Issue 168

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Issue 168

Issue 168

August 2016

Whio in the limelight
Mallards down South
Birds around the world

From the President

John Cheyne

I am sitting here at the computer looking out the window towards Lake Whatuma watching the rain continue to fall. We have had 30mm over the last 12 hours with more to come!! A real blessing as we in Hawke’s Bay, like many other regions, have experienced one of the driest autumns over the last…

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There is a long, long trail a winding…

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Restoration Day – Success

Restoration Day at Wario May 21, proved to be a success with helpers like Ross Cottle, Ian Gunn, and Tapuwa Marapara, who were able to share their expertise with those who attended. Adding to the success was the wide diversity of people present, both as presenters and as participants. There were 30 on the bus…

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Wairio wetland plant day – another success

Helping hands: Wetland plant day, Diane Buckley and two pupils from Martinborough Primary School pitch in to help.

June 21 work started at 9am for the organisers, supported by some strong lads from Taratahi Agricultural Training College and farm workers from a local sheep and beef station Palliser Ridge. Those strong farming trainees dug holes in pre-sprayed spots in rough, fescue infested terrain. Just after 10am we also had about 20 school children…

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DUNZ member honoured for conservation work

Conservation rates highly with DUNZ members, so it’s not surprising that one of our own received an award for commitment to the cause in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Andrew (Andy) Graeme Lowe, of Havelock North, a long-time member of Ducks Unlimited, was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)…

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Mallards in focus – and still under threat

Bottoms up: A Mallard drake getting dinner the hard way.

There is an erratum that is worth mentioning – in regards to the shallow ponds being most used by broods. The shallow ponds are all less than 43cm deep. This is the depth that is recognised in literature as the maximum depth adult mallards can reach when tipping up to feed (Phillips 1923 & Olney…

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Why – that is the question

Why are zero scores in tennis called ‘love’? BECAUSE: In France, where tennis became popular, the round zero on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called ‘l’oeuf’, which is French for ‘the egg’. When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans (naturally), mispronounced it ‘love’ Why do X’s at the end of a…

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Trivia

Free flight aviary at Pukaha Mt Bruce

Free flight aviary at Pukaha Mt Bruce

At Pukaha Mt Bruce staff have been delighted with the way the birds have settled into their new home in the free flight aviary. The whio and pateke are loving their new areas and are not difficult to spot. The whio are in an ‘internal aviary’ with a new river run while the other birds…

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Million Dollar Mouse pest drops completed

Final drop: Helicopter dropping bait across Antipodes Island.

The ambitious Million Dollar Mouse pest eradication project on remote Antipodes Island in the sub-antarctic was completed ahead of schedule in July. A second helicopter drop of rodent bait across the island was finished in July, following a first phase completed on June 29. “Despite very unsettled weather conditions, the Million Dollar Mouse team have…

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Whio in the spotlight

With less than 3000 whio around New Zealand, they need all the help they can get. A two-day Whio Recovery Workshop was held in June at Tokaanu, near Turangi, where people with a passion for the endangered nativeblue duck gathered to hear information, ask questions and get what answers they could, although the overwhelming conclusion…

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Duck hunting time

Keen for a bit of sport during duck hunting, Australian David McNabb checked in at Di Pritt’s (our co-patron’s) property to see what sport was on offer. Di’s two dogs Rommi and Luke were keen for some action but on the whole it seemed they were mostly just keeping an eye on proceedings at Swan…

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Pateke counts

Plenty of Pateke.

A little old but of interest to those who care about Pateke. We will obviously have to extend our daytime surveys further up into the forest in future. I have seen Pateke way up on the open hills in pitch darkness probably 1km from their daytime roosts showing just how nocturnal they are. And Surprise,…

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Project Bittern (Matuku) Report

Risk taker: Out in the open, but being cautious.

Ducks Unlimited NZ AGM (23 July 2016) Emma Williams has continued working on the bittern project assisted by me and other volunteers. Key points are: Emma graduated with her Doctorate Degree at Massey University which was based on bittern research. A huge thank you to DU for helping fund a major part of her work…

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The wonderful white swan

The white swan arrived in New Zealand in 1866. It is one of seven swan species found world–wide. It maintained a tenuous hold in the wild on various wetlands and some live in a semi–feral state in town parks. They once numbered several hundred in the wild but the 1968 the Waihine storm destroyed much…

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China steps up

Signing time: State Forest Administration’s Vice-Minister, Mr Chen Fengxue during the visit singed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Wetlands International’s CEO, Jane Madgwick.

During a historic visit to Wetlands International’s Head Office in the Netherlands on May 24, this year (2016), the State Forestry Administration (SFA) of the People’s Republic of China strengthened international collaboration for wetland conservation. The delegation was led by the State Forest Administration’s Vice-Minister, Mr Chen Fengxue. During the visit he signed a new…

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Migration

World heritage site northern Australia

At Mungalla Stud, a property of 880 hectares there are approximately 230 hectares of seasonally inundated wetlands which are adjacent to the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef and also the IUCN listed Halifax Bay Wetlands National Park. These wetland have been degraded by invasive plants as a result of installing an earth wall to halt…

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Robbie at Tootgarook?!

On the wing: Is this Robbie at Tootgarook Swamp near Melbourne? If not, who is it? Vin? Coly-Lion? Another?

Neil flies 450 km to Moodie Swamp;Robbie at Tootgarook?! The following piece was posted in late May this year 2016. Bittern watchers take note… As if Neil’s spectacular 450 km dispersal wasn’t enough, photos taken in May have watchers wondering which of their other bitterns are down near Melbourne. But first Neil. He left his…

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Louisiana Wetlands:

Louisiana Wetlands:Recognising a National Treasure May 26, 2016 | Posted by Emily McCalla in coastal restoration, May is American Wetlands Month, and Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems in North America. Not only do they provide habitat for numerous fish, wildlife and birds, but they also help improve water quality, provide…

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Illegal killing,

Illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds Each year an estimated 50 billion migratory birds travel thousands of kilometers. On their migratory routes the birds have to overcome enormous obstacles. One is illegal killing. Many wild birds are illegally taken or killed due to hunting for subsistence, recreational activities and traditional practice. This year’s…

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Full time job for wetlands enthusiast

Full time job for wetlands enthusiast

Employer: Victoria University of Wellington Location: Wellington, New Zealand Discipline: Ecology, Human and Physical Geography Position Type: Full Time Job Type: Postdoctoral Fellowship 3 year fixed term Salary: NZ$ 71,806 –82,500, depending on experience. Closes: 1 October 2016 Reference: 1142 Description of the project Wetlands for people and place. Wetlands are among the most valuable…

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