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Dawn Chorus Bulletin 93 ISSN 1171-8595 May 2013 Invasion of the geckos Another 90 Duvaucel's geckos settle on Tiri Discover Bushy Park: new home for our hihi Making music with the saddlebacks

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Page 1: Dawn Chorus - Tiritiri Matangi Island chorus/Dawn Chorus 93.pdfDawn Chorus Bulletin 93 ISSN 1171-8595 May 2013 Invasion of the geckos Another 90 Duvaucel's geckos settle on Tiri Discover

Dawn ChorusBulletin 93

ISSN 1171-8595 May 2013

Invasion of the geckosAnother 90 Duvaucel's geckos settle on Tiri

Discover Bushy Park: new home for our hihi

Making music with the saddlebacks

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www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz 32 Dawn Chorus 93 May 2013

As we, the Supporters of Tiritiri Matan-gi, approach our 25th Birthday, it is worth a moment of reflection to con-sider the huge amount that has been achieved since we were formed in Oc-tober 1988.

In almost every aspect of our opera-tions, we have gone from strength to strength. The testimony of our long-term members and plentiful photo-graphic evidence show how the input of highly motivated volunteers, guided for much of that period by Ray and Bar-bara Walter and staff from the Depart-ment of Conservation, has transformed a 'big paddock' into native bush alive with some of New Zealand’s special plants and animals.

Our success is also shown by the an-nual visitor numbers which have risen from about 13,000 in the early 1990s to over 30,000 in recent times.

It might be expected that member-ship of the Supporters would have in-creased in line with increasing visitors, but that seems not to be the case. Over the past four or five years we seem to have plateaued at about 1,600 to 2,000 family memberships.

It is plain that our members are vi-tal to our continued success. From their ranks we recruit guides, shop workers, weeding teams, volunteers on plant, an-imal and infrastructure projects and, no less important, members of our various committees. Our members also contrib-

ute funds via their annual subscriptions and generous donations, which last year made up one third of our total income.

Managing renewals will soon be made easier when a new membership database and payments system is put in place. It will be integrated with our website and will allow new members to join and existing members to renew their subscriptions, to make donations and to update their personal details.

We need all the members we can get and we need to keep those that we have. So, please renew your membership, safe in the knowledge that you are making a vital contribution to one of New Zea-land’s iconic wildlife projects.

John Stewart

From the chair

SoTM needs a strong membershipso it can keep up the good work

As you’ve probably no-ticed, this issue of Dawn Chorus looks a bit differ-ent, signalling the arrival of a new editor.

I'm taking over from Simon Fordham, who has been putting this maga-zine out for seven years, doing a magnificent job. On behalf of you all I'd like to thank him for his wonderful contribution. I'll do my best to build on what Simon has created.

The different look is partly because I don’t have Simon's expertise with the layout programme. But it’s also because I come from a different background.

I’ve worked in newspapers for over 50 years, most of that time as an editor, running community newspapers like Gulf News on Waiheke, regional news-papers such as the Bay of Plenty Times, business publications like National Business Review and the business sec-tion of the NZ Herald and, most recent-ly, the Herald’s Travel section.

In that time I’ve become ingrained with what I think of as old-school jour-nalism: real news, good stories about

people, eye-catching photos and simple lay-outs. So that's what I've tried to offer.

My wife Chris and I have been conservation-ists, and members of SoTM, Miranda Natu-ralists’ Trust and Forest & Bird, for many years, but until I retired last year didn't have much time to contribute.

Now we’re not only able to see more of our five grandchil-dren, but I’ve also been able to start ed-iting Miranda News, begin training as a kokako monitor and now take over the reins of Dawn Chorus.

I've got lots of ideas about what I'd like to do with Dawn Chorus, but I have learned over the years that a pub-lication has to provide what the readers want, not what the editor thinks they should get. So I’d welcome any feed-back on the magazine. I’ll also be grate-ful for any ideas for articles and any of-fers of stories and photos.

And I look forward to meeting you on the Island in the near future.

Jim Eagles

Smoothing the way to birding heavenThe Wattle Track is now a much easier walk for the less agile or those with pushchairs, with a 70m stretch being realigned on to an easier grade with no stairs, and then concreted.

The section upgraded runs from the platform at the track's Wharf Rd en-trance as far as the stitchbird feeder.

It’s an area that has always been prone to water damage and difficult to maintain during heavy rain. Because of its steep grade it also had a lot of wood-en steps which were difficult for some visitors to negotiate.

The crucial work was done by a working bee of a dozen volunteers over Easter. About 45m of the old stepped boardwalk had to be removed, which was not an easy job. The track had to be realigned to run along an easier grade. And of course it had to be boxed and metalled.

The concrete is due to be poured shortly, making the track not only more accessible but also much easier to maintain.

Ray Walter

Change of conductor for Tiritiri Matangi's Dawn Chorus

Cover photo of Duvaucel's gecko by Chris Wedding

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www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz 32 Dawn Chorus 93 May 2013

Barbara Hughes gathers half-a-dozen pupils from Te Kura Akanga O Ma-nurewa around a table scattered with leaves, humus and dirt and gets them checking it out with magnifying glasses.

'There’s a little spider,' shouts one excitedly. Another points and asks, 'Is that a worm?' 'No,' Barbara says, 'it’s a millipede.' 'Oh,' shrieks a small girl. 'What’s that on my hand?' It turns out to be a baby praying mantis. A bigger boy takes the tiny insect and lets it wan-der over his hand while everyone looks.

Meanwhile Barbara is asking the kids, who’ve come to Tiri to see birds, why they think she’s got them studying a pile of dirt. The answers are quick to come. 'Because the trees grow in it.' 'The birds eat the insects.' 'Without the dirt nothing could live here.'

Considering these youngsters have been on the go since early morning, and have already spent three hours learning about nature, they’ve still got plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

But then Barbara, who started work in January as the Island’s educator, has spent most of her life doing this sort of thing. She’s been teaching science, biol-ogy and horticulture for over 30 years.

A guide on Tiri for 18 years, she has also been interested in conservation 'ever since I can remember. Growing up on a South Canterbury farm meant we were very aware of the environment. I know there can be conflicts between farming and conservation but that doesn’t alter the fact that when you live on a farm nature is all around you.'

Those interests came together in 2003 when she won a Royal Society of NZ teaching fellowship to study four species of native birds. This developed into a project to translocate one of them, tomtits, from the Hunuas to Tiri. 'The actual translocation succeeded but unfortunately the retention didn’t.'

Still, Barbara was inspired to write a book, Mr RG the Adventurous Tom-tit, about a bird she found back home in the Hunuas, 56km from Tiri, nine weeks after he was translocated (it’s on sale in the Island shop).

All of that, she says, made the posi-tion as Tiri's educator 'the ideal com-bo'. It involves, she says, building on the work of Barbara and Ray Walter – 'who guided me with my schoolkids in the nineties . . . I still have the notes' – and continued by many others. And it's all about developing programmes which give children an understanding of the environment but at the same time keep them enthusiastic.

That's why, if you walk up the Wattle Track when there’s a school on the Island, you may be startled by the sight of brightly coloured finger pup-pets perched on the plants. 'It helps teach effective observational skills and native tree recognition,' Barbara ex-plains. 'But probably more importantly it keeps their minds off lunch and how sore their feet are when there is still a bit more walking to do.'

So how is it working out? One of the kura teachers gives a forthright answer to that question: 'Fantastic.'

Making education fun

Kids' programme launched on TiriTiritiri Matangi has been chosen by the Department of Conservation to launch its Kiwi Ranger programme for chil-dren in the North Island.

Kiwi Ranger activities are already available at 10 sites – mostly National Parks – in the South Island.

At each site youngsters can pick up a booklet of activities and do the ones that appeal to them. These can include weather forecasting, recording bird sounds, designing a conservation sign or using information panels to answer questions. Participants receive a differ-ent badge for each site.

The plan at the moment is to launch the programme on 1 June. It will be available both to school groups and to families.

Special winter fares for Supporters360 Discovery is repeating last year's offer of a special Supporters' rate for trips to Tiri between 1 June and 31 Au-gust.

Supporters will only have to pay $38 for adults and $20 for children from Auckland, $22 and $14 from Gulf Harbour. Please note that this of-fer only applies to members of SoTM and immediate family – those who live under the same roof on a permanent basis – not friends.

Plugging the leaksRepairs have been carried out to fix leaks in the dams at Northeast Bay, Fisherman’s Bay and the wharf.

The work, three years in the plan-ning, was carried out by Hick Bros con-tractors from Silverdale and involved rebuilding the dams and lining them with clay to create a watertight layer.

This required the transport of 90 tonnes of heavy machinery to the Is-land. Before the trucks and machinery were allowed on the Island they had to be cleaned and inspected to ensure they were not carrying any stowaways.

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www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz 54 Dawn Chorus 93 May 2013

A North Island robin turned up when Beth Sharp visited Tiritiri Matangi to check out the seat she sponsored in memory of her partner Charlie South.

It was a moving moment for Beth because robins have played a significant role since Charlie died suddenly during an extended visit to the UK.

Before going overseas Beth and Charlie were regular visitors to the Is-land and robins were among their fa-vourite birds. Then, while they were in the UK, they became 'intrigued by the personality of the northern robins'.

Robins acquired even more signifi-cance when close friends and family

had a quiet drink in a pub following Charlie’s memorial service in High Wycombe 'and a robin landed on our table, as if it belonged there, and spent some time wandering around surveying the scene. After this, we seemed to no-tice robins in various significant places, most strangely when the removal truck arrived at the flat to collect my goods to send back to New Zealand and there was a robin on the grass near the truck.'

As a result, she said, 'the robin has become a symbol for Charlie'.

Beth and the family felt it was im-portant to have somewhere they could go to remember Charlie and Tiri seemed

the right place.So, when a recent working bee in-

stalled two seats on the East Coast Track, one was paid for by Beth. It overlooks Fisherman’s Bay because Charlie was a keen fisherman. A good red wine was buried under the concrete pad. And it was decorated with robin tiles painted by Cherry Lawrie.

The result is the perfect spot to keep memories of Charlie alive. 'Yesterday while I was on Tiri I visited the seat,' Beth said, 'and as I approached there was a robin right beside it! I’m not a spiritualist nut case, but it is some com-fort to have a living memorial.'

Look out for Charlie's seat . . . and his robin

My first visit to Tiritiri Matangi was in 1989. Liz and I, and daughters Vic-toria and Emily, went to plant trees and explore an island I had longed to visit. We saw saddle-

back for the first time and had a tour of the lighthouse. I wrote in my journal, 'A marvellous day and we are thinking of going back again in the summer.”'We joined the newly formed Supporters group and became regular visitors. Dur-ing the 1990s Liz took walking groups and I led sea kayak trips to plant trees. The most memorable day was when we planted those trees above the wharf, a

pod of dolphins came into the bay and Ray went to the end of the old wharf and banged on a metal pipe to attract them. Some of the party launched their kayaks while the rest of us watched from the shore.

Liz and I never imagined that Tiri would become such a big part of our lives. Liz, who works for DOC, is now responsible for aspects of the Island’s management while I have recently been appointed by the SoTM Committee as fundraising coordinator.

I have had a long career in market-ing and communications. In the 1990s I became interested in the not-for-profit sector and in 2005-2011 was fund-raiser at Hibiscus Hospice. Last year I suggested to John Stewart that perhaps the Supporters could use my expertise. I am contracted to work up to 24 hours a

Meet Tiri's new fundraising co-ordinator

AT LEFT: Beth Sharp tries out the seat. BELOW: One of the robin tiles which provide a subtle reminder of Charlie.

week and have been helping to progress a number of very exciting projects.

The first of these is to encourage ex-isting and past SoTM members to re-new their membership. Please take time to complete and return the membership form included with this newsletter.

Liz and I are keen trampers and also members of the Motuora Island Resto-ration Society. We are acutely aware that we live in a stunningly beautiful country and our particular niche, the Hibiscus Coast and the Hauraki Gulf, is beyond compare. Our involvement with Tiri is our way of preserving and protecting this corner of paradise for future generations . . . including our six-month-old granddaughter Lucy who al-ready has her very own copy of Greg the Naughty Takahe!

Vincent Maire

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Bushy Park is a 98-ha conservation area situated 24km northwest of Whan-ganui. It was formerly part of the prop-erty of the late GF Moore, a prominent Whanganui farmer and thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.

In 1962, he bequeathed his home-stead and adjacent forest to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, which in turn, in 1995, ceded stew-ardship to the Bushy Park Homestead and Forest Trust under a 99-year lease. Bushy Park is designated Protected Pri-vate Land under the Reserves Act 1977.

The Bushy Park homestead is a Cat-egory One heritage building registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. This Edwardian-era house was built for Frank Moore in 1906, and it has been preserved as much as possible in its original state. It is open to the public, both for day visitors and over-night paying guests who have the op-portunity to experience elements of the life and surroundings of a bygone era.

The forest has over 3 km of well-maintained public walking tracks, as well as a series of monitoring trails. The walking tracks provide access to about a fifth of the forest and a small adjacent wetland. Access to the forest is free, al-though there is a small fee for access to

the house and grounds.Bushy Park’s 87ha of lowland rain-

forest is highly valued for biodiversity. It is one of the largest of 85 protected natural areas in the Manawatu Plains Ecological District. Most of the park comprises temperate lowland rainfor-est with rimu, northern rata, kahikatea, tawa, pukatea, hinau and miro being the dominant canopy and subcanopy trees. Forest in the moist valley floors is dominated by pukatea and tawa, often with a dense understorey of tree ferns (six species have been recorded), sup-plejack, kiekie, nikau palms and abun-dant seedlings. Drier ridges have tawa, hinau and northern rata. The understo-rey is less dense than in the valleys and is dominated by broad-leaved shrubs.

Over 160 indigenous vascular plants have been recorded (including six gym-nosperms, 60 dicot trees, shrubs and lianes, 13 dicot herbs, four monocot trees and lianes, 31 monocot herbs, 52 ferns and fern allies). A few of these have been planted.

In addition to the more common species, a number of uncommon or eco-logically important plants also occur. These include Pittosporum cornifolium, Ileostylus micranthus, Muehlenbeckia complexa var. grandifolia, Rhabdo-

thamnus solandri, Alseuosmia pusilla, and Fuchsia excorticata.

The number of indigenous plants is smaller than might be expected for a relatively large forest reserve. There are also a number of outside species, some of which are invasive but which are being removed manually by volunteer weed-control groups. Foremost among these are karaka and climbers such as banana passionfruit, old man’s beard and chocolate vine. Eradicating or con-trolling alien plants remains one of the biggest challenges.

About 14 native bird species and 10 introduced species are recorded regu-larly in and around the forest. The most frequently recorded during a recent se-ries of 5-minute bird counts were North Island robin, grey warbler, and North Island saddleback, which together made up more than 50 per cent of all individuals recorded.

Six other species made up a further third or more of all individuals record-ed: fantail, kereru, bellbird, tui, tomtit and silvereye. Numbers of kereru fluc-tuate considerably through the year, with up to 300 birds being recorded at times, feeding on planted tree lucerne. The abundance of these archetypical New Zealand forest species is a testa-

The historic Bushy Park homestead. Photo / Paul Willyams, www.pwillyams.co.nz

The Big Picture

The restoration of Bushy ParkOur series exploring the amazing blossoming of volunteer conservation projects around the country follows the recent translocation of hihi from Tiritiri Matangi to their new home in Bushy Park, Whanganui. Peter Frost outlines the park's history.

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ment to the relative ecological integrity of the forest.

The other notable feature is the comparatively low frequency of non-native species in the forest, including song thrush, blackbird, starling, chaf-finch and Australian magpie, though they are common on the forest fringe and in the homestead garden.

Eastern rosella, in contrast, can be encountered well inside the forest, as can a small flock of sulphur-crested cockatoo. This seems to be a deteriorat-ing situation, as both species appear to be increasing.

We have less complete information about other animals. Among reptiles, the rare gold-stripe gecko, forest gecko, southern speckled skink, and common skink have been recorded in the sanctu-ary. Others might yet be discovered.

The future of many native species – plants, birds, reptiles, and others – de-pends on continuing to be able to ex-clude or control alien species, especially predators such as rats, cats, stoats and other mustelids, and omnivores such as possums.

Initial conservation activities, start-ed in 1962 soon after the sanctuary was established, involved intermittent control of weeds and alien mammals, but these efforts were always under-mined by ongoing reinvasion of pests from surrounding areas. In 2004, work started on constructing a 4.8km pest-proof fence around the property. With the generous support of almost 400 local people and businesses, the fence was completed in 2005. Since then, all mammalian predators, other than mice, have been eradicated.

Mice will probably never be com-pletely removed, so the emphasis now is on controlling their numbers below a level where they could severely af-fect the success of other species. At the same time, they are important food for morepork, which might otherwise prey excessively on native birds and reptiles.

The fence is monitored weekly for any undermining or breaks. If any are found, they are repaired immediate-ly and predator traps kept along the boundary and inside the forest are ac-tivated.

The construction of the predator-proof fence has created the opportunity to reintroduce species thought to have occurred once in these forests. Two na-tive bird species so far have been suc-cessfully reintroduced.

North Island robin: seven females and 21 males released in 2001, 11 fe-males and seven males in 2004, before the fence was built. Initial breeding suc-cess was low but improved markedly once predators were removed. Robins are now among the most commonly en-countered birds in the forest.

North Island saddleback: 14 fe-males, 22 males released in 2006.

Breeding success has been excep-tional, with the number of young birds fledging rising from 27 in the first breed-ing season to over 95 in 2010/11. The current population is probably over 300 birds. In the near future, some birds will be translocated to Cape Sanctuary.

The reintroduction of 44 hihi in March was a further step in re-estab-lishing the full complement of species that would have once occurred in this forest.

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On March 24, 44 juvenile hihi were re-leased into Bushy Park Sanctuary. This is the fourth mainland site where hihi have been reintroduced since 2005. This change toward a focus on mainland translocations reflects a more general shift in conservation strategy in New Zealand, and the increasing opportuni-ties it allows for release site selection.

Hihi are challenging, and the success of reintroduction efforts remains mixed and reliant on supportive management. A shift to mainland reintroductions alters the challenges that need to be considered but, we hope, gets the birds closer to a suitable habitat of mature and diverse forest.

Mainland populations of hihi are showing many positive signs. Karori is maintaining a small population, albeit reliant on management. Maungatautari is also showing good signs, with some birds not using supplementary food or nest boxes and successfully rear-ing young. Continued monitoring will closely follow these (and all) hihi popu-lations.

The number of places where we now have hihi is increasing and this offers insurance for catastrophe in any one place, especially in the sole remnant population on Hauturu.

One challenge associated with re-leases of hihi onto the mainland is dis-persal outside protected areas. This has been monitored closely across all sites and 40 of the birds released at Bushy

Park have small tail-mounted trans-mitters so that we can follow where the birds go in the initial weeks post-release.

Early reports are that the birds at Bushy Park are doing well in their new home. So far none have dispersed outside the park. which was one of the big questions around this translocation.

Their transmitters are due to start running out of battery but have done their job well in allowing us to monitor what they are doing.

The birds appear settled and are becoming easier to find in the park. Furthermore they are also slowly starting to use feeders, which will make them even more easy to see.

Most birds translocated to these mainland sites have come from Tiritiri Matangi. The Bushy Park cohort are exclusively Tiritiri Matangi stock. This exemplifies the important role that the Tiritiri Matangi population is playing in the national conservation strategy of this species.

Why Tiritiri Matangi? There are ac-tually a number of good reasons for us-ing Tiritiri Matangi as a source. Firstly, the population is intensively managed such that productivity is high. We pro-vide supplementary food year round and we control parasites in nests that would otherwise cause nestling mortal-ity and the production of fledglings in poorer condition. Secondly, we moni-tor the population very closely and can

accurately predict the impact on the source population from harvesting birds for translocation. Our current manage-ment criteria for translocation is aimed at keeping the breeding population about constant, and we have achieved this with our cropping regime. This contrasts with the uncertainty around using Hauturu as a regular source pop-ulation. Thirdly, the logistics of trans-location from Tiritiri Matangi are far easier than from Hauturu.

Of course we need to be wary. From a conservation genetic point of view, for example, we may be better mixing our birds among all populations and cer-tainly making the most of the diversity found in the remnant Hauturu popula-tion. Interestingly, Tiritiri Matangi has retained a large amount of the diversity found on Hauturu (though not all).

The Hihi Recovery Group has sup-ported various ways of moving birds between populations and making use of the Hauturu population wisely. Our current approach reduces the heavy cropping of large numbers of hihi from the remnant population by using pro-ductive populations like Tiritiri Matan-gi. We then aim to mix in genetic mate-rial from periodic movements of birds between populations, especially from Hauturu.

For more information about hihi and hihi conservation please visit our website at www.hihiconservation.com.

John Ewen

Bushy Park release another important step in the return of hihi to mainland New Zealand

FROM LEFT: Small dining room at the homestead; old forest; ancient rata; stained glass entrance hall. Photos / Paul Willyams

BELOW, top: 40 hihi released at Bushy Park had transmitters fitted. Bottom: Taking a blood sample.Photos / Kevin Parker

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Photo: Kay Milton

This year’s Saddleback Week was a huge success, raising several thousand dollars for bird conservation, generating lots of positive publicity and attracting new people to the Island.

The climax was the Saddleback Concert on March 9 when musicians and birds made beautiful music together to the delight of what may have been a record crowd.

For the occasion the daily limit of people on Tiritiri Matangi was increased from 170 to 250 – possibly for the first time – and the ferries certainly looked full.

Calculating exactly how much money was raised by Saddleback Week activities is difficult but the shop was definitely busy.

Shop manager Mary-Ann Rowland reckons that there was more than $6500 profit from the concert alone, about $2500 more than was produced by the Kokako Concert the year before, providing a welcome boost to bird conservation coffers.

Much of the increase was thanks to sales of the delicious Saddleback pinot noir and pinot gris wines generously donated by Peregrine Wines.

One of the aims of the week was, of course, to raise the profile of the North Island Saddleback and it certainly achieved that with radio publicity, a mention in the NZ Herald and two articles in the Rodney Times, as well as inspiring a radio documentary which will be broadcast on National Radio.

The week also succeeded in attracting to the Island a group of people outside the usual circle of conservationists and birders.

Photos / Martin Sanders

Making music with the saddlebacks

8 Dawn Chorus 93 May 2013

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Photo: Alison Bray

This year’s Saddleback Week was a huge success, raising several thousand dollars for bird conservation, generating lots of positive publicity and attracting new people to the Island.

The climax was the Saddleback Concert on March 9 when musicians and birds made beautiful music together to the delight of what may have been a record crowd.

For the occasion the daily limit of people on Tiritiri Matangi was increased from 170 to 250 – possibly for the first time – and the ferries certainly looked full.

Calculating exactly how much money was raised by Saddleback Week activities is difficult but the shop was definitely busy.

Shop manager Mary-Ann Rowland reckons that there was more than $6500 profit from the concert alone, about $2500 more than was produced by the Kokako Concert the year before, providing a welcome boost to bird conservation coffers.

Much of the increase was thanks to sales of the delicious Saddleback pinot noir and pinot gris wines generously donated by Peregrine Wines.

One of the aims of the week was, of course, to raise the profile of the North Island Saddleback and it certainly achieved that with radio publicity, a mention in the NZ Herald and two articles in the Rodney Times, as well as inspiring a radio documentary which will be broadcast on National Radio.

The week also succeeded in attracting to the Island a group of people outside the usual circle of conservationists and birders.

Photos / Martin Sanders

Making music with the saddlebacks

www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz 9

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Photo: Ian Southey

This is a busy time for translocations.In late March 44 juvenile hihi

were translocated to Bushy Park near Whanganui (not Maungatautari as reported in the previous issue). Early reports are that the birds are doing well (see page 7).

In mid-April, 100 whiteheads were translocated to Ark in the Park in the Waitakere Ranges. Despite inclement weather, 70 birds were caught in the first 24 hours with the remaining birds caught the following day. This is the third in a five-year programme to establish whiteheads in the Ark.

In May, 40 saddleback are due to leave Tiri to start a new population at Maungatautari.

And, going the other way, the Island's population of Duvaucel's gecko has been boosted by the arrival of 90 newcomers (see opposite).

Stitchbird/HihiThe 2012-13 breeding season was a successful one, producing a significant boost in hihi numbers.

The first egg was laid on 23 October 2012 and the last chicks fledged around 25 February 2013.

There were 114 nests and 443 eggs laid, of which 310 hatched and 173 fledged. This was a good breeding season with fairly high productivity and high survival.

Mid-season, at least eight nests had parents die, many mid-incubation. Of the five necropsied, one was detected

with salmonella, one with aspergillosis, and others died of unknown causes.

A total of 166 birds (60 females and 106 males) was recorded in the September 2012 census. In the February 2013 census 235 birds were recorded: 50 females, 72 males, 108 juveniles and 5 unknown juvenile or female birds.

TakaheThe five based around the lighthouse and Visitor Centre continue to give visitors excellent close encounters, though there are concerns that Cheesecake and Te Mingi are showing an interest in people’s lunches – not surprising since Cheesecake used to be Greg’s partner.

Montague, Ahikaea and their chick are often seen along the Ridge Road.

Mungo, Edge and their chick remain at the northern end of the Island, but Ariki, their son from 2011-12, is no longer with them. He was beginning to show aggression towards his dad, to the extent that Mungo left his family and turned up near the lighthouse on his own. Jason took him ‘home’ and moved Ariki to an enclosure as a first step towards transferring him to Motutapu.

Kokako This turned out to be one of the driest summers we have ever had on the Island and all our pairs had finished nesting by the end of February. Six

chicks fledged and five of these are of Taranaki decent. The sixth chick, Hunua (WM-W), was part of the successful egg swap we did with the Hunua Ranges. He was fostered by Te Hari and Phantom.

Noel and Rehu produced a male, Tupoki (RM-GW) and a female Rangiohua (RM-O).

Chatters and Te Rae produced two females, Rangikata (RM-R) and Terewai (RM-G).

Bariki and Lucky produced a male, Puoho (RM-Y). They nested a second time but their chick died of malnutrition as they were unable to find enough high-protein food for him in the extremely dry conditions.

Initially we thought that Kikorangi and Mawhero’s chicks had fledged successfully but we have since discovered that the chicks were predated shortly before fledging, probably by a harrier.

Takara and Aria’s second nest failed as the eggs were predated, probably by a harrier.

Parininihi and Koha’s third nest also failed. Little Spotted Kiwi Little spotted kiwi are really having a hard time due to the severe dry conditions. Two have been found in a very poor state and both died despite efforts to save them. Overnight walkers also came across another bird which could barely stand and presumably was sick or, again, suffering from starvation. Cook’s PetrelOn the morning of Wednesday 17 April, after a stormy night, a Cook’s petrel ambled into the courtyard of the bunkhouse. After starring in an impromptu photographic session the bird was taken by Kevin Parker to the East Coast Track for release. However, instead of flying off, the bird remained on Kevin’s hands and began preening. This lasted for around five minutes before additional encouragement was provided and the bird flew off into the distance.

Kay Milton, John Ewen, Morag Fordham, Simon Fordham

Fauna notes

Tiri birds head off to colonise the world

Members of the whitehead catching team separating wax moth larvae for feeding to captive birds. Photo / Yvonne Vaneveld.

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This summer, six years after the re-introduction of Duvaucel’s geckos to Tiritiri Matangi, a further 90 individu-als were translocated to the Island to supplement the small resident popu-lation. The initial re-introduction in 2006 involved just 19 geckos.

This precautionary approach was taken in order to assess whether the geckos could sustain potential preda-tion by the local bird community, par-ticularly morepork, pukeko and king-fishers. However, subsequent annual monitoring has revealed that several in-dividuals have remained at the original release site and recruitment is evident. This promising outcome provided the foundation for this year’s release.

Duvaucel’s geckos are a relatively slow breeding species. Females can produce a maximum of two young per year and it can take up to six years for the offspring to be able to reproduce themselves. They also show a remark-able longevity – some wild individuals have been documented to be at least 50 years of age. The new arrivals are hoped to boost the breeder pool of the small resident population. A larger, ge-

netically diverse breeder pool will aid in the establishment of a viable and self-sustaining population in the long-term.

Apart from representing an impor-tant milestone for the ongoing fauna restoration on Tiritiri Matangi, the re-cent translocations also provide an ex-cellent opportunity to learn more about the ecology and post-release behaviours of the Duvaucel’s geckos.

This translocation project is a joint effort between the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi, the Motuora Restoration So-ciety and researchers from Massey Uni-versity (MU). Due to the same trans-location history of Duvaucel’s geckos on Tiritiri Matangi and Motuora a rare opportunity arose to replicate the trans-location design on both islands.

In total, 180 geckos were translo-cated, whereby each island received a mix of 60 wild and 30 captive-bred geckos. The wild geckos were collected from Korapuki and Kawhitu, two is-lands in the Mercury Group located east of the Coromandel Peninsula. The captive geckos were born and reared at the Ecology and Conservation Group’s Reptile Facility on the MU Albany

Campus. The researchers have developed a

long-term monitoring programme that aims to gather detailed information on the survival, condition, reproductive performance and post-translocation movements of the captive-bred and wild-captured geckos.

The population monitoring will be carried out by MU researchers in asso-ciation with trained community group volunteers. The information gained will shed light onto the species’ post-translocation responses and population ecology. Moreover, it will help to as-sess the usefulness of captive breeding for release as an option for restoration projects.

MU postgraduate students Alaine Holdom and Vivienne Glenday will be monitoring the geckos closely for the first 12 months after release. Current-ly, the students are tracking the move-ments and habitat use of several indi-viduals that were equipped with small radio transmitter units.

For more information on the proj-ect please contact Manuela Barry ([email protected]).

FROM LEFT: Duvaucel's gecko; fitting a radio transmitter; researcher Vivienne Glenday radio-tracking.Photos / Chris Wedding, Vivienne Glenday.

More Duvaucel's geckos join the partyDuvaucel's geckos have done so well since they came to Tiritiri Matangi six years ago that another 90 have been sent to join them, reports Manuela Barry

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Photo: John Dowding

The drought affecting the North Island has taken its toll on many of our trees on the forest fringes. The worst affected have been hangehange, mahoe, kawakawa and karamu. The welcome news is that the interior of the forest is surviving.

Thick layers of leaf litter have created a good mulch and shading from the canopy has kept the ground cooler.

Meanwhile the kohekohe trees (Dysoxylum spectabile) are bristling with flower stalks. These are emerging from trunks and branches and are decorated with tight buds. There will be an eye-catching display of greenish-white flowers in late May through early June, emphasising the species name 'spectabile'.

Brush wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha) is now flowering. The greenish-yellow flowers are attracting tui and bellbirds. The trees have a long flowering period, carrying on through winter, providing a valuable nectar source. Brush wattle occurs naturally in the coastal areas of south-west Western Australia from Fremantle to King George's Sound.

The genus Paraserianthes has four

Flora notes

Drought takes a toll on the forest fringeThe dry summer has been tough on the forest fringe on Tiritiri Matangi, reports Warren Brewer. But plants protected by the forest floor mulch and canopy shade are doing well.

Trees on the edge of the forest have withered in the drought (left). Meanwhile, under the canopy shrubs like tecomanthe (right) are about to flower. Photos / Warren Brewer

species, the other three being found in tropical Australia. The genus name relates its similarity to trees in the genus Serianthes which are found in South East Asia and French Polynesia.

They have fine hairs covering their flowers and seed pods. Para means 'close to'. Serianthes means 'silky flowers'. Lophantha means 'crested flowers'. Brush wattle belongs in the legume family, Fabaceae.

Also in May we will be able to see our tecomanthe vine (Tecomanthe speciosa) flowering.

The lush cream-coloured tubular flowers emerge directly from the stem of the vine, similar to kohekohe. Tecomanthe is a genus of about 20 species, all vines, occurring in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. Our vine originates from Great Island in the Three Kings Group.

Tecomanthe means 'flowers like Tecoma'. Tecoma comes from an Aztec word for a clay pot, possibly referring to the shape of its tubular flowers. Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) is often seen growing as hedging in older parts of Central Auckland. Speciosa means 'striking, worth looking at'. Flowering brush wattle.

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Ngaio, naio and boobialla are trees which belong in the genus Myoporum. The genus contains about 30 species, mostly in Australia, but ranging from Mauritius to New Zealand as well as islands of the Pacific as far as Hawaii.

Ngaio (Myoporum laetum) is present on Tiritiri Matangi, forming a small tree. It is very drought resistant and its green, fleshy leaves are dotted with oil glands enabling them to cope with salt spray. Young leaves and branchlet tips are sticky and dark brown in colour, a distinguishing feature from other species. Delicate white flowers which are spotted with purple appear in spring. Small fruits ripen to a magenta colour through summer. Maori used the leaves as an insect repellent. Young shoots or an infusion of leaves were rubbed on the skin to ward off mosquitoes and sandflies. Some older trees become gnarled and distorted, making shapes which were used to fashion 'knees' for

schooners and other small sailing boats. Ngaio timber is said to be valued by cabinetmakers. Ngaio occurs in coastal and open lowland forest throughout most of New Zealand.

Myoporum means 'closed pores', referring to the oil glands on the leaves. Laetum means 'attractive'.

Naio (Myoporum sandwicense) has an intriguing common name, phonetically similar to our ngaio. It is endemic to Hawaii. It has hard durable timber which was used for housing. Trunks were used for the large posts of hale (traditional dwellings for the common people of Hawaii).

The wood of naio is fragrant when dried or burnt and smells similar to sandalwood. The species name sandwicense derives from the Sandwich Islands, named by Captain Cook in 1778 in honour of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was then first lord of the Admiralty.

Boobialla (Myoporum insulare) occurs naturally in Tasmania and also on wide coastal stretches of mainland Australia. In New Zealand it is often referred to as 'Tasmanian ngaio'. Boobialla was planted around the Tiri lighthouse by early lighthouse keepers. It has a variable growth form, ranging from shrub to small tree. Its white, purple-spotted flowers are smaller than those of ngaio and its young leaves and branchlet tips are green.

Myoporum species belong in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. Figworts are a large group of herbs all in the genus Scrophularia. Many of them were used in folk medicine, especially in the treatment of scrofula (a swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck caused by tuberculosis). Two familiar plants in the family are the butterfly bush, buddleia, and the cottage garden flower, nemesia.

Warren Brewer

Meet the Myoporum family: Ngaio, Naio and Boobialla

AT LEFT: Kohekohe flower stalks with developing buds.

BELOW, from left: Boobialla flowers and green young leaves; Boobialla fruit; Ngaio flowers, fruit and dark green young leaves.

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Hi guys, Join the dots to see who is enjoying the great view from Tiri. Colour in the picture when you are done. Have fun, Jo

Hand this to your kids – or pass it on to someone else’s kids – to enjoy a range of

activities about Tiritiri Matangi Island

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Coming Events

1-3 JuneQueen’s Birthday Working Weekend

7-8 SeptemberSupporters’ Non-working Weekend

9 SeptemberSoTM Annual General Meeting

5-6 October Supporters’ Non-working Weekend

19-21 OctoberLabour Working Weekend

9 DecemberMystery speaker and end of year party

Supporters’ non-working weekends are hosted by guides who can help you find that elusive

bird and take you out for a night walk. For these weekends you get a special reduced price

on the ferry and half price in the bunkhouse. Children are welcome.

Supporters’ working weekends are your chance to give the Island a hand. There are a great variety of projects to be done and everyone

pitches in. On working weekends travel is free as is accommodation in the bunkhouse.

To book for Supporters’ Weekends please contact: [email protected]

Day trips360 Discovery operates a return ferry service every Wednesday through Sunday from Downtown Auckland and the Gulf Harbour Marina. Bookings are essential.Phone 0800 360 347 or visit www.360discovery.co.nz Visitors are advised to call 0800 FANTAIL (0800 326 824) after 7 am on the day to confirm the vessel is running.

School VisitsThe Tiritiri education programme works with students from level 1 (five-year-olds) to level 13 (17-18 year olds). The focus is on delivering the required Nature of Science and Living World objectives from the NZ Science Curriculum. Also on offer are guiding and workshop opportunities at the senior biology level (Years 11 to 13). Later in the year there will also be trips that focus on the creative writing part of the NZ English Curriculum.Schools wishing to visit Tiritiri Matangi should visitwww.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/schoolvisits.htm or contact [email protected]. Bookings are essential.

Supporters of Tiritiri MatangiDawn Chorus is the quarterly newsletter of the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi (SoTM). We are a volunteer incorporated society working closely with the Department of Conservation to make the most of the wonderful conservation restoration project that is Tiritiri Matangi. Every year volunteers put thousands of hours into the project and raise funds through membership, guiding and also through our Island-based gift shop.For further information, visit www.tiritirimatangi.org.nzor contact P O Box 90-814 Victoria St West, Auckland

SoTM CommitteeChairperson: John [email protected] 428 4541Secretary: Linda [email protected]: Kevin VaughanCommittee: Alison Bray, Roger Bray, Brian Chandler,Hester Cooper, Simon Fordham, Carl Hayson,Kay Milton, Andrew Nelson, Ray Walter

Guiding and shop manager: Mary-Ann [email protected] 476 0010Membership: Zhea [email protected] 940 6739Educator: Barbara [email protected]: Vincent [email protected] Chorus editor: Jim [email protected] 445 2444

Island rangers: Dave Jenkins and Jason [email protected] 476 0920

Overnight visitsAlthough camping is not permitted on the Island, there is limited bunkhouse accommodation available.Bookings are essential.For information on booking overnight visits, go to:www.doc.govt.nz/tiritiribunkhouseBookings can also be made by phoning the Department of Conservation's Warkworth Area Office on 09 425 7812, though an additional booking fee will apply.

Volunteers who are undertaking official SoTM work can obtain accommodation at no charge but this must be booked through the Guiding and Shop Manager at [email protected] or 09 476 0010

SOTM members' discountSoTM members who wish to stay in a private capacity can get a discounted rate by booking through the Department of Conservation's Warkworth Area Office 09 425 7812.

Visiting Tiritiri Matangi

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Tiri ShopGifts for every occasion

We would love to help you to find that perfect gift for posting overseas. Check

out the ads in back copies of Dawn Chorus or give us a ring. All profits from

the shop go towards education and conservation programmes on the Island.

email: [email protected]: 09 476 0010

Hand puppets from $29New Zealand made hand puppets to bring your

stories alive. The takahe, kereru and kiwi $29 each. Ruru and possum (real possum fur) $32 each.

Bird tea towels $16Buller's birds on tea towels – tui, fantail and huia – only $16 each

Tieke photos $22Tieke photos by Martin Sanders on perspex

blocks. Hang on the wall or put in the window. $22 each or $60 for all 3.

Supporters of Tiritiri MatangiPO Box 90 814Victoria Street WestAuckland 1142

New Zealand Permit No. 243683