Welcome to Behind the Scenes - DOC Fiordland's conservation newsletter No Images? Click here Welcome to Behind the Scenes - DOC Fiordland's conservation newsletterIn this issue: March 2018
What's on? Fiordland events Takahē chick picnic Celebrate the naming of the takahē chick and listen to the Takahē team tell you about the incredible Takahē Recovery Programme as they give the chick its health check. Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic in the sanctuary grounds while the kids make takahē masks and decorate wooden takahē. When: Saturday 07 April, 10:30am Where: Punanga Manu o Te Anau /Te Anau Bird Sanctuary Cost: Gold coin donation Breakfast with the Birds A unique opportunity to meet some of New Zealand's rarest birds. When: Everyday (including weekends)
9:30am - 10:30am Where: Meet by the takahē enclosure at Punanga Manu o Te Anau /Te Anau Bird Sanctuary Cost: Gold coin donation appreciated The latest in Fiordland conservation Bats on the increase Great news! Our two bat/pekapeka species are thriving in Fiordland National Park due to large-scale predator control. Rare southern short-tailed bat numbers in the Eglinton valley have risen, with researchers counting a record 2947 bats flying from just one roost tree. Long-tailed bats are showing the same upward trend in this beech-clad valley: Fiordland bats and birds on the increase. Kākā chicks at the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary Te Anau welcomed some new feathered faces in December last year with the arrival of two kākā chicks. Their parents are sanctuary favourites Charlie and Bling who have successfully raised several clutches in the past. Their fledgling life wasn't all smooth sailing and you can read more in the conservation blog - New feathered faces in Te Anau. The chicks are now thriving and it's hoped they will follow their siblings into the wild to further boost kākā populations. But until then they remain a draw card, enthralling visitors to the Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary with their cheeky antics. The Murchison Mountains takahē survey Follow the Te Anau Takahē Recovery Rangers as they walk the alpine tussock areas of the Murchison Mountains and survey the world's only wild population of takahē. Read this three-part blog series to show the work and results behind the survey. Fiordland kiwi diaries We have an exciting new project monitoring southern Fiordland tokoeka/kiwi in remote Shy Lake, Fiordland to find out how best to protect them from predators like stoats. Read the eighth, ninth and tenth in a series of conservation blogs and follow the trials and tribulations of our kiwi ranger (Tim) while he monitors the nests during the projects first breeding season.
You can find the first post here, and the entire series here. Monitoring Rock wren/tuke Crystal Brindle, a research assistant, shares a vivid insight into a special trip to Fiordland's Lake Roe, monitoring rock wren in an alpine world. New home for Chalky Island skink Te Kakahu/Chalky Island skink have been introduced to a new island home in Dusky Sound, to improve the species’ security: Big horizons for little skink A fresh look at Bowen Falls Milford Sound/Piopiotahi’s popular Lady Bowen Falls walk has reopened for the first time in more than 15 years! Before the walk closed, it was one of the most popular short activities in Milford Sound/Piopiotahi: Bowen Falls Track reopens Get involved Takahē naming competition - Closing Monday 19th March This year, takahē couple Tumbles and Kawa laid infertile eggs, so the Takahē Rangers gave them the opportunity to foster an egg from Orehou and Oraka – a pair at the Burwood Takahē Centre. The chick is growing up fast and it’s time he or she has a name! Enter a name in the Name the takahē competition. Entries close 5pm Monday 19th March. Winning name announced at the Takahe Chick Picnic (7th April). Need some inspiration? Go to www.takaherecovery.co.nz Newsletter feedback We'd like to know what you think of the Behind the Scenes newsletter and how we can make it even better. |