Bitterns to the Fore Operation Duck Pond Teal Boxes

DUCKS UNLIMITED NEW ZEALAND INC. For Wetlands and Waterfowl

Flight ISSUE 158 - JANUARY 2014

Bitterns to the fore Operation duck pond Teal boxes - build your own From the President Contents The last few months since my appointment at the AGM in Napier, has gone quickly. Looking back we are making good January 2014 Issue 158 progress on a number of fronts. Science in the swamp 3 The 1200 metre low bund was constructed at Wairio to capture and hold extra water 75 years of conservation 3 and it is performing exactly as it was designed. When I was on site there in Bittern are booming 4 October it was holding about 25 hectares of water with a maximum depth of 1.2 Reward for bulbul 4 metres. Local DU members and volunteers had commenced planting along the bunds Watch our predators 5 to provide cover for wildlife and protect the bund from wave lap erosion. Excellent An eye for the birds 5 habitat for a wide range of wetland birds Operation duck pond 6 including bittern, pied stilts, dabchick and waterfowl. Jim Law, Ross Cottle and team Banrock Station boost 7 are now looking at replicating this for the block immediately to the south. This “think big” approach is certainly paying off. Patake doing well 7 I am also the DU nominee on the NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust which distributes about $100,000 each year to worthwhile wetland projects and Picture Gallery 8 & 9 $2 from each waterfowl hunter’s licence goes into a national fund for this DU Canada celebrate 10 purpose. The Trust members met in November in Blenheim to inspect the Nelson – Teal boxes by design 11, 12, & 13 Malborough Fish and Game Para Wetland project located alongside SH1 between Picton and Blenheim. This large project has the same challenges as Australian invaders 14 many wetlands: declining water levels and invading willows. There is a long term restoration plan in place currently being funded by the Trust at about Letter to Editor 14 $18,000 per year. The sight of large dead crack willows as you drive past looks like a grave yard but they are starting to win the battle. Native fish and Shorts 14 wetland birds, including waterfowl are the beneficiaries. For sale 15 On behalf of the Board, I hope you all had a very merry Xmas and will have a prosperous New Year. The AGM will be in the Wairarapa this year and planning is well underway to make this a success. Look forward to seeing you there. John Cheyne Board of Directors Patron Jim Campbell President: Flight published by: Ducks Unlimited New Zealand Inc. John Cheyne Waipukurau 06 858 9506 P O Box 281, Levin 5540, New Zeland. ISSN 1173-2776 www.ducks.org.nz Chairman: Advertising in flight per issue (ex GST). Ross Cottle Masterton 06 3787 408 Full colour back cover $400, Full colour inside 350. Full colour half page inside $200, Black and white full page $300. Treasurer: Black and white half page $180, black and white ¼ page $90. John Bishop Cambridge 07 823 7070 All to be camera ready. Discounts for long-term adverts. Waterfowl adverts free to members. Directors: Contact the Editor to book space or check discounts. William Abel Levin 06 362 6675 Contributions to Flight from members or other readers are welcome. Neil Candy Woodville 06 376 4448 Deadline for copy for Flight 159 March 7, 2014. John Dermer Feilding 06 238 9740 Jim Law Wairarapa 06 307 7855 Editing and Production: Liz Brook, Brightnook Farm, RD9, Feilding 4779. Dan Steele Whakahoro 07 895 6276 Email: [email protected] Tel: 06 328 9836. Cover photo: A bittern raises out of the Oioi reed Printing: Lamb-Peters Print, beds at the Mouth of the Avon River. 106A Main Street, Photo:Peter Lackland. Greytown. Science in the Swamp - WETmak now live WETmak is a free online Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Kit visit. Pick up a copy at your local DOC info centre or visit the DOC aimed at groups working on wetland restoration projects in New website to view them online. Zealand. It includes a range of monitoring techniques and methods of A feature wetland is Nukuhous Saltmash, Burke Road, Ohiwa Harbour, assessing the impact of restoration work, all designed to minimise the Bay of Plenty. need for expensive or complicated equipment. Nukuhou Saltmarsh covers about 60 hectares where the Nukuhou The kit is available in different formats to suit user needs. You can stream enters the Ohiwa Harbour. In 2003 the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care download the entire resource or focus on specific modules. Blank Group was formed and with the help of the DoC and Environment Bay datasheets and report templates can be printed off or downloaded to fill of Plenty, began a significant restoration and interpretation project. in electronically. Extensive plantings, weed and pest control, an overlook, interpretation Download WETmak, print out a few datasheets, pull on your gumboots panels, pottery bird plaques, a short boardwalk and a contemplation and head out with friends to get measuring. Increasing understanding bench have made this a pleasant place to enjoy the wetland and listen of your restoration work will bring huge rewards and provide useful quietly for fernbird calls (a high pitched single note). Pest control has information for future planning. boosted fernbird numbers, as well as banded rail, Australasian bittern There are 40 Wetlands to visit. DoC in association with the National and waders. Wetland Trust has produced a booklet about the 40 wetlands you can 75 Years of Conservation Excellence Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) pats its own back – and so they should. Together, they have conserved 6.4 million acres (approx 2589988ha) It has been 75 years in the making, but they say wetland and waterfowl and completed nearly 9,400 habitat conservation projects. Building on conservation has only just begun. the strong foundation developed by the founders back in 1938, DUC is continuing their rich tradition of wetland conservation and writing a DUC celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2013. That’s three-quarters of new chapter for waterfowl, wildlife and all Canadians. a century of work conserving critical wetlands including marshes and ponds. Read more about the DUC celebrations on page 10.

wetland care N E W Z E A L A N D

Our business is to harness community, business and government resources to restore Restoration: Work underway last year at Wairio wetland Wairarapa. Photo: Ross Cottle and develop lost wetland areas within New Zealand. Waterfowl and Wetlands Trust established by Manawatu Estuary Trust, Foxton Wetland Care members recognise that Ducks Unlimited New Zealand Inc in 1991, Mangaone Wetland, Raetihi wetlands are vital to the wellbeing of the as well as from membership, donations and environment, acting as huge ecological Masterton Intermediate School corporate memberships. sponges by soaking up pollutants and filtering Steyning Trust, Hawke’s Bay water before it reaches streams, rivers, lakes, Central to Wetland Care New Zealand’s Travis Wetland Trust, Christchurch aquifers and the sea. mission is forming partnerships with people Wairo Wetland, South Wairarapa and organisations with similar aims. Money Our initiatives focus on matters as far-reaching Wetland Trust New Zealand, Rangiriri from our partnership with Banrock Station as groundwater replenishment, flood control, Waitakere Branch Forest and Bird Wines has been given to wetland conservation nutrient and contaminant management and projects done by, among others: Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Dunedin climate change – all critical factors for the Cape kidnappers pateke release, 2008 conservation of freshwater and saltwater Tutukaka Landcare Coalition and 2009 wetlands and marshes. Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc. Fiordland pateke release, 2009. We want to preserve and conserve the flora Ducks Unlimited Operation Pateke and fauna of our most endangered ecosystem Port Charles release 2005 at Coromandel For further information, please contact: so that vibrant wetlands are our legacy to Henley Trust, Masterton William Abel - Director, Wetland Care future generations. Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington New Zealand, phone 06-362 6675 Funding for projects comes from the Kitchener Park, Feilding PO Box 281 Levin.

3 The Bitterns are a Booming Bitterns are an iconic wetland bird which is of action on. This requires regular early starts becoming increasingly rare through wetland and late finishes for the bittern counters. loss and predation by mammalian predators. During the survey 20 male bittern were They are the apex avian predator in many recorded booming and their territories plotted wetlands and their presence gives an indication on a map. Seventeen of the booming birds of overall wetland condition and health. were calling from patches of raupo and the I was fortunate that Greater Wellington other three from scattered wet patches of oioi Regional Council engaged me last year (jointed rush), closer to the eastern lake edge. through my small wetland consultancy The main concentrations were around five key WetlandWorks to carry out wetland bird sites: Boggy/Mathews/Wairio, Ponui Lagoon, surveys on a number of wetlands on the Barrage Gates, south Donald/Mangatete eastern side of Lake Wairarapa. This included Stream and Bartons/Tauherenikau River Boggy Pond, Mathews Lagoon, Wairio mouth. wetland, JK Donald Block and Bartons Lagoon. Each trip was 8-10 days duration and While bittern are polygamous and males can Elusive: A master of disguise – the Bittern attract more than one female to their territory, we based ourselves at Kilmore Lodge, a great Photo: Dougal MacKenzie. home away from home owned by Wellington some males are unsuccessful at attracting any. Fish and Game. One of my recommendations Other studies indicate the sex ratio is about 1:1 This was followed by a get together of local to the Council was the need to carry out a so the total population for Wairarapa Moana people and landowners interested in bittern bittern survey of all wetlands around the lake and associated wetlands is around 40 birds. around Wairarapa Moana. About 25 people overall. to get a good handle on the population and A report is currently being prepared for what threats each site was subject to. Greater Wellington Regional Council that The presentations and discussions that The survey, carried out over two weeks in will discuss how these wetlands can be better followed focused on the biology of bittern, October and November 2013, focused on managed for bittern. habitat use and threats from plant and animal pests and was followed by a short trip to the locating male bittern who in spring advertise Bittern Workshop their presence by making a booming call much Boggy Pond car park where everyone heard like a fog horn. They establish territories A “meeting of the minds” for people working three of the local male bittern booming and in mainly dense raupo and use this call to on bittern was held at Kilmore Lodge, Boggy advertising their wares. Pond, Wairarapa on November 2 last year. This advertise their presence to available females A great opportunity for everyone to share was attended by the DOC bittern scientist from and make other males aware not to come near. information on this threatened but still Christchurch, other DOC staff, a university The main calling periods are one hour either keystone wetland bird. side of sunrise and sunset. Occasionally they student doing a doctorate on bittern, and John Cheyne boom all night and all day when there is plenty Greater Wellington Regional Council staff. Big reward for capture of bulbul If you live in the Auckland region and see The red-vented bulbul is one of the most or hear a Red-vented bulbul, ring 0800 08 invasive bird species in the world and in New 99 66 and you could receive a $1000 if your Zealand is listed as an unwanted organism information leads to a capture. Reward period under the Biosecurity Act 1993. The maximum runs to the end of February. penalty for importing, trading, releasing, exhibiting or breeding a red-vented bulbul is The reward for information leading to the five years in prison or a fine of $100,000. capture of this pest bird was increased from $300 to $1000 in October last year. The reward Red-vented bulbuls are confirmed to be is for information that leads to the capture of located in three clusters in Auckland: south this invasive pest. Capturing and eliminating Auckland (Mangere /Manurewa/ Alfriston), this bird is important. west Auckland (Henderson / Te Atatu / Massey) and on the North Shore (Devonport Red-vented bulbuls can cause significant / Belmont / Takapuna). There’s also been a damage to fruit and vegetable crops and they confirmed sighting on the Whangaparaoa chase and attack other birds. The Ministry Peninsula. for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation (DOC) and Auckland Council There have also been unconfirmed sightings are working together to track and eradicate the in Orakei, in central Auckland, and at Walton, red-vented bulbul in Auckland. between Morrinsville and Matamata in Waikato. The response team working to eradicate this pest bird, which comes from Asia, need Keep an eye and an ear out for red-vented Unwanted: Red-vented bulbul. information of sightings. bulbuls. They have a very distinctive call, Photo: supplied by DOC. unlike other birds. They are easy to spot, a “We’ve had more than 70 calls about possible medium-sized bird, around 20 centimetres in sightings since we offered the $300 reward, leads to a capture,” said Ms Brooks. length, about the size of a starling. They have a but are still working to capture one of these “We think there are at least five red-vented black head, a dark back, grey-white belly, and birds,” said DOC spokesperson Liz Brooks. bulbuls in Auckland which most likely arrived a distinctive crimson-red patch beneath their “We’re asking the public to keep looking for by ship or yacht. They’ve arrived in Auckland tail. Call 0800 80 99 66. red-vented bulbuls and to call 0800 80 99 66 if twice before and were successfully eradicated. Their distinctive call can be heard at: http:// they think they see one. To encourage this we We want to eliminate them before they make www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/red-vented- increased the reward to $1000 for a call that themselves at home,” said Ms Brooks. bulbul

4 Watch out predators – Steve’s on the job

Birds eye: From the left, Mathews Lagoon, Boggy pond, Wairio next to Lake Wairarapa. Years ago all three wetlands were connected Photo: Supplied.

In late November Steve Playle did a trap run seven DoC250 traps on the Wairio Restoration timms traps too. at Boggy Pond and Wairio. The count was 1 Block along with two more timms traps along “With only one ferret for this check it could ferret, 1 rat and 10 hedgehogs. a pine belt where cats have been seen. mean their numbers and getting down or “The ferret was a big bugger and was caught Stock tends to interfere with the traps in the maybe they are feasting on mice or even frogs along the stop bank between Mathews and Wairio Restoration Block. “We have to live as the place is alive with them at the moment,” Boggy. This took the total predator count to 23 with that unfortunately,” said Steve. said Steve. ferrets, 1 stoat, 2 weasels, 4 cats, 5 rats and 14 Mice also play havoc with baits with most Steve has seen and heard bitterns and another hedgehogs.” said Steve. traps stripped of meat if they have not had a was heard at Mathews pond. Rampant growth of grass and weeds along kill in them. Steve said he knows it’s mostly Trapping is ongoing. with warm weather meant extra time cleaning mice because the DoC traps have mouse around trap sites. Steve also put out another droppings in them. He has seen mice in the An eye for the birds

Fluffy: Cute at this age. Impressive: Not so cute, but imposing.

Photos: Judi Kercher. As a cataloguer in the library at Massey University in the Manawatu Judi is in just the right place to follow her interest in photography and birds. These photos were taken beside the small lake in the University grounds.

5 Operation Duck Pond With about 90 percent of New Zealand’s wetland lost over the past 150 years, Fish & Game NZ realises there’s a compelling need to assess the role that ponds play in successfully managing waterfowl. Ponds have been established across the New Zealand landscape for various purposes including stock watering, irrigation, storm water capture, effluent ponding, waterfowl habitat and simple aesthetic values. Currently, there’s little scientific information on what, and how big a role these ponds play as habitat for waterfowl populations. The aim of this ‘citizen science’ project is to determine what pond habitat features provide good breeding for waterfowl, and promote good pond management practices for breeding these birds. Fish & Game has launched an appeal for people who want to monitor waterfowl populations on ponds around their area. The aim is to establish a network of ponds to be closely monitored over the breeding season. You don’t have to be a scientist! All volunteers will be given a set of simple instructions on how to go about monitoring. Fish & Game will supply a manual with simple instructions on how to run their surveys – so everyone round the country is tackling the project the same way, and volunteers gather the best data possible. Wing stretch: A great sight. If you’re keen to help with collection of data and are prepared to monitor a pond, a fun and fulfilling project that will help New Zealand’s To get involved please contact: [email protected] waterfowl and other native water dependant birds, this project is for Or go to: http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/mallard-duck-research you. Don’t forget – we are keen to hear from a wide range of people, including youngsters. Kids – depending on your age, you may need to Or visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-Duck- line up support from mum and dad, a friend or relation. Pond/677991852233814 Your help in this project will not only provide data to drive management Nathan Burkepile, decisions, but will give waterfowl enthusiasts, hunters and landowners Fish and Game Officer, Northland Fish and Game a unique opportunity to get involved and make a real hands on contribution to our efforts to manage waterfowl – and keep their numbers up!

Delightful: Doing her bit for waterfowl… Photo: Nathan Burkepile

6 Water wonder: Flooding the wetlands at Banrock Station. Photo: courtesy Banrock Station. Banrock Station wetlands get a boost

Nearly 700 hectares of wetlands at Banrock Station are being artificially native plants and wildlife in the area. flooded. This is the first time in five years the area near Kingston-on- Christophe said they had high water levels all spring and after that water Murray, has seen flooding. levels would be reduced a little bit during summer. Banrock Station, in the South Australian Riverland, is on the Ramsar list “After that, again high levels next winter and then we start again to have of internationally significant wetlands. a dry wetland in two years time.” A new regulator is pumping 2.4 gigalitres of water into the wetlands, a He said the process would recreate what happened before the task which will take the next year. construction of locks and weirs along the Murray River. Wetlands manager Christophe Tourenq said the process should mimic Story courtesy Wetland Care Australia. the natural wet-dry cycles of the flood plain, boosting the health of Pateke doing well

Pateke Spotter: On the October 5 last year, Wayne Watson counted for long periods the massive predator expansion in Northland caught up 32 Pateke at Whananaki, on Northland’s east coast - just north of with them, but now there is some serious predator control taking place Whangarei. on Northland’s east coast with very positive results. DU released Pateke at Whananaki in the 1980s and while they survived Photo: Wayne Watson.

7 World Wetlands Day and beyond Otaki River: Water birds and other wildlife are benefiting from estuary restoration efforts. Photo: Liz Brook.

Below: Royal Spoonbill: Pohangina wetlands provide a haven for many water birds. Photo: Gordon Pilone.

The plight of the world’s wetlands is highlighted annually by World dried moss for bedding. Wetlands Day, and the 2011 celebration also coincided with the 40th Eels, fish and birds from the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention - an international agreement to wetlands were a good food promote and protect freshwater environments. See page 14. source, and the feathers of Since the agreement was signed in 1971, 186 million hectares of birds like the pukeko and wetlands have been protected throughout the world - including bittern were used to adorn 55,000ha in New Zealand. cloaks and other garments. The waterways were also an Since European settlement New Zealand has lost more than 90 percent important means of access by of its wetlands - many drained to create farmland and supposedly help waka or canoe. with flood control. New Zealand species Now the Department of Conservation (DOC) and community groups are working to redress the balance aiming to educate people about the New Zealand wetlands importance of wetlands - rated amongst the most important, productive have exceptional habitats and highly threatened ecosystems in the world. - 47 species of rush and 72 species of native sedge Wetlands provide a range of crucial ecosystem services such as alone - as well as a number of improving water quality, controlling extreme flooding, regulating endangered plant species that carbon levels and supplying fresh water. totally depend on the wetland Threatened wildlife environment. DOC refers to wetlands as “cradles of biological diversity” and says Migratory birds also depend on chains of suitable wetlands and the they support a high number of threatened plants and animals, as well as survival of threatened species such as the Australasian bittern, brown providing the greatest concentration of birdlife than any other habitat in teal, fernbird, marsh crake and white heron all rely on New Zealand’s New Zealand. remnant wetland areas. Wetlands are especially important to Māori and have historical Native fish also need wetlands and eight of New Zealand’s 27 species importance having provided abundant supplies of food and materials including inanga, short-finned eels, kokopu and bullies are found in used in everyday life during early times. wetlands. Whitebait also spawn in freshwater wetlands. Flax was used in clothing, mats, kits and ropes; raupo for thatching and

Left: Family: Black swans and their signets. Photo: Julie Candy.

Right: Canada Geese: This pair at Huritini wetland. Photo: William Abel.

8 Comical: Dab chicks seem to enjoy playing the fool. Photo: William Abel.

Wing power: A Caspian Tern caught enjoying the updrafts around Onoke Point in Southern Wairarapa. Photo: Peter Monk.

Below Island home: Nesting on an island on a private pond the Canada Geese pair raised their young without fear. Mates: A pair of Mallards on the Massey University lake. Photo: Liz Brook. Photo: Judi Kercher

9 Ducks Unlimited Canada – 75th Anniversary Celebrations Top of the Flyways: DUC celebrates 75 years of conservation excellence In the heart of the prairies at the height of fall migration, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) celebrated 75 years of conservation excellence with friends and colleagues from across North America. A special Top of the Flyways convention took place on October 5, 2013, with events held at the historic Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and at DUC’s national office and flagship interpretive centre at Oak Hammock Marsh. Business session Speakers from across North America shared thoughts on DUC’s past, present and future during an informative and inspiring business session. Flyway Showcase Business Session: From left: DU Inc Board Chairman John Newman, Nearly 900 visitors enjoyed a sunny fall day at the beautiful Oak DU de México President Rogers Hoyt and DUC Board Chairman Tom Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre to learn more about wetland Worden sign joint resolutions in support of a new continental campaign. conservation. Conservationists of all ages got a hands-on look at DUC’s work and its importance in their lives. From radio telemetry Photos: Michael Roberts. demonstrations to bird identification challenges, critter dipping stations and more, the marsh was buzzing with activity. Plus, the sights and signature gala at the Fort Garry Hotel was a vision of style, while the sounds of fall migration provided the perfect backdrop. Marsh Keepers Migration dinner under a tent at Oak Hammock Marsh The historic cabin that once marked the spot of DUC’s first provided attendees with a spectacular setting to view results of DUC’s conservation project at Big Grass Marsh was the focal point for a conservation work. special donor dedication. The cabin now resides at Oak Hammock Saluting leaders, honouring legacies Marsh, and a new cairn was unveiled to recognise more than 200 donors who contributed to a special major gift campaign in honour of DUC’s Throughout its history, DUC has benefited from many pioneering 75th anniversary. and visionary leaders. Thirty-eight different men have served in the important and influential position of DUC President. Thirteen of Glamorous Galas and Down-Home dinners DUC’s living past presidents joined delegates at the Top of the Flyways Two fantastic sold-out events capped off Top of the Flyways. A convention, and were honoured during a special ceremony.

Top style: Winnipeg Gala dinner.

10 Building and erecting Ducks Unlimited Grey Teal nest boxes These nest box instructions were first used in an early Flight, and have proved very effective since then. So for the handy men and women amongst our members here is a new occupation for you over the summer months.

Galvanised flat head nails, or non-corroding screws, should be used to assemble the boxes and for added strength, lengths of 20mm square timber can be used in the corners of the boxes. This will provide something more substantial for the nails and screws to hold onto and will help prevent the ply splitting when nailing or screwing into the edge of a component. To minimise the amount of reinforcing timber needed, it should be used along the top and bottom edges of the two sides on the front entry box, while on the side entry box it should be placed vertically along both edges of the front, and on the back, where the sides join. In both cases allowances will have to be made for the recessed bottom. The entry hole of the front entry box should be 90-95mm in diameter as anything bigger could allow larger waterfowl to enter the box and evict the Grey Teal. The centre of the hole should be on the cenreline of the front, about 90mm from the top edge. A strip of chicken wirenetting must also be fixed on the inside of the front, from the bottom edge of the entry hole to the bottom of the box. This allows the ducklings to climb out of the box once the female decides to lead them away. The side entry box is not as deep as the front entry box so it is easier for the ducklings to escape. However, because plywood has a smooth finish to it, a strip of wirenetting should also be fixed on the inside of these boxes as well. Introduction On the assembly diagrams, the boxes are shown with the lids removed. The dashed detail shows the suggested lid overlap of the box’s four Since its inception in New Zealand, Ducks Unlimited has been sides, which will help keep the box weatherproof. When fitting the lid, advocating the provision of nest boxes as a way of increasing the which has to be removable, short lengths of the 20mm square timber number of Grey Teal in the country. This project known as “Operation can be fixed to its underside to fit tightly inside the four vertical sides of Gretel”, was the first project undertaken by DU in New Zealand and the box. The lid can then be be weighted down with something heavy, has already seen over 900 nest boxes erected in different parts of the or be secured with screws. country. The bottom of both box designs are fully recessed and holes may be As Grey Teal are usually hole nesters, there is a common belief that drilled through them to allow the drainage of any water which does their numbers in New Zealand are limited by a shortage of nest sites, manage to get in. If required, the side entry box can be assembled with compared with Australia. Therefore, the provision of artificial nest sites, either a left or right entry be simply rotating the back and swapping the in the form of boxes, is a potentially powerful management technique two sides. for increasing both the number and range of Grey Teal. Probably the most successful example of this is the management of Carolina Wood Mounting Duck in North America, however, nest boxes are also used successfully Boxes should be securely mounted on a pole, with the bottom about for the management of other species in both North America and Europe. (continued on P12) The attached plans cover the construction, mounting and servicing of two different designs of Grey Teal nest box. The front entry box is the type most widely used, however, the alternative side entry may be preferred by some people as it is possibly more weather and predator proof. Its main disadvantages are the extra material, and hence cost, required to build it, and its more complicated fabrication. The plans for both designs are based on the use of 2400mm x 1200mm sheets of 9mm plywood which is suitably treated for exterior use. For each design there is a cutting plan, to ensure the correct number of components are cut from each sheet, while minimising waste, and an assembly diagram, to illustrate correct overlaps. Thicker plywood may be used for a longer life, however, this will entail some dimesional alterations. Suggestions for mounting each box type are also included. Construction The dimesions on the cutting plans are all in millimetres, and are finished sizes. This means that most of the waste shown around the edges of the sheets will be consumed by the thickness of the saw blade multiplied by the number of cuts made. One sheet of plywood will yield enough components to build six front entry boxes or four side entry Box work: Chris Bindon left, and Henning Hovmand (deceased) boxes. making Grey Teal boxes in 2006.

11 1m above water level. If necessary, allow sufficient clearance for the long nails through the extended back of the block. pond’s water level to rise during floods. Poles should be driven into The side entry box can be mounted in a similar way, however, the the bottom of the pond, in open water, clear of overhanging vegetation mounts should be 260mm long and only extend across the back of the as weed mats and overhanging branches give predators access to the main nest box, not the side entry. A different bottom mount will also be boxes. At the same time, it is beneficial to locate the boxes in the lee needed. Instead of a block, a further 260mm mount should be fastened of tall vegetation to provide them with shelter. Boxes can be erected in to the box close to the bottom edge of the back. A second mount should lines or small groups, however they should not be close than 4-5m as be fitted to the post in such a position that the top box mount fits over neighbouring birds can provide sufficient disturbance to lead to nest the top post mount while the bottom box mount fits tightly under desertion. As a result, two boxes cannot be erected back to back on the the bottom post mount. Both the top and bottom mounts can then be same pole. secured using simple locating pins, as on the front entry box, yet these Boxes can be mounted by simply nailing or screwing them to the pole still allow the box to be easily removed from its post. permanently, however, there are advantages to be gained from mounting boxes in a way that will allow them to be easily removed for servicing. Servicing The use of half round poles will also give a flat surface to mount the Grey Teal begin prospecting for nest sites in late May and June, and box on to. eggs can be expected from July onwards, so long as water conditions Mounts can be made out of 50 x 50mm tanilised timber, such as fence are suitable. Nesting may also continue into December, or even as battens. For the front entry box a 230mm length of timber should be late as January or February in exceptional years. However, because fastened within 10mm of the top edge of the back and should be drilled waterfowl do not carry nesting material to their nesting site, the boxes with two vertical holes to carry locating pins. On the pole a second must be furnished with suitable material, such as dry hay or straw, 230mm length of timber should be fastened with its top edge 50mm before nesting season. below the top of the post. This should also be drilled with two vertical Once Grey Teal have finished using the boxes it is usual for Starlings holes corresponding to those on the box mounting, however, they and Mynas to take them over, and as these birds do carry nesting should remain blind. A short block should be fastened further down the material to their nest site it is common to find a box completely filled post with its top edge 340mm below the top of the post. The box can then be mounted by resting it on the top post mounting and dropping (continued on P13)

12 with dry grass once they have finished with it. Therefore, the boxes will need to be cleaned out and provisioned with fresh nest material each year. This is best done about May as the Starlings and Mynas should have finished nesting yet the Grey Teal would have started. An annual clean out will also reduce the risk of disease and parasite infestation for the Grey Teal. The bottom of the box should be covered with 50-75mm of nesting material, enough for the female to fashion it into a nest bowl without the eggs having to sit on the bottom of the box. If all goes well, the boxes will start being used by Grey Teal as soon as they have been erected. However, if pinioned birds are present they will need to be given access to the boxes via a ramp. This can be made simply out of a piece of 100 x 25mm timber either covered with wirenetting, or having shallow cross cuts in it, for the birds to grip on to as they climb up to the box entrance. The ramp should extend down to water level, but remember this Well used: A Grey Teal box in place on a pond. Mr Hovmand put in many hours making up could give predators entry to the box as well. kitsets of these boxes for members.

13 Australian invader Yet another immigrant from Australia, royal spoonbills were known to Maori as kotuku ngutu papa so must have visited here for many years. Their numbers seem to have increased in the early 1940s. Some settled in the Waitangiroto River at Okarito. They have extended their range and now breed in a number of places, including Kapiti Island and Parengarenga and Manakau Harbours. There was a report of a colony up the Waiuku River. Royal spoonbills tend to breed near kotuku, shag and gull colonies. Some nests are high in kahikatea trees, others on low shrubs or on the ground. The birds assemble at nesting sites about October and begin their courting behaviour. Spoonbills feed on insects, shellfish, small fish and frogs. They are readily identified in the distance by the way they feed, walking Feeding spot: Royal spoonbills around the mud flats just down from Waitangi boat ramp, Bay of and sweeping their spoon bill in an arc, often Islands. knee deep in water. They feed day or night, whenever the tide is right. Photo: Zoe Nauschutz Trapped Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, Received your October issue this morning. Good to see Steve Playle’s excellent predator control work getting good coverage. Steve does 95 percent of the predator control work here (and throughout the 30-hectares of Taumata Lagoon). I do the 5 percent checking cage traps every morning - and eliminating anything in them. Steve has 12 trapping stations, using Fenn, Timms and cage traps and we are now at a level where we catch very little during Steve’s monthly visits and whilst grey teal, shoveler, dabchick and black swan are doing well mallard numbers are at an all time low. Neil Hayes. Carterton.

First Whio duckling in 15 years Staff at Pukaha Mount Bruce were excited in late October last year with the arrival of the first whio (blue duck) to be hatched there in over 15 years. The only one of four eggs to hatch, the duckling was raised with three other ‘exotic’ ducklings. The duckling’s mother was then put on another clutch of eggs and with hopes for a better hatch rate from the second clutch. Staff are still unsure of the sex of this first whio. At approximately six months old a male whio will whistle when picked up and a female whio will grunt.

Wetland Day 2014 Coming soon – World Wetlands Day, the Ramsar Convention’s annual campaign day February 2, 2014. The theme this year is Wetland and Agriculture, a topic of relevance Photo: Graham Gurr. to almost everyone involved in wetlands! Keep those traps working A stoat, trapped at Visit the Ramsar Secretariat’s web site www. the Opatia Swamp in the Waikato. ramsar.org/WWD to find out more. Hard and soft copy materials (poster, leaflet, cartoon The lid on the DoC200 trap is 40cm long, the etc), will be available. Write now to wwd@ stoat was as long (nose to tip of tail). “One ramsar.org to receive hard copies and the of the biggest I’ve ever trapped,” said DU design files if you wish to customise their Taupo Swamp: A great example of well cared member Graham Gurr. materials. for wetland. Photo: Billie Win.

14 Ducks for Sale - Offers

Grey Teal 4 months old.

Ready now.

Also Carolina Wood Ducks and Mandarin Ducks.

Available in April.

Ph Murray on 0274 967275 or 07 8434 880

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