rock wren protection – Aspiring Biodiversity Trust

August 13, 2020August 1, 2023

Threatened Species Protection Expansion with assistance from Bill Day of Seaworks

The Aspiring Biodiversity Trust were out in full force on Tuesday and Wednesday (11 & 12 August), determined to increase the protection of our important threatened Taonga species in preparation for the upcomming breeding season. Bill Day of Seaworks kindly offered his assistance of considerable helicopter time; thanks to Lydia Bradey, ABT’s Patron recently awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

A crisp early start at Makarora; Bill Day arrives for the initial health and safety briefing before take off into the backcountry. Left to right: Andy Longman, Lydia Bradey, Bill Day (pilot) & Anthony Coote.

Invasive mammal traps fitted with kea proof fixings were assembled locally then transported to Makarora by vehicle. Here the team (Anthony Coote, Lydia Bradey, Rachel Hufton, Karen Day, Andy Longman) were met by Bill Day (Director of Seaworks keen to contribute to indigenous biodiversity protection) in his B0105 helicopter, equiped with plenty of space for transporting predator traps into the backcountry.

The endangered alpine rock wren (juvenile) or pīwauwau, Crucible Basin.

Traps were droped at a number of locations including the upper Siberia, Crucible Basin, upper/lower Lucidus and Wilkin Valley. The locations are of particular importance for remnant populations of the alpine rock wren, the ancient blue duck (whio) and kea (as indentified by ABT surveys and monitoring) and will intensify current predator control regimes.

Trap drop at lower Lucidus – where the habitat of rock wren overlaps with blue duck/ whio territories.

Existing traps identified as triggered from Encounter Solution’s remote monitoring Celium technology were serviced. The new traps will be fitted with detection nodes extending the alpine remote monitoring network. Stoats are currently active within the alpine environment (where rock wren are likely to be particuarly vulnerable in their current state of torpor durung the winter) and down to the river valley (where blue duck frequent whilst foraging for aquatic invertebrates or grazing from algae clad boulders).

An adult blue duck or whio within the upper Siberia Valley, Makarora.

The stoat Mustela erminea is a small mammalian carnivore native to Eurasia and North America. The Wilkin was one of the first New Zealand introduction sites back in 1885’s in an attempt to control rabbits. Usually, the fur is chestnut brown with a white underbelly; the tail has a black tip and is the most distinguishing feature of this mustelid. Some stoats undergo a white moult during the winter in alpine New Zealand, the tail tip remains black as shown in the example below from our last trip.

An upper Wilkin alpine stoat (a varacious predator of indigeonous wildlife) displaying its pale coat aiding camouflage during the winter months. Note: animal captured humanely with DOC 200 trap.

Lydia Bradey and Bill Day discussing the importance of the work Aspiring Biodiversity Trust have been doing to date and taking a moment to appreciate their incredible homeland in what was optimal weather conditions. 🙂

Lydia Bradey and Bill Day expressing the importance of indigenous biodiversity protection and restoration (Upper Wilkin Valley), fundamental to New Zealand’s cultural heritage.

Aspiring Biodiversity Trust actively contributing to the goals of Predator Free 2050 and working towards local and national Biodiversity Strategys through collaborative engagement.

Acknowledgements

With thanks to all our funders, volunteers and incredible supporters particuarly Perry Brooks and Rich Raynes for predator trap assembly, the Department Of Conservation (DOC) for validation of landing sites and Backcountry Helicopters for remainder of team pickup on Wednesday.

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 🙂

August 12, 2019August 20, 2019

Alpine predator control progress – winter activity indicated

Since the installation of ABT’s alpine predator control programme for the protection of rock wren Xenicus gilviventri, stoats have been recorded in traps at 1200 m elevation (refer to spatial distribution map below) in areas of rock wren habitat and they are still being caught during the winter months.

Adult male stoat caught at 1200 m by DOC 150 (kea proof) trap.

During this winter, Celium remote monitoring technology has shows that invasive mammalian predators are still on the move during the winter and are being caught within the alpine environment where indicative rock wren territories have been identified.

Snap shot of ABT trapping data Feb – April 2019 for Castallia/ Lucidus

The real time data shows current available trap coverage at Lucidus/ Castalia on 8 August 2019 is mostly reduced at lower altitudes and representing a threat to rock wren territory (southern scree area above Lake Lucidus). The red symbols display trap triggers and the green symbols identify the remaining trap coverage available to passing predators. The data illustrate that there is currently no imperative to replace bait (probably due to low temperatures in the alpine environment or lack of predator food source), and that servicing requirements are only determined by available un-sprung trap coverage at this stage (potentially effective rock wren protection).

Real time data provided by Celium remote monitoring technology.

The Celium remote technology provides additional information on alpine predators such as commuting activity and time of capture. Most trap triggers appear to occur at dawn between 06:00 – 08:00 h at 1000 to 1200 metres.

Time and altitude of invasive mammal trap triggers and previous trap servicing occasions

Climate conditions are recorded showing decreasing daily temperatures towards winter at all three Hub Stations. Overall winter conditions are cooler at Castallia/ Lucidus relative to the Crucible Basin.

Celium Hub Station daily temperatures at three alpine locations.

We look forward to servicing alpine traps and resuming rock wren monitoring this coming season, once baseline temperatures have warmed up and the rock wren are out of their winter torpor. Hope to see this juvenile from last year!

by Rachel Hufton — Last years (2018/2019) rock wren fledgling

Acknowledgements

With thanks to all our volunteers, partners and the following funders; WWF, the Tindall Foundation, Otago Regional Council, Oceana Gold and the Otago Community Trust.

References

O’Donnell, C F J, Weston K A, Monks J A. (2017). Impacts of introduced mammalian predators on New Zealand alpine fauna. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 41: 01-22.

Weston, K A, O’Donnell C F J, van Dam-Bates P, Monks J M (2018). Control of invasive predators improves breeding success of an endangered alpine passerine. International Journal of Avian Science. Vol 160, Issue 4.

March 12, 2018March 5, 2024

Endangered bird life of the Crucible Basin, Siberia Valley

ABT’s rock wren transect survey monitoring programme for the 2017/2018 survey season includes the Crucible Basin situated within the Siberia Valley. Monitoring surveys aim to provide an updated baseline on threatened species and allow repeatable monitoring for rock wren within the Makarora catchment to help guide appropriate future conservation management in relation to invasive mammalian predators.

Kea (juvenile male) at Lake Crucible looking towards the Gillespie Pass, Makarora

A number of rock wren pairs were recorded present within the bolder-field and moraine habitat and evidence of adults foraging invertebrates for nestlings was noted. During rock wren surveys the Crucible Basin was also noted as an important site for kea as well as rock wren. On both survey occasions seven kea were observed, mainly this years juveniles with their characteristic yellow ceres, eyelids and pale crowns. Kea parents were observed feeding young fledglings regurgitated food and a rock bivi frequented by kea was found close to Lake Crucible.

A pair of rock wren below photographed during their diagnostic bouncing display on their long legs with occasional emissions of characteristic sharp tweet calls http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/rock-wren#bird-sounds.

ABT are collaborating with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to develop mammalian trapping regimes for rock wren within the alpine environment of the Makarora catchment from ridge to river.

Kea fledgling (2017/ 2018) Lake Crucible

All kea records in relation to ABT’s survey and monitoring have been forwarded to the Kea Conservation Trust to help inform a national kea database.

Generally, our time at Crucible Basin was positive however, we did note an aerial drone trying to film kea and artificial feeding by visitors. These are two national issues where continued awareness raising is crucial for New Zealand’s threatened species. Image below shows a hunkered down kea looking up at the drone buzzing above whilst others disappeared beneath boulder habitat.