Royal Forest & Bird

Protection Society
Horowhenua Branch
Horowhenua Branch
October 2007 Newsletter
This is one of the biggest challenges we face- 67 Waihoanga St R D1 Otaki
to help re-connect people with the world of forests and
birds,
and the rest of the natural world around them.

Dr Peter Maddison
It’s wonderful to be in Spring with the longer daylight hours and warmer
weather. This is a great time to get out in the garden again, to connect
with the natural environment and to observe all the changes that the
season brings.
What an exciting story about the arrival of the first godwits from their
Alaskan nesting grounds. For the very first time some godwits have been
electronically tracked for the entire migration and this story hit the
headlines around NZ and had many people marvelling about their
navigational ability.
A somewhat controversial decision made by ERMA recently was the
decision to continue the use of 1080 to control possums in our native
forests. During the last 40 yrs, continual improvements in the way 1080 is
used have minimised the amount that is applied and have significantly
reduced the impacts on native wildlife. Now ERMA has introduced even
tighter controls so this again is a positive move. Forest & Bird believes it
is the best tool we have to make sure that the dawn chorus in many of our
forests does not fall silent because of damage caused by browsing of
native plants and predation of native birds and other wildlife. If like me,
you regularly walk in our native forests you will have noticed the
abundance of native birdlife and the improvement in our forests.
Margarette Editor
BIRD OF THE YEAR POLL
Voting in Bird of the year has opened and in past years this has been a popular
event. It’s easy to vote if you’re on the Internet –just go to
www.forestandbird.org.nz and click onto the bird of the year option but if you’re
not connected why not ring Joan (368-1277) or myself (364-5986) give us your
choice and we will put your vote through for you. Voting closes on October 20th
so get your vote in smartly! Margarette
A Visit to Pukaha Mount Bruce, 25 August 2007
by Lyndsay Knowles

21 people assembled at the Visitor Centre where we divided into two groups,
four people setting off to explore on their own and the others following DOC
ranger Tony Silbury to the Pukaha Workshop. Here we were introduced to the
pest control programme. The Regional Council undertakes possum control
and DOC does mustelid, rat and cat control. Tony noted that when cats and
mustelids were under control rabbit numbers increased, as did rats and mice,
an example of the interconnectedness of life! Trapping and poisoning are
used for control and Tony demonstrated the finer points of the Fenn trap and
the fearsome DOC 200 trap. We later saw a rat caught in a Fenn trap. A
number of different poisons are used so that the targets do not become bait
shy, or worse, bait resistant. Tony noted that however successful the
poisoning and trapping was, there would always be a need for pest control
within Pukaka Mount Bruce.
The group then set off into the bush where we were introduced to the kaka
nesting box Mark 1 and the much more successful Mark 4. We also saw the
remains of a nest in the base of a tree trunk, which surprisingly had produced
four fledglings - the position of the nest made it extremely susceptible to
predation. Kaka numbers are increasing but are not yet at a level that they can
be left completely to their own devices.
We walked along a marked trail that will shortly be part of a much longer track
that will go up to the ridgeline and back to the Visitor Centre, a walk of one to
two hours. We saw a number of large, very old rimu and miro and an
enormous rata entwined around a rimu. On our way back to the Visitor Centre
we saw kaka flying through the trees and a young, hand-reared kokako very
close up in an aviary.
We enjoyed lunching afterwards on the café verandah. Here we watched takahe
bustling about below us and kaka and kereru swooping in and out of the bush,
not to mention a cheeky chaffinch picking up our crumbs. Some of us stayed
on to watch the kaka being fed, apparently a spectacular sight, with about 35
flying in for their share of the goodies .What an astonishingly beautiful area
this must have been before it was logged. We felt very privileged to have had a
look behind the scenes and were very impressed with the commitment of our
guide and all who work at this wonderful place.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING GROUPS

The Lower Hutt Branch of Forest & Bird for their work in restoring the
Pauatahanui wetland.

This wetland was featured in the latest issue of WET & WILD –a wetland
Trust publication. The Wetland is North of Wellington, is the largest area
of estuary in the lower North Island and for the last 25 years the Lower
Hutt branch of F&B and local residents have worked tirelessly to restore
the onetime Go Kart track/ Cricket ground to its original condition.
It was in 1982 that the Wildlife Service offered Forest & Bird the
opportunity to manage the 45 hectare area and now it is thickly covered
with plant species that were once common in the area, the birdlife is
again thriving and can be viewed from various bird hides well placed along
the easy walking tracks.
Maybe this could be a worthwhile visit for our next programme.

The Friends of the Otaki River (FOOR)

This hardworking group recently won the Habitat Restoration category in
the Wellington Conservation Awards.
They are a community group of riverbank landowners, representatives
from local bodies, iwi, environmental and recreational groups that have
met regularly since 1999 fostering community pride in the river and its
environment. Major planting is still being undertaken often using plants
grown in their own nursery. In July our Horowhenaua branch of F&B
helped plant several hundred plants at Chrystalls bend.
Many members of our branch are very involved with this groups efforts
and the results are very obvious at the entrance to the new Otaki River
Walkway and also if you walk along the River path towards the hills which
you are able to do on the weekends.
Another great place to stop and explore if you’re in Otaki.

KCC co-ordinator –Judith Tyler

During Conservation Week, in the first week of August, Judith mounted
a display in the Levin Children’s Library followed by one in the Otaki
Children’s Library. Many people saw these excellent displays and Judith
reports that all the magazines and bookmarks left on the table were
taken so there must be some good interest in the community.
Judith is appealing for help with the KCC programme and also people to
share their knowledge and experience with the youngsters.
Please ring her on (06) 368 1489

CALENDAR SALES
These are now available so order yours now. The cost is $12 and as usual
they are in envelopes ready for catching those early overseas postings.
I particularly like the photo of the Robin featured in May but then all the
photos are just very appealing.
Diaries are also available for $22 but we would appreciate orders for
these as we only order a few.
Grace Hunt is managing the sales and she will have them available at our
Branch nights or ring her on (06)367 3811
NEWSLETTERS
This could be your first newsletter to be received electronically. If you
don’t wish this to continue please contact Joan – joan.l@ihug.co.nz

Return Address
Horowhenua Forest & Bird
C\- Joan Leckie
Makahika Rd RD1
Levin

BEACH PATROLS –ADVENTURE STYLE

Our last two beach patrols, in September and October, proved to be more
interesting and challenging than expected.
Firstly in September we found the landscape at Kuku greatly changed and we
were unable to even reach the area we usually explore so decided to make our
way to the river and to our delight came across a pair of NZ Dotterel. They
appeared to be oblivious to us so we photographed them before cutting our
patrol time short and returned to the car. This is when we crossed a small side
stream and where I disappeared into the mire (above my knees anyway)
No shopping on the way home that day!
In October we went North at Waikawa and struck a keen Southerly that blew us
along surrounded by sand. Very like a desert storm I’m told. We weren’t keen to
return back into the wind so went inland into the dunes and led by Geoff we
ploughed through the dunes, along the river and eventually through the pine
forest examining all the interesting vegetation along the way.
Not too many birds observed in this weather but a great adventure.
Come along on our November patrol on Otaki Beach and see what happens there.