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Behind the Scenes: Conservation in Fiordland | Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai
 
Buller Albatross - photo credit Barry Harcourt

Welcome to Behind the Scenes - DOC Fiordland's conservation newsletter

In this issue:

  • What's on? Fiordland events happening soon
  • Results of the Borland-Grebe Valley species survey
  • Kākāpō breeding update: Last chick hatched
  • Real Journeys Dusky Sound conservation expedition 
  • Marine Ecological Survey
  • Didymo scare in the Clinton River
  • New bottlenose dolphin calves
  • Get involved with conservation
 

What's on? Fiordland events

 
 
Daryn Eason with chick - credit Sharon Trainor

Kākāpō viewing opportunity

After a record breaking season the Kākāpō Recovery team are hand rearing some of this years most vulnerable kākāpō chicks - and here is your opportunity to see a kākāpō up close before the chicks are returned to their predator free sanctuaries.

When: All weekends in May, 10am-2pm (limited spaces available - make your booking at the Invercargill i-SITE)

Where: Temporary chick rearing facility, Invercargill CBD

Cost: $2 per person, under 5 free.

 
 
Breakfast with the birds - credit DOC

Breakfast with the birds

Meet some of New Zealand's rarest birds and help feed them breakfast.

When: Everyday (including weekends) 10:30am - 11:30am

Where: Meet by the takahē enclosure at Punanga Manu o Te Anau (Te Anau Bird Sanctuary)

 
 

The latest in Fiordland conservation

 

Results of the Borland-Grebe Valley species survey

Kaka - credit Eamonn Ganley
Borland-Greebe valley photo - photo credit Toby Jones
Mohua image - photo credit - James Reardon

A partnership between DOC and Transpower, established in 2015, is enabling conservation work in the Borland-Grebe Valley - an area traversed by the national grid operator’s transmission lines, and known for its exceptional wetlands. The first project of the partnership, a biodiversity survey of the area, was undertaken over summer and will form the basis of a conservation management plan for the Borland Grebe area.

The survey found the Grebe Valley and its western catchments to have significant numbers of mohua – potentially placing the area into the top five monitored sites for mohua in New Zealand. This mohua population in the Grebe Valley could be the most significant remaining mainland population here in Fiordland. Long-tailed bats, kiwi and kākā were also detected in the area. Kea were recorded frequently, but as a wide-ranging species this does not necessarily indicate there are lots of individuals in the area. 

Transpower and DOC are currently working together to develop the next phase of the project.

 

Kākāpō breeding update: Last chick hatched

With 46 chicks hatched, this breeding season has been the most successful in the 25-year history of DOC's Kākāpō Recovery Programme.

It has been a busy and exciting season.  You can read up on the highs and lows of the past few months on their website - learn about successful taping together of cracked eggs, to precious chicks drowning in flash floods.  You can also follow chick development and survival over the next few months. This is a crucial period as young kākāpō are extremely vulnerable and some may not survive to adulthood (currently 37 of the 46 chicks hatched are still alive and well).

kakapo chick - photo credit Liam Bolitho

Dusky, a male kākāpō chick,  hatched this season. 

 

Real Journeys Dusky Sound conservation expedition 

Real Journeys and DOC are offering a unique Discovery Expedition this July and September. The five day boat cruise (including a helicopter flight), will offer participants all the luxury of a Real Journeys Discovery Cruise combined with the opportunity to meet DOC staff and learn about conservation efforts in Dusky Sound.

The cruise will include some time getting hands on with conservation work around Dusky Sound. A percentage of your ticket price also goes towards DOC's Restoration Programme in Dusky Sound. Contact Real Journeys for more information or to book your place.

Dusky sound conservation expedition
real journeys logo
 
 
Dusky Sound - credit J. Leithwick

BBC Coast New Zealand now showing on TVOne

When: Tuesdays 8.30pm                  Where: TVOne

Check out the new series of BBC Coast featuring New Zealand. The series focuses on coastal stories from several unique areas of our coastline – and the first episode was based right here in Fiordland.

 

Marine ecological survey

In February DOC and NIWA undertook a repeat of some of the long term marine survey sites in Fiordland. The dive team conducted surveys for fish, invertebrates and algae whilst classifying the habitat of each site. 

Diving took place from Preservation Inlet in the south, to Bligh Sound in the north.  The sites included locations inside and outside marine reserves, open coast sites and areas where no commercial fishing takes place.  

The data collected goes towards a long term data set, which is used to assess how the composition of the fiords changes over time. NIWA is currently crunching the numbers and will have a final report later in the year.  In addition to the NIWA dive team, two experts from NIWA, emeritus professor Dr Dennis Gordon and Dr Malcolm Francis came along to help identify potentially new species.

During surface breaks from diving the team used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to explore the deeper parts of the fiords.  The ROV turned up some amazing images of sea pen gardens and beautiful coral trees.  

For more information, see the Fiordland Marine Guardians website.

sea pen in Fiordland

This is a sea pen - would you guess it's related to coral, anemones, and jellyfish? Its base is buried in the sand so that it can swivel with changing tides, allowing it to capture passing plankton.

 
 
didymo image - credit Fish and Game

Didymo scare in the Clinton River

Clinton River users need to remember to clean, check & dry, after a recent scare where Didymo may have been introduced into the Neale Burn (a tributary of the Clinton River) by a group of unaware packrafters.

Trampers and river users should clean their gear before and after entering the area and in between each waterway they visit. 

Those who have been near the river are asked to use the cleaning station installed on the track past Clinton Hut. This will avoid the risk of transferring Didymo further up the river. It will be at least a year before we know whether Didymo has established there or not – it will take some time to reach detectable levels.

The Clinton and Arthur Rivers are important pristine habitat for whio in Fiordland. Let’s protect it!

 
Bottlenose dolphin calve - credit Chloe Corne

Six new bottlenose dolphin calves in Doubtful Sound

The DOC and Otago University dolphin monitoring team have discovered six calves were recently born to the Doubtful Sound population of bottlenose dolphins. With no new calves last season, this is great news and brings the population back up to 68 individuals. The Fiordland population of dolphins (the southernmost population of this species in the world) is small, and therefore vulnerable to disturbance and changes in the environment.

 

Get involved

 
Mohua release photo - credit G. Dainty

PARTNERS in conservation

Many conservation projects in Fiordland receive support from community groups, businesses and individuals through partnerships with DOC. 

Partners are involved in a wide range of projects, from species translocations to bird monitoring and pest control.  All projects have considerable potential for media and public attention, and partners are encouraged to take an active 'hands on' role in the work. 

To talk about opportunities available, contact Kate Hebblethwaite, Senior Ranger, Fiordland District Office, Phone 03 249 0200, khebblethwaite@doc.govt.nz

 
 
Volunteering at Burwood - credit DOC

Become a VOLUNTEER

Make a big contribution to conservation and have fun along the way! Opportunities in Fiordland include helping at Burwood Takahe Centre or Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, being a volunteer camp ranger or hut ranger, or checking local stoat trap lines.

The best place to start is the DOC website volunteer page.

The annual Southland/Otago Conservation Volunteers booklet is released each winter (coming soon), and can be collected from the Fiordland National Park and Murihiku / Invercargill Visitor Centres.

 
 
Lucy Bellerby checking stoat trap - credit: B Harcourt

Get involved in COMMUNITY CONSERVATION

Getting involved with a local conservation group is an excellent way to contribute towards conservation, while learning new skills, meet like-minded people, and really getting to know your local patch.

Local Fiordland conservation groups and their contacts are listed on the DOC website. We will be profiling them and their achievements in this newsletter throughout the year.

 

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