Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust Survey Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HAMISH SAUNDERS MEMORIAL ISLAND SURVEY PROGRAM Nature Conservation Report 17 XX t sure on report no. – sloping island 16/1 Clarke Island 15/2) South Hunter & Stack Island A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment HAMISH SAUNDERS MEMORIAL ISLAND SURVEY PROGRAM Nature Conservation Report South Hunter and Stack Island Natural and Cultural Values Survey January 2017 A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania Edited by Ross Monash and Michael Comfort. Document layout by Jessica Newman. ©Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. 2 South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 South Hunter and Stack Island Natural and Cultural Values Survey January 2017 ©Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania ISSW: 1441-0680 (Print) ISSN: 1838-7403(electronic) Cite as : Natural and Cultural Heritage Division (2017). South Hunter and Stack Island Natural and Cultural Values Survey. Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, 3 DPIPWE, Hobart. Nature Conservation Report 17/4 South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 4 South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM THE HAMISH SAUNDERS TRUST…………………………………………………. 6 FOREWORD ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 HAMISH SAUNDERS ............................................................................................................................. 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 10 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 KEY FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................................... 13 MANAGEMENT/FUTURE STUDIES ................................................................................................... 14 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 15 5 VEGETATION ................................................................................................................................................ 17 VERTEBRATE FAUNA ............................................................................................................................ 35 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS ........................................................................................................ 54 GEODIVERSITY .......................................................................................................................................... 68 ASPECTS OF GEODIVERSITY ON HUNTER ISLAND: FOUR QUATERNARY AGE GEOSITES 69 HUNTER ISLAND GROUP ABORIGINAL HERITAGE PROJECT .................................................... 91 TRAVEL AWARD RECIPIENT REPORTS ................................................................................... 117 JAMES RANSTEAD ........................................................................................................................................... 117 KIRSTY MYRON ................................................................................................................................................ 121 South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 A message from the Hamish Saunders Trust It is a mark of the emerging generation that the In January 2017, a team representing the selection of volunteers for each year was difficult, Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust conducted a as there were many very able and talented final Island Survey, in this instance, South applicants. Hunter & Stack Islands in North Western Tasmania. The reports produced by DPIPWE each year have been of a consistently high standard and will Since its inception in 2005, the Trust has been undoubtedly be a valuable reference for scientists and community groups for many years to come. sending young New Zealand volunteers across Although, it is with some sense of sadness that the the Tasman to gain experience working with Trust’s work in Tasmania ends in 2017, those scientific teams set up by DPIPWE in involved with the Surveys can be proud of the Tasmania. In all, twelve survey trips were reports which will hold significance and relevance in undertaken. perpetuity. The experience gained by each of our The Trustees wish to extend their thanks and volunteers is unique and invaluable. The appreciation to DIPWE and the many staff who passion, enthusiasm and dedication to the contributed to the Programme and without whom natural world shown consistently by our the very high standard of the surveys would not 6 selected volunteers has contributed to the have been met, or undertaken at all. In particular, success of the program. Our mission has been in terms of organisation, the contribution by Peter to provide these potential leaders with an Voller and Margaret Horton who made our volunteers welcome and set each survey for experience and international exposure enabling volunteers to make the most of their experience. a desire and capability to further their interest and contribution to the international conservation effort. A special mention to Dr Sally Bryant for her participation over the years and for her support, enthusiasm and generosity. Sally made the total Programme possible. We would also like to express gratitude to our fellow trustees here in New Zealand for their consistent and constructive support over the years. In closing, the Trustees commend the collective reports to readers, present and future, as a body of work undertaken as a contribution to future conservation effort we hope is as pleasurable to read as it is informative. We do so being confident Image: Hamish Saunders that this is a fitting tribute to Hamish and the values he embodied South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 7 South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 The program aims to collect scientific information on Tasmanian islands as a contribution to the long Foreword term management and conservation of their natural and cultural values. Islands not only hold a special romantic and scenic attraction but are also The Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey considered as scientifically important repositories Program was established in 2005 as a of geodiversity and biodiversity, including partnership agreement between the Tasmanian biogeographically significant species. Islands are Government and the Hamish Saunders also valuable areas that can be used as benchmarks Memorial Trust. The program arose after the against which wider threats and changes can be tragic loss of this young New Zealand scientist 8 measured. They can also be considered in some while he was assisting in Tasmanian cases as playing a role in quarantining insurance Government research on remote Pedra Branca populations of threatened species as currently seen Rock 36km off southern Tasmania. with Tasmanian Devil recovery on Maria Island. This is the eleventh published Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey report, with 25 islands now surveyed (Tasmania is surrounded by some 334 islands), adding and documenting considerable knowledge and understanding of the natural and cultural values of these important ecosystems. Simon Willcox (Acting General Manager) Natural and Cultural Heritage Division South Hunter and Stack Island • Natural and Cultural Survey • 2017 Hamish Saunders For more about Hamish and the Trust, visit http://www.hamishsaunders.com/ Hamish Saunders was a New Zealand volunteer who died tragically in 2003 while conducting survey work on a Tasmanian endangered species program. Hamish graduated from Waikato University with a First Class Honours and Masters degree in marine geology. He later completed a postgraduate GIS course with distinction. He also achieved qualifications as a scuba dive instructor, was a good sportsman and was talented, not solely academically, but as an all round individual. As an explorer, Hamish achieved in his 26 years much of which most only dream. From Antarctica to the Galapagos, Central America, South America, South- East Asia, Europe and Australia, he combined his 9 passion for the natural world and conservation with that of an interest in local cultures and people. Not only did he travel to these places, but he also took a great interest in the people around him. He touched many lives. Hamish was a remarkable and talented young man. The passion and enthusiasm he engendered in those whom he met and the gentle leadership he embodied is his legacy. This island survey program is dedicated to the memory of Hamish Saunders and intended as a platform for emerging leaders in nature conservation. The Tasmanian Government’s commitment and long-term support for the program is reaffirmed in the publication