Protected species survey dog – Aspiring Biodiversity Trust

March 9, 2021June 19, 2021

The First Makarora Field Course – A Success!

The first Makarora Field Course was held from the 10 – 16 January 2021. This was the successful result of a partnership between Aspiring Biodiversity Trust and Operation Wallacea (Opwall) with support from LINZ, Birds New Zealand, Makarora Wonderland, local landowners and Wilkin River Jets.

The purpose of the field course was to promote the indigenous biodiversity of the Makarora catchment, create a valuable learning opportunity for students interested in careers based around wildlife management and conservation, contribute to good biological recording, whilst encouraging the future caretakers kaitiakitanga of the natural environment.

Students from Wellington, Auckland and the Coromandel were met at Queenstown Airport, then joined a scenic coach trip over the Crown Range via Wanaka and Lake Hawea to the field course base camp at Makarora. Here the students and teachers were met by the ABT Science team and a representative from Operation Wallacea. The event commenced with a welcomming karikia before entering the learning facility for a welcome presentation and briefing. Students were then shown to their tents before the first group meal was served at the main Makarora Wonderland Lodge.

The week was divided into a series of applied learning activities focused on biological (fauna and flora) recording survey methods and monitoring with classroom sessions on data analysis, reporting and the use of the R Stats application via an overseas connection with Opwall lecturer’s in the United Kingdom.

Evenings were filled with lectures on geophysiography, protected species detection dog aided surveys (for whio), ABT’s Ridge to River Threatened Species Programme, a forest by night walk and concluded with a session on career’s in conservation and wildlife management with an inspiring and motivational finish for the future from Aspiring Biodiversity Trust patron – Lydia Bradey, recently awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit.

An awesome week of incredible weather and biodiversity concluded with a splendid Wonderland BBQ and a certificate presentation to students on their completion of the field course, plus the awarding of prises (including a NZ bird guide) for various notable achievements over the duration of the weeks activities. A farwell karikia and celebratory cakes completed a most memorable week for all involved.

Thank you to all funders and supporters who helped enable the first pilot Makarora Field Course. The next Makarora field course dates start from 7-14 January 2022! Get in touch to find out more about the latest itinerary, we look forward to hearing from you 🙂

Commentary from student, staff and parent post 2021 field course:

I would like to thank the team for providing an amazing experience for my son Aditya. He is very grateful to get this wonderful opportunity of working with the best in their fields at such a young age. The communication, management and service has been great fro this trip. Thanks again. Jyoti

Thanks for running such an awesome course here in such a beautiful place. You and your team have provided invaluable insight into the real world – science and ecology. Hope to be back in the future. Dylon

By seeing the banded dotterel chick and other amazing sights, I felt like I was learning in a real meaningful way. Thanks, Fiver

Rachel, we did it! Congratulations on puttng together such an amazing field course you should be very proud of what you have achieved. It has been a real pleasure working with you! Hopefully we can do it again. Jihan

October 10, 2019August 4, 2020

Spring in the Makarora Catchment – From Ridge to River

Coffee break at Jumboland airstrip (the Coru Lounge)

With this seasons work programme in full swing, spring 2019 marks the installation of ABT’s upper river predator control for whio or blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) protection within the Siberia Valley and the Wilkin Valley. This follows previous walkover survey work with the aid of a protected species dog specifically trained in the detection of whio; New Zealand’s ancient waterfowl species, an important part of Makarora’s indigenous taonga.

Rachel Hufton — A whio pair (also known as blue duck) recorded within the Wilkin Valley Feb 2019

Here remnant populations of whio still remain however numbers are low and fledgling survival is limited by the presence of invasive predators such as stoat and rat. This can often lead to a sex ratio imbalance as females tend to be more vulnerable when nesting and during moult. The new trapping networks join up with alpine trap lines to help extend invasive predator coverage for this globally endangered species.

Spring is also the time to resume alpine predator control operations for rock wren and kea protection. New traps added and a number of stoats, and rodents had been caught over the winter months despite not all traps being accessible at higher levels due to the amount of snow still present (these traps will be serviced next visit).

Invasive mammal trap exposed from the snow at Upper Lucidus (September 2019).

A mummified stoat caught at altitude during the winter months

Rock wren pairs were active at the Crucible Basin but all was quite in the upper Wilkin Valley (where snow cover heavier) suggesting that this population may not of yet stired from their winter torpor. Kea were heard calling above the Siberia Valley and one in the upper Wilkin.

Snow cover along the ridge of Lake Crucible looking towards Gillespie Saddle (Oct 2019). The characteristic call of the rock wren is often heard here.

Back in the lower river valleys of the Makarora and Wilkin, braided river birds have returned and are starting to nest again. ABT braided river invasive mammal predator control continues on a monthly basis throughout the year with the help of regular volunteers. Stoats, rats, hedgehogs and feral cats are being reduced to help improve fledgling success of endangered birds such as black-fronted tern, wrybill and black-billed gull. The Southern black-backed gull is a avian predator of endangered braided river birds and their chicks. Adaptive management of this species is due to progress this season also.

Makarora braided river habitat showing the Wilkin confluence and the head of Lake Wanaka

Acknowledgements

With thanks to all our volunteers, funders, partners and supporters 🙂

April 2, 2019September 10, 2021

Updating Whio/ blue duck records for the upper river catchments of the Makarora

One of ABT’s core purpose is the collation and updating of threatened species records within the Makarora Catchment to help facilitate and inform appropriate application of invasive predator control.

ABT have been updating records for whio/ blue duck Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos to help ascertain the current population status of this ancient endemic waterfowl species within the upper reaches of the Makarora Catchment. No formal inventory has been completed for this species since the work of the late Peter Child during 1970’s/1980’s.

To date a specialist contractor Paul van Klink and his protected species survey dog (Hoki) has been commissioned to undertake walkover surveys for the upper Wilkin, the Siberia and the Young Valley.

Whio surveyor with protected species survey dog in the North Wilkin Valley

From the results of these walkover surveys and the addition of recent incidental records it is promising to see that there remains a remnant population. Numbers are low and in some cases are limited to just male individuals, a high prevalence of unpaired males on rivers without predator control is often common as nesting females are more vulnerable to mammalian predation. However, evidence of breeding success has been recorded with observations of pair bonds and fledgling birds.

This valuable survey work continues to expand for the region with the future aim of restoring viable, sustainable populations of whio/ blue duck within the upper river catchments of the Makarora and Wilkin for future generations.

Down stream of Lake Lucidus, North branch of the Wilkin with Hoki

Whio survey dog in action (Hoki). Image credit P van Klink

Reference

Child P, (1981). Birdlife of Mount Aspiring National Park. Scientific Services No.4. Department of Lands and Survey. Head Office, Wellington, New Zealand.