Pukorokoro Miranda News Journal of the Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust November 2015 Issue 98 Feeding habits of the Wrybill New faces at the Shorebird Centre A visit from the enigmatic Whimbrel Extinct honour for David Melville Godwit crowned Bird of Pukorokoro Mirandathe News | Issue Year 98 1 KING OF THE BIRDS: Humorous messages like this, from Ann Buckmaster, played a key role in the Facebook campaign in support of the godwit 2015 truly is the Year of the Godwit With the Bar-tailed Godwit being voted New Zealand’s Bird of the Year, and the Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry visiting the Shorebird Centre two days later to announce important measures aimed at protecting our migratory birds, 2015 really has become the Year of the Godwit, writes Jim Eagles. When Forest & Bird announced on ers, leaflets and a stragetically placed Help came from many places. Labour Day that the Bar-tailed Godwit computer so every visitor – including One of Jim’s grandsons, who won a had been chosen as New Zealand’s the odd busload from U3A and Pro- certificate in the Godwit Poster Com- Bird of the Year for 2015 it marked a bus - could be persuaded to vote and, petition, sent out 90 emails supporting successful end to a demanding and at hopefully, take the message to others. the godwit . just a couple of days times extremely tense battle. The local community was very sup- before his school sent out one backing The godwit started quietly, about portive. Hauraki District Mayor John the Kokako. Sibson Fund Scholarship 10th out of the 52 birds, while the Tregidga and local MP Scott Simpson winner Rachel Withington spread Kaka, sponsored by Zealandia and agreed enthusiastically to promote the the message at Massey University. A with comedian Te Radar as its manag- godwit through their columns, speech- spelling mistake by Wendy Hare even er, rushed out to a commanding lead. es and broadcasts. The Pink Shop in gave us our own social media person- But over the next few days – as Kaiaua displayed posters and leaflets. ality, Godwin, who starred in several you’d expect with a long-distance flier Ecoquest offered to spread the word. cartoons by Ann. – the campaign gradually gathered mo- Ngati Paoa urged its whanau to sup- But the key to the godwit’s success mentum. By the end of the first week it port the godwit. The Hauraki Herald probably lay in the worldwide wader was neck-and-neck with the Kaka and ran a couple of nice stories. network. Veterans like Keith, Adrian after two weeks the Kuaka’s long beak The campaign had a big presence Riegen and David Lawrie called on was definitely in front. on social media (see story on page 7) their web of contacts stretching from That success was the result of a with Gillian Vaughan’s sister Sarah Australia to Alaska and beyond. great team effort. Campaign manager plugging the godwit on Twitter, Ann Charles Gao and Estella Lee plugged Keith Woodley sent out regular emails and Ray Buckmaster on Facebook, into their Chinese friends. While other to members and gradually worked his Gillian on the web page and a small birds tended to stay put overnight, the way through the addresses of all those new voice on Instagram. Jim Eagles godwit continued to fly as folk in other hundreds of birders who’ve stayed at contacted a niece and some old mates time zones cast their votes. the centre, attended courses or been in in Dublin, some of whom do this sort As the vote entered the final week touch over the years. of thing professionally, and the godwit it all looked good for the godwit – The centre was set up with post- was splashed on Irish social media. though Keith kept the pressure on Cover: Photo of Wrybill conflict at Pukorokoro Miranda by Nigel Voaden. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nvoaden/ 2 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 98 more secure following a visit to the Shorebird Centre by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry to formally announce the creation of a huge reserve in the key stopover area of Bohai Bay and to signal the forthcoming signing of an agreement between New Zea- land and China on the protection of migratory birds. In making the announcement Ms Barry paid special tribute to Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong, who learned of the problems at Bohai Bay, where he comes from, during a visit to Pukorokoro earlier this year. Following that visit ‘Ambassador MASS MEDIA: Five TV crews were at the Centre to record the arrival of Wang has worked with authorities the Chinese Ambassador, Director-General of Conservation and Minister in Hebei Province to gain protection of Conservation. Photos / Jim Eagles for a significant habitat for Red Knots with more emails and phone calls – but because it turned out the training on and shorebirds, covering more than then from out of nowhere the Kokako banners was done three years ago, the 3000ha, with other extensive wetland struck. One huge surge in numbers machine arrived in Thames one year sites under consideration,’ the Min- took it into second place. A couple of ago and this was the first banner they’d ister said. ‘The Ambassador is a bird days later another surge carried it past been asked to make. But the young enthusiast who understands the crucial the godwit into first. staff were wonderfully enthusiastic, importance of Bohai Bay to conserva- However, Forest & Bird thought especially when they learned what it tion and has given generous support the voting looked suspicious and a was all about, and before the day was to this initiative,’ check revealed it was the work of two over a banner was erected on the front Ms Barry also confirmed that later enthusiastic teenage girls who had entrance to the Shorebird Centre. this month the Director-General of created a couple of hundred email The effort paid off when five televi- Conservation Lou Sanson will lead addresses to support their favourite sion crews turned up for the ministerial a delegation to Beijing to finalise a bird. When their votes were cancelled visit and the message about the Bird of Memorandum of Understanding be- the godwit was back in front. But when the Year was broadcast on TV1, TV3, tween the two countries to co-operate with two days to go Forest & Bird Prime, Maori TV and two Chinese on the conservation of migratory birds stopped showing the totals the Kokako television channels. such as the Red Knot and Bar-tailed was slowly closing the gap. Godwit. PMNT will be represented As a result it was a tense wait Ministerial visit by Adrian Riegen and the delegation until, on Monday morning, it was an- The future of godwits, Red Knots and will also include Gary Thompson, the nounced that the godwit had held on other migratory birds looks a little chair of the Ngati Paoa Trust Board, to first place with 1957 votes, followed and Fonterra officials in Beijing. by the Kokako on 1814 and the Kaka Sanson told the gathering that well back on 988. co-operation between New Zealand But, of course, the action didn’t and China over the protection of the stop there. Keith had two statements migratory birds we have in common ready – one modest in victory, the was at an all-time high thanks to the other gracious in defeat – and was kept work of the ambassador. busy with interviews as the godwit’s And Ambassador Wang, whose success attracted valuable publicity. presence at the ceremony also repre- Meanwhile, there was a ministerial sented a farewell visit to the Shorebird visit in two days time to prepare for, Centre because his term is about to as well as thinking how to make the end, repaid the compliment. With a best use of the godwit’s success. What grin he told Sanson, ‘Pardon me but about a banner saying, ‘Welcome to every time you came to visit me, it the home of the Bird of the Year’? was four times I think, you nagged me Ann Buckmaster found that Ware- about Miranda.’ house Stationery made banners at All three speakers paid glowing a reasonable price and the Thames tributes to PMNT. Ms Barry, for branch was open on Labour Day, Keith instance, said, ‘The Trust is respected did a fine design and Jim and Chris internationally for its success in pro- Eagles headed for Thames. Their mis- BIG NEWS: Conservation Minister tecting this important habitat, and the sion took a little longer than expected Maggie Barry makes her speech. birds which make it their home.’ Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 98 3 NEW FACES: Louisa Chase (at left) is the new assistant manager and Rachel Hufton (at right) is the shore guide. Shorebird chit-chat Meet the new shop manager and shore guide It’s been all change at PMNT in re- Those who have spent time at the at the international level. I migrated cent weeks. Assistant manager Maria Centre may have shared in her many here from the UK, joining the Birds Staples-Page has moved on and will interests: playing instruments as varied New Zealand/OSNZ conference in be replaced by Louisa Chase. Rachel as the ukulele and flute, her fabric cre- May, had a stopover in China where I Hufton from England has started work ations, novel writing and gastronomic worked on wetland bird surveys, and as the new summer shore guide. DoC vegan cuisine. Never a dull moment mist netting on the Tibetan Plateau and representative Greg van der Lee has when Maria is around.