Ducks Unlimited NZ

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Tuesday, 27 August 2019 21:16

Web Feet and Websites = Ducks Unlimited

Webmaster: Michelle Cooper explains the DU website. Photos: Liz Brook.

It is satisfying to see the steady rise of Ducks Unlimited website usage over the last year. Contributing factors are the great work DU are doing in Wairio and country wide, the  improvements we are making to the site, word of mouth and a substantial amount of  traffic directed to us by Google searches, mostly  people looking for information on our webfooted friends.

Also on a rise - the use of our facebook page with now 161 members . It is a great venue to share thoughts, facts and photos on conservation and wetlands. A great place to visit and scroll through the ‘posts’ to get news on DU and other conservation organisations. We are linked with many organisations through Facebook, sharing and exchanging relevant information, as is the social  networking way.

I have proudly been involved with DU’s website and other promotional projects for about three years. In that time the site has had a bit of a facelift, new additions and plenty of changes. Work continues and we look forward to further use of these resources in the coming year.

If you have not visited our website or facebook site we urge you to:

DUCKS UNLIMITED www.ducks.org.nz

QUACKCLUB (kids club) www. quackclub.co.nz and  

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/pages/Ducks-Unlimited-NZ/142374525787862

Michelle Cooper

 

 

Published in Issue 157
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Tuesday, 27 August 2019 21:13

The birds’ place – the Ahuriri estuary

Well used: Looking East across the estuary towards Napier. Photo: Ian Jensen

An interesting visited during the AGM Conference

was the long, narrow Ahuriri  estuary. We travelled by bus, so there was no chance to dip a toe in the water.  With its wide range of fresh to salty, shallow to deep, and sandy to muddy habitats the estuary supports a diverse range of birds, fish, invertebrates and plant life.

It is a sanctuary for a wide variety of wading birds including Grey herons, Royal spoonbills, Pied stilts, Shags, Kingfishers and Gannets. Over 70 species of resident and migratory

waterbirds use the estuary as a feeding and resting area. Bar-tailed godwits/kuaka, Knots and Golden plovers migrate here each year  from their arctic breeding grounds.

 

Published in Issue 157
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Tuesday, 27 August 2019 21:08

Fun, games and serious stuff at AGM

Update: Jim Law gives his report

Jim Law explained what is happening at Wairio Wetland in the southern Wairarapa when he presented the following at this year’s AGM.

During 2012/2013 restoration work increased significantly and the research programmes by Victoria University’s Wellington School of Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology were  expanded to include nutrient studies and  hydrology.

However, of greatest interest are plans we have been pursuing for some time to reticulate water from the neighbouring Mathews lagoon (and possibly boggy Pond), under the Parera Road and into the Wairio Wetland. This would be a great boost to the health of the Wetland and assist in stripping nutrients before the  water finally reaches Lake Wairarapa.

This year’s increased work cost just over $25,000 (prior year $15,000), and was once again financially supported by the Nikau Foundation, Rotary, the Pharazon Trust and the Ron Greenwood Trust and the Estates of two former DU members, Bruce McKenzie and Ron Brookes. Greater Wellington Regional council also contributed funds received under the Government’s “Fresh Start for Fresh Water” programme. In total third parties contributed $15,000, with the balance of $10,000 coming from DU resources

For the 2013/2014 year we have an even higher budge of $35,000. Key items include our normal planting, led by DU’s Trevor Thompson and again involved a number of our stakeholders, notably pupils from the local Martinborough School, students from the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, Rotarians and other interested parties,  including of course, DU members. Good local media coverage was provided by Gill Lundie, the Wairarapa Chapter Chair. Further planting is planned for late August brings the total for the year to 4000 plants – a record!

The other main 2013/2014 item that has been completed is the construction of a bund wall around the western side of Stage 4 that has  retained significant water in the Wetland. Wairio is no definitely being seen as a success story by the wider community and DU’s  profile has grown accordingly.

 

 

Published in Issue 157
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Monday, 22 July 2019 10:35

DUNZ Annual Conference

Convivial company, great food, interesting tour destinations, the chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
To the uninitiated, the name Ducks Unlimited (DUNZ) conjures up images of guns, and birds falling from the sky. However, DUNZ is anything but one that focuses on duck shooting. It is, in fact, New Zealand’s leading wetlands and waterfowl conservation group. DU works to save our wetlands through protection, funding, technical aid and education so that the flora and fauna of our most endangered ecosystem are a legacy we can pass down to future generations. 

Attendees from as far north as Auckland gathered at Brackenridge near Martinborough, Wairarapa, for DU’s annual conference and AGM. The conference included a trip to the Wairio Wetland on the eastern shores of Lake Wairarapa to catch-up on restoration progress. Delegates saw the results of recent earthworks to create a 1.2 kilometre bund wall
which has increased the open water area at the wetland providing ideal waterfowl habitat.
 
During our visit about 100 black swans lifted off, creating quite a spectacle. The results of the annual planting exercises which average 3000 odd sedges, flaxes and swamp trees were obvious. Steve Playle from the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), also a DU member, provided details of the predator trapping programme he had in place at Wairio and adjoining wetlands of Matthews Lagoon and Boggy Pond. Since July 2013 Steve has caught 50 ferrets and a number of other undesirables! (Read details P10).
 
Local wetland environmentalist Jane Donald received the Bill Barrett Trophy for her contributions to wetland restoration, at a dinner superbly catered by Providore. During the evening a fun auction raised $6500 for wetland restoration work and bright balloons added a festive touch to the event.
 
Sunday morning Mike Camm from the Northland Pateke Recovery Group gave an up-beat talk on the progress of their group in trying to remove Pateke from the endangered species list. Peter Russell from DU Manawatu Chapter provided an update on the Whio (Blue Duck) recovery programme.
 
DU has been a member of both recovery groups since their inception.

Those interested can check out DU’s activities on www.ducks.org.nz or better still visit Wairio Wetland on Parera Road, just south of Kahutara southern Wairarapa.

Jim Law
 

 

Published in Issue 161
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Monday, 22 July 2019 10:12

AGM August - at a great venue

Deja Vu all over again
Planning is well underway for our AGM/ 
Conference at Brackenridge Country Retreat & Spa, Martinborough, Wairarapa, Friday August 1 to Sunday August 3.
A three minute drive from the Martinborough Square, Brackenridge sits within view of
the iconic Haurangi ranges. Reminiscent of
early New Zealand station dwellings yet with welcoming stylish interiors, the cottages and 
studios offer relaxing accommodation. The main reception venue with open fires and covered 
verandas complete the picture.
Brackenridge can accommodate up to 64
guests in a mix of two (up to 4 guests) and four bedroom (up to 8 guests) cottages and studios. They have been very generous to DUNZ and
discounted their usual accommodation rates substantially so if you can share you will be able to further reduce the rates. Rates include
continental breakfast provisions plus free range eggs, plus full use of the gym, spa pool and 20m indoor heated pool.
The Spa Brackenridge is open all weekend for appointments – bookings are essential.
At this stage we are planning to have a BBQ Dinner Friday evening for those who can get there.
On Saturday the actual AGM in the morning is followed by a bus trip to Wairio wetlands with lunch at Lake Ferry Hotel.
That evening is Buffet dinner at Brackenridge
with the DU fundraising auction.
On Sunday we have organised several speakers. I visited the facilities in January and they are wonderful.
Request:
If anyone has auction items they purchased at a previous DU dinner and no longer like or want, please feel free to recycle them back into the organisation.
Or if you have other items suitable for the 
auction, just email me and I will organise 
someone to pick them up – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Many thanks
Jan Abel, Administration
 

 

Published in Issue 159
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Monday, 26 November 2018 21:15

Predator Free New Zealand

Maybe - but not just yet

 

Counting every rat, mouse or mustelid trapped may be satisfying, but it is irrelevant in the war against predators and may be lulling us into a false sense of security, guest speaker Professor Carolyn (Kim) King told DU members at the conference.
 
In her speech, Maximising the Duck Harvest, Prof King, from the School of Science at Waikato University, thanked Ducks Unlimited, which like many hunting clubs around the world, had turned itself into a conservation group, supportive of conservation research organisations and with members who were observant naturalists contributing to conservation efforts.
 
She said a good harvest operation:
  • aims for a sustainable yield
  • never takes more individuals than the population can replace
  • can be like the constant harvest by rabbit trappers, deer cullers, and predators
  • a population can’t be affected if the yield is not declining.
 
As an example, she said, the winning team in the Great Otago Bunny Hunt in 2012 bagged 1035 rabbits as its contribution to the 10,424 tally from the 24-hour event. During the 21 years of the event, 253,735 rabbits have been killed (mean: 12,082 a year) but it has made no difference to rabbit numbers.
 
Harvesting is a dynamic target-habitatpeople system in which:
  • protection of a valued resource can be ineffective unless broader ecological/ sociological context is understood
  • the interaction of resource/habitat/ people defines the outcome
  • solutions require strategic organisation, stakeholders agreement and effective methods
  • the biology and strategic organisation determine effective policy (which DU does very well).
 
Using an example from Wiltshire in the UK she demonstrated how a predator control experiment produced a surprising result. In two areas of farmland, 1km apart and with similar habitat, predators were controlled in one area for three years and then in the other area for three years.
 
The study had been based on the assumption that habitat on UK game estates was the only important factor but the results clearly showed a big increased harvestable yield of grey partridges in whichever area was subject to predator control.
 A computer model developed from the study predicted that the highest populations would be found where nesting cover for the partridges was increased and predators were removed, even if shooting was permitted as well. Key is the interaction of habitat (controls productivity) and shooting mortality. If nests are protected, more young survive, so shooting can substitute for nest mortality caused by predators.
 
Using a NZ example to highlight the relationship between habitat and mortality, Prof King referred to wetlands in the Upper Waitaki area. In 1850, wetlands and swamps covered 71,000 hectares, but the effects of human activities has been devastating with 7300 ha swamps converted to pasture, more fragmented; 22,300 inundated by hydro electric schemes; 4200 ha braided riverbed dewatered (9% loss); 22,300 ha new open water habitat + 300 km more shoreline which doesn’t suit riverbed birds; predation is heavy and breeding rate low on the remaining 41, 700 ha wetlands (40% loss).
 
Food supply has the greatest effect on bird populations. The braided riverbeds were dewatered or turned into open water habitat, which did not suit the birds adapted to feeding on the riverbed, exposing them to predation and a drop-off in breeding.
 
Prof King said the deadliest predators for ducks were egg-loving hedgehogs, ferrets, stoats, rats, mice and cats. An Upper Waitaki Basin study of predation on the nests of dotterels, terns and stilts showed that cats, ferrets and hedgehogs did the most harm to nesting birds in that area.
 
She said, “We know we can kill predators, so what’s the problem?” Counting a pile of dead pests can be enormously satisfying but it does not tell us what we want to know, which is how many are still there, how to account for those that replace those dead ones, and how to know if we have taken out enough predators to benefit the birds we want to protect. That boils down to what actually determines the numbers of animals – both the predators and the birds.
 
Ferret numbers are controlled by rabbits (their main food source), not trappers. The rabbit yield is not declining: rabbits and ferrets are co-evolved prey.
 
A pilot trial in 2005 presented another serious problem – trap avoidance. Radio-collared ferrets in a study near Tokoroa were tracked by an aircraft which flew over the area during the day.
Nine of the 15 ferrets were located. Monitoring sites showed that six of the ferrets made 22 approaches to 2 experimental recording sites, which could have been traps, but only three entered the tunnels. On the final extensive trap-out, four of the 15 eluded capture, although their radio signals confirmed they were still there.
 
The following year collars were put on 30 ferrets west of Lake Taupo and a new toxic bait dispenser was used. Over five weeks, only 12 visited the bait stations and only eight took the bait. The monitoring regulations said every ferret had to be accounted for but of the 13 known survivors, only two could be caught.
 
In kiwi sanctuaries in Northland, stoats were refusing to go into the bait tunnels and it was only a brief 1080 operation that stopped the decline of kiwi chicks. Though it is awful stuff, we have to use the tools we have until we come up with something better, she said.
 
Predators are intelligent and quickly learn to avoid new devices presenting danger to them. In Britain, American mink, which escaped from fur farms in the 1950s, had become a serious threat to the native water vole (Ratty in Wind in the Willows). The mink, like rats, are good swimmers which means they can avoid land traps set on river banks. The problem was tackled by using traps placed on floating rafts, which might be appropriate to adapt as a control for Norway rats here, Prof King said.
 
 
New technologies are absolutely essential and can transform results. She said at a 1976 conference that she attended senior scientists said rat eradications on islands were impossible, but they were wrong. The invention of brodifacoum in the 1980s plus precise bait placement enabled Breaksea Island to be cleared of Norway rats in three weeks in 1988.
 
“That’s what we need – some kind of new technology that will break the mould, something different... One of the definitions of insanity is to keep on doing the same thing and expecting different outcomes,” Prof King said.
 
We can and must increase the intensity of predator control, but to be effective it must add to the natural mortality. Mustelids were introduced to control rabbits but rabbits were breeding at a faster rate and their numbers were unaffected. The mustelids were only substituting for natural mortality.
Only when rabbit breeding is reduced for other reasons (drought, 1080), can mustelids and/or trappers add to their normal losses, and achieve a real effect
Failures were usually due to some combination of:
 
Human attitudes
  • Forgetting that nature is on the predators’ side and ignoring the effects of natural selection
  • Counting numbers removed, not numbers remaining,
  • Lack of coordinated, agreed strategy
  • Lack of flexibility in response to experience
  • Insufficient stakeholder support.
 
Inadequate technology
  • Inefficient tools
  • Failing to deploy combination of methods
  • Having no effect on fertility, immigration.
 
Prof King said, on the other hand, some of the common features of successful predator control were a combination of:
 
Human attitudes
  • Operator confidence, meticulous preparation, sufficient funding
  • Never repeating mistakes, never giving up, so accumulating improvements, combining/switching strategies when necessary
  • Landscape scale coordination
  • Strong community support.

​New technology

  • Adds to natural mortality
  • Prevents immigration
  • Targets fertility
  • Confirms benefit to native species.
 
Prof King concluded by saying Predator Free NZ was still a long way away but “don’t despair, history is encouraging!”, and DUNZ would play an important role.
In the meantime we must keep using whatever tools we have so we still have native species surviving by the time we develop something better, protecting duck nesting sites is possible and needed now.
 
PFNZ is going to be much more difficult as it requires development of as-yet-unknown, 100 per cent acceptable methods to control predator replacement rates.
 

 

Published in Issue 175
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Monday, 26 November 2018 21:06

Waipa wars – from muskets to mustelids

First stop, Lake Rotopiko
Peat lakes and battle sites were the main themes of this year’s bus trip at conference courtesy of Ducks Unlimited’s knowledgeable tour guide Tony Roxburgh.
 
Tony is the Waipa District Council’s heritage and museum manager and he also wears another hat – as Wetland Trust of New Zealand Chair and Trustee. He took DU members on a nature, culture and history tour of the Waipa region.
 
The first point of interest was Lake Rotomanuka, one of about 16 lakes in the Waipa District. It was once one lake but is now two separate bodies of water. Around the lakes, public walkways, buffer margins and sediment traps are being developed by Living Waters, a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Fonterra.
 
Native eels and smelt can still be found in the lake but have been joined by introduced species: rudd, carp, koi carp and catfish. First stop on the bus trip was the Lake Serpentine/Rotopiko sanctuary. It is enclosed by a predator-free fence, which was built with a $500,000 grant.
 
The 50-hectare sanctuary is thought to be mammal free after mouse incursions were curtailed by extending the fence netting down into a trench dug along the fenceline.
But the project hasn’t been all smooth sailing. As well as having to put its planned $5 million-plus visitor centre on hold, the sanctuary had encountered an unforeseen problem – once news of the avian safe haven got out to the passerine community, thousands and thousands of starlings, sparrows and finches were swooping into the sanctuary at dusk to sleep overnight.
 
They leave behind mountains of guano, which, over time, would change the chemistry of the peat lake.
 
Tony said deterrent measures such bangers and laser lights were being trialled.
 
Releases of kiwi and takahe are on the sanctuary’s wish list but pateke (brown teal) will be the first species to be introduced. Tony said the visitor centre project would be replaced with a more modest and modular alternative – beginning with a three-bedroom house for volunteers and school groups to stay in. With no electricity on the site, the house will have solar panels, and a composting toilet.
 
Following a hearty buffet lunch at the Five Stags restaurant in Pirongia, everyone boarded the bus for the nearby Alexandra Redoubt. This fortification was constructed by the constabulary after the land wars in case Maori tried to take back their confiscated land.
 
During the tour, Tony pointed out many other historical landmarks, including pa and battle sites, and natural features such as the volcanoes and kahikatea stands dotting the landscape.
 

 

Published in Issue 175
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Monday, 26 November 2018 20:25

CONFERENCE REPORTS

Neil Candy reported that Jim Law had replaced Ken Cook as a trustee on the Waterfowl and Wetland Trust, which was “ticking along really well” with more than $500,000 in the bank.

Wetland Care

Reporting on the work of Wetland Care, Will Abel said $10,800 had been spent on three wetlands in the past year, creating about 10 acres of wetland

ROYAL SWAN
Neil said the successful breeding of royal swans had been declining but fortunately had coincided with a drop in inquiries for them. The reason for the lack of breeding success was unknown and the few lightweight birds available from Peacock Springs in Canterbury meant it was difficult to tell the boys from the girls to find a breeding pair. Compatibility was another problem, with one bird sometimes killing its intended mate.
 
WHIO
Neil Candy reported, on behalf of Peter Russell, that whio had had their best breeding-for-release season. Seven pairs in the North Island produced 75 eggs, with 46 surviving to be released. Of those birds, 15 went to Egmont National Park, 23 to Whanganui National Park and 8 to Tongariro National Park. In the South Island, four pairs produced 45 eggs, with 30 released, all in rivers around Hokitika.
 
PATEKE
Meanwhile, pateke in Northland have benefited from predator control introduced to protect kiwi in the area, and the ducks are now established from Mimiwhangata to Pataua North

BITTERN

Emma Williams reported that of one of four bitterns fitted with a transmitter at Lake Whatuma was missing, but it was hoped it would return for the breeding season. DU still has two transmitters to place.
 
Four other transmitters had been placed on chicks found starving in urban areas. They were rehabilitated and two were released in BOP and two in Canterbury. One has survived two years on and its transmitter had just died.
 
WEBSITE
Paul Mason explained the layout of the new website which is now on a new platform and is more accessible to devices such as tablets and smartphones. Visitor numbers and search results for the website were healthy.
 
NZ GAME BIRD HABITAT TRUST
John Cheyne reported that the trust has allocated $96,000 in 2018 for 24 projects throughout New Zealand. In 2018, the trust had received 21 applications for funding to assist with wetland restoration and creation
 
 

WAIRIO WETLAND

Jim Law reported that restoration work at the Wairio wetland this year had cost $9500, bringing DU’s total expenditure over the 13 years since the project began to more than $215,000.
 
A plan to divert water from Matthews Lagoon to the wetland on its way into Lake Wairarapa was still awaiting approval from the Greater Wellington Regional Council. 
The council was continuing its predator control and its traps were serviced three or four times a year. Large numbers of mustelids and feral cats are still being caught, highlighting reinvasion as a serious problem. DOC was doing a good job of maintaining the bund wall walkways.
 
Wairarapa Moana, which encompasses Wairio, is included in a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, meaning ownership of the wetlands will be transferred to Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane. Ngati Kahungunu, the principal iwi owner with 90 per cent, has indicated that it would like DU to carry on with its work and it will be business as usual. The iwi also wants to re-establish a Lake Wairarapa committee and it would like DU to be a part of that.
 
 
Published in Issue 175
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Monday, 26 November 2018 20:17

Decisive year ahead for Board

John Bishop welcomes everyone to his neck of the woods

 

Where to from here will be the big question facing the DUNZ Board in the coming year. President Ross Cottle, in opening the formal business of the 44th AGM, said that, with an ageing membership and fewer members keen to do the work, the future direction of Ducks Unlimited would be on the Board’s agenda this year.

Measures already in place or under consideration were making Flight a two-yearly publication and changing the conference to a biennial event rather than yearly. With fewer demands to create new wetlands and maintain the established ones, the Board would be looking at other ways, including research scholarships, to support DUNZ’s goals.

Ross thanked John Cheyne, who resigned earlier in the year, for his four years as president and for raising the profile of bittern. Ross also paid tribute to those members who had passed away during the past year: Ian Pirani, Nancy Pain, Audrey Pritt, Alan Wilk and Robin Borthwick. Joyce Brooks also passed away after the AGM.

Treasurer John Bishop presented the accounts and updated members on the new rules for charitable trusts, which require entities to state their purpose. DUNZ had submitted the following mission statement: “We deliver and advocate for effective wetland restoration, development, research and education; and support the preservation of threatened waterfowl and the ethical and sustainable use of wetlands.”

Published in Issue 175
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Tuesday, 27 February 2018 20:09

Presidents Annual Report August 2015

It gives me great pleasure in presenting my annual report for 2014-15. As you will read we are not short on challenges.

Over the last 12 months we have had a number of highs and the odd low. Starting with the low, we have the same problem faced by DU Canada, DU USA and many other New Zealand based organisations in trying to maintain the number of members. Our membership is aging and few younger people are joining.

The DU Board have over the last four years sought advice on our future direction and increasing membership. This included aligning ourselves more closely with other similar organisations which are experiencing similar problems. Unfortunately people appear to have a greater array of demands on their time and this seems to reduce their desire to be members of organisations like DU. Declining membership naturally impacts on income. Any DU member with a magic wand and a few pearls of wisdom on the issue please let me know.
In spite of this problem DUNZ and its wetland conservation arm, Wetland Care NZ still punch well above their weight in terms of what they are achieving. The Wairio wetland project in the Wairarapa continues to be our major wetland restoration project. The recent construction of the long bund to better retain water in Stages 1-3, highlights what can be achieved when collaborating with others. This $30,000 project received magnificent financial support from the Clean Up Wairarapa Moana Fund (Greater Wellington Regional Council), NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust, South Wairarapa Rotary Club, Nikau Trust and Pharazyn Trust. While DU’s finances are limited, we are on the lookout for other worthwhile projects where DU seed funding can leverage contributions from other organisations.

Fund raising is important for DU and the Manawatu and Wairarapa Chapters do an excellent job in organising the pre waterfowl hunting season clay target field shoot which results in a welcome donation towards our wetland projects. Our AGM weekend also generates valuable income.

DU is still involved with conservation programmes with blue duck (whio), brown teal (pateke) and white swan.
A new project DU is supporting is the doctorate study on the endangered bittern at Lake Whatuma in Hawke’s Bay being undertaken by Emma Williams, Massey University. Her findings will assist the conservation of this flagship species, which in turn will lead to improved wetland outcomes nationally.

Our organisation is like an extended family with many members looking forward to the AGM to renew friendships. This is important, but could not happen without the excellent work of our Secretary Jan Able, Flight Editor Liz Brook and Web Site Manager Michelle Cooper. Your Board of Directors also work hard to achieve positive outcomes for DU. Being a Director is fun and involves working alongside a group of similar minded people. If you are interested in becoming a Director please talk to one of us.

Thank you for your on-going support. Wetlands are always going to need a helping hand.

John Cheyne, President
Published in Issue 164
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