assistance of Lachlan Sutherland, we thank members of the Ngarrindjeri Nation who shared ideas, experiences and observations. Community volunteer wardens have contributed significant time and support in the monitoring of the Coorong fairy tern and the data collected has informed the development of the Plan. The authors gratefully appreciate that your time volunteering must be valued but one can never put a value on that time. Executive Summary The Local Action Plan for the Coorong fairy tern (the Plan) has been written in a way that, with a minimum of revision, may inform a National and State fairy tern Recovery Plan.
  • New Zealand's Threatened Species Strategy

    New Zealand's Threatened Species Strategy

    NEW ZEALAND’S THREATENED SPECIES STRATEGY DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa, Toitū te tangata. If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive. From the Minister ew Zealand’s unique While Predator Free 2050 is the single most significant and Nplants, birds, reptiles ambitious conservation programme in our history, it has to and other animal species be part of a broader range of work if we are to succeed. help us to define who we This draft Threatened Species Strategy is the are as a nation. Familiar Government’s plan to halt decline and restore healthy, emblems include our sustainable populations of native species. The Strategy flightless nocturnal kiwi looks at what steps are needed to restore those species and kākāpō, and the at risk of extinction, and what we should do to prevent silver fern proudly worn others from becoming threatened. by our sportspeople and etched on our war graves We are deliberately using the language of war because we and memorials. are up against invasive enemies that are hard to defeat. If we are to save the creatures we love, we have to eradicate They are our national the predators intent on eating them to extinction. taonga, living treasures found nowhere else on Earth – the unique creations of In response to beech tree seeding ‘mast’ years we have millions of years of geographical isolation. launched the successful Battle for our Birds – pest control on a landscape scale. We have declared a War on Weeds The wildlife on our islands of Aotearoa evolved in a with an annual list of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ to tackle invasive world without teeth, a paradise which for all its stunning plants that are suffocating vast areas of our bush.
  • The Wrybill Canterbury Regional Newsletter BIRDS NEW ZEALAND Te Kahui Matai Manu O Aotearoa

    The Wrybill Canterbury Regional Newsletter BIRDS NEW ZEALAND Te Kahui Matai Manu O Aotearoa

    The Wrybill Canterbury Regional Newsletter BIRDS NEW ZEALAND Te Kahui Matai Manu o Aotearoa February 2020 What's on at Birds NZ Canterbury: February to April 2020 Field Trips Tuesday March 10-Lincoln Wetlands and stormwater ponds. Meet at 9:30am in the car February 15- We'll be lending our eyes and park on Ellesmere Road. expertise to the annual Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere Bird Count organised by the Waihora Wednesday April 15- Christchurch Botanic Ellesmere Trust. To find out more or to register Gardens. Meet at 9:30am at the bridge by contact Denise Ford Armagh St car park (near Victoria Lake). ([email protected]). Please contact Bev ([email protected] or 027 March 22 -Washpen Falls. This is a 2-3 hour 3184 713) if you intend to come on any rambles. loop track on a working high country farm. Moderate fitness is required. It is meant to be Bev has alternated the days of these trips to try filled with native bush and bird life - not to and suit members' needs. If you would like to mention a waterfall. Since this track is on come but these days don't suit you, please let private property there is a cost of $10 per Bev know so she can take this into account when person which includes the use of walking sticks organizing future rambles. and a track guide. We may also make other atlassing stops in the area. Contact Sandra ([email protected] or 358 5706) by 15 March if you would like to attend.
  • New Zealand 2018

    New Zealand 2018

    Field Guides Tour Report New Zealand 2018 Nov 11, 2018 to Nov 29, 2018 Dan Lane & Mark Ayer For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. New Zealand birds have some of the best names.... For instance, this is the Pipipi, a small songbird endemic to New Zealand. Participant David Woods captured this shot of a curious individual. New Zealand is a country that is like no other. It is “at the end of the world” in some respects, having been isolated for millions of years from the rest of the world. Its flora show its link to other southern land masses with such native species as Podocarp conifers, Nothofagus beeches, and fuchsias, all shared with Australia and Patagonia, harkening back to the time of Gondwanaland. The native fauna was all but exclusively made up of birds, but thanks to the arrival of humans (particularly Europeans), what is present today is but a shadow of what once was. Nevertheless, we still can see an impressive variety of birds, including six endemic families, and a whole host of native species. Happily, New Zealanders seem to have taken their unique avifauna to heart, and have made great strives to remove the exotic mammalian predators that have been responsible for the extinction or rarity of so many species. As a result, native bird voices once again fill the beech and podocarp forests, and the predator-free offshore islands are havens for communities of native species. Out tour took us from the southern end of the South Island to Stewart Island, and back north again, crossing Foveaux Strait, along the length of the South Island (and both sides!) to the Cook Strait, and then north across the North Island to Auckland.