In late August the Ruahine Whio Collective held their annual hui at Camp Wakarawa in Central Hawkes Bay. There was a great turnout with representatives from all groups making up the Collective.
As well as the annual review of the Ruahine Whio Management Plan and hearing from all trapping groups on their years' work , we covered a wide range of topics including updates from Andy Glaser and Darren Peters. The highlight for many would have to be the Saturday evening showing of great videos produced and shown by Anthony Behrens. You can see these by going to our Ruahine Whio Protectors facebook page .
The Department of Conservation supported this meeting - those present were Whio Recovery Group leader Andy Glaser, Technical Advisor Jess Scrimgeour, trapping expert Darren Peters and from the Manawatu team Operations Manager Allanah Irvine, Senior Ranger Biodiversity Sue Moore, Nobby Robson and Morgan Marshall.
Jess reminded us about this year's Forest and Bird led "Bird of the Year" campaign (voting is going on as I write this) .
WHIO FOLK SPREAD THE WORD - www.birdoftheyear.org.nz
- VOTE WHIO FOR BIRD OF THE YEAR 2018
DO IT NOW - VOTING CLOSES 14 OCTOBER
The Department of Conservation supported this meeting - those present were Whio Recovery Group leader Andy Glaser, Technical Advisor Jess Scrimgeour, trapping expert Darren Peters and from the Manawatu team Operations Manager Allanah Irvine, Senior Ranger Biodiversity Sue Moore, Nobby Robson and Morgan Marshall.
Jess reminded us about this year's Forest and Bird led "Bird of the Year" campaign (voting is going on as I write this) .
WHIO FOLK SPREAD THE WORD - www.birdoftheyear.org.nz
- VOTE WHIO FOR BIRD OF THE YEAR 2018
DO IT NOW - VOTING CLOSES 14 OCTOBER
Around the Traps
Now it's spring and most of the snow has melted, trap rebaiting is once again getting in to full swing....................
North Western Ruahines - great news that Manawatu DOC have returned to supporting the trapping effort. Staff time is once again given to organising the volunteers that check the traps in the Ruahine Corner/Lake Colenso/Ikawatea areas. Morgan Marshall is the ranger to talk to if you have suitable trapping and back country skills and would like to volunteer for this project .
Flights to support this work are funded by the Ruahine Whio Protection Trust from grants and donations.
Morgan reports that the first rebait of the season took place in late September. A number of the aging DOC 200 trap mechanisms were replaced with new stainless steel traps (thanks DOC). A total of 65 rats and 33 stoats were cleared from the traps.
Aorangi O Awarua Trust - when I last heard they were waiting for lambing to be over to gain access to the new traps at "The Narrows"
North Eastern Ruahines Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering clubs have been keeping up the regular maintainance of the Makororo lines. Over winter they were concerned about an increase in stoat kills. Lisa and Geoff pplan a trip to the Apias at Labour Weekend.
Now it's spring and most of the snow has melted, trap rebaiting is once again getting in to full swing....................
North Western Ruahines - great news that Manawatu DOC have returned to supporting the trapping effort. Staff time is once again given to organising the volunteers that check the traps in the Ruahine Corner/Lake Colenso/Ikawatea areas. Morgan Marshall is the ranger to talk to if you have suitable trapping and back country skills and would like to volunteer for this project .
Flights to support this work are funded by the Ruahine Whio Protection Trust from grants and donations.
Morgan reports that the first rebait of the season took place in late September. A number of the aging DOC 200 trap mechanisms were replaced with new stainless steel traps (thanks DOC). A total of 65 rats and 33 stoats were cleared from the traps.
Aorangi O Awarua Trust - when I last heard they were waiting for lambing to be over to gain access to the new traps at "The Narrows"
North Eastern Ruahines Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering clubs have been keeping up the regular maintainance of the Makororo lines. Over winter they were concerned about an increase in stoat kills. Lisa and Geoff pplan a trip to the Apias at Labour Weekend.
River Valley - Brian Megaw reports
"We consistently saw up to 6 birds - 2 x pair and 2 singles over the winter. These were all on the Rangitikei River upstream of River Valley Lodge. The birds make off for ports unknown from now on, no doubt to nest in side streams, though there is a chance they are still on the main river but only coming out at dawn or dusk. This was the most ducks ever seen over a winter.
We had an exceptional weather event here in the first week of September. 172mm of rain in 36 hours. Literally hundreds of slips. I don't know what effect this, along with the flooding in June, may have on breeding this season.
We have done our first check on the main line downstream of the Lodge. Has not been done since before the winter. 4 stoats and 17 rats. We lost 4 traps either washed away or buried under slips. The other lines, mostly on farmland have only had a handful of rats and a few hedgehogs. Because of lambing we will not be able to check all the lines for another couple of weeks.
"We consistently saw up to 6 birds - 2 x pair and 2 singles over the winter. These were all on the Rangitikei River upstream of River Valley Lodge. The birds make off for ports unknown from now on, no doubt to nest in side streams, though there is a chance they are still on the main river but only coming out at dawn or dusk. This was the most ducks ever seen over a winter.
We had an exceptional weather event here in the first week of September. 172mm of rain in 36 hours. Literally hundreds of slips. I don't know what effect this, along with the flooding in June, may have on breeding this season.
We have done our first check on the main line downstream of the Lodge. Has not been done since before the winter. 4 stoats and 17 rats. We lost 4 traps either washed away or buried under slips. The other lines, mostly on farmland have only had a handful of rats and a few hedgehogs. Because of lambing we will not be able to check all the lines for another couple of weeks.
Makororo River - Central Hawkes Bay Forest and Bird have been having regular trips up the river as conditions allow. Pete Meridith reports "Did checks in August and September and recorded a drop from 18 rats(plus 1 Stoat) to only 8 rats in September.all traps have been reloaded with a dried fish based lure and organic free range eggs, nothing but best"
Oroua and Pohangina -
A well supported public walk was held in late September. Several RWP Trust members and DOC staff went along on a most perfect weather day. Although no ducks were seen a highlight for some would have been finding a nice freshly dead stoat.
A well supported public walk was held in late September. Several RWP Trust members and DOC staff went along on a most perfect weather day. Although no ducks were seen a highlight for some would have been finding a nice freshly dead stoat.
The 180 easier traps have been rebaited regularly over the winter and recently some of the river traps have been done. The snow is mostly melted and we are looking forward to some big trips if this good weather holds on. A couple of whio have appeared low down in Tunupo Stream, close to where the track to Iron Gate Hut crosses. I think they are a couple of boys but it's great that people have a reasonable chance of seeing or atleast hearing them as they tramp by.
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