makarora catchment – Aspiring Biodiversity Trust

wrybillchickjpg — Wrybill chick Dec 2017

The implementation of ABT’s Makarora Braided River Bird Invasive Predator Control Strategy commenced this weekend (7-8 April). A team of amazing volunteers helped deploy a number of invasive mammal traps along 15 km of the Makarora River. Trap locations and deployment was informed by previous braided river bird monitoring undertaken during the 2017/2018 survey season and existing information on the movement of invasive mammalian predators (capable of decimating indigenous bird life) such as stoat, rat and hedgehog.

Makarora shallow river crossing – linking arm technique

Volunteers keen to help indigenous wildlife included local Makarora residents, members of Makarora School and nearby residents of Lake Hawea.

Makarora river ABT — The beginning of the weekend at Wharf Creek, Makarora River

The day began with loading up of traps on two boats, one a jet boat with an experienced captain Rod Elliott and partner Jos Mclean. Following a jet boat ride to the far side of the river, volunteers were loaded up with traps for particular designated areas and equipped with a GPS. Traps were then securely staked, marked with coloured triangles and numbered to aid future maintenance.

Makarora River — Makarora delta adjoining Lake Wanaka

Makarora School pupil marking invasive mammal trap numbers

Following a trap setting demonstration and health and safety talk, traps were baited and sett according to recognised best practice.

The installation and maintenance of the Makarora braided river trapping network aims to help control invasive mammalian predator numbers so that endangered braided river birds such as wrybill, black-fronted tern, banded dotterel and black-billed gull can nest and successfully raise their chicks without being predated. In the longer term a noticeable increase in braided river bird restoration is desired.

Further traps are to be deployed and monthly trap maintenance will be ongoing during the non-breeding season with more frequent checks during the bird nesting season (spring/summer). Volunteers welcome!

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to all our volunteers. ORC. Also, BRaid for DoC 200 trap supply and production, bait donations from Hawea Flat egg suppliers, discounted radios from Hunting and Fishing Central Otago, waratahs from DoC Wanaka and support from Wilkin River Jets and Mt Albert Station.

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.

Tag: makarora catchment

Makarora Braided River Bird Restoration

Endangered bird life of the Crucible Basin, Siberia Valley