We’d like to update everyone on yet another very successful Project Island Song native bird reintroduction. 40 kākāriki, the native red crowned parakeet, were the latest addition to take wing on Moturua Island in the Bay Of Islands, on June 13th in near perfect conditions. The event was pulled forward 24 hours because of the gale force winds predicted to be on their way, but it went off well with only a slight delay because of fog at the Auckland Heliport postponing the helicopters' take-off. It took a year’s planning to get permits and processes in place and so make it the very smooth operation it was, says project manager Richard Robbins.
When: Sunday 28th May 2017 Where: Urupukapuka Island
Guardians of the Bay of Islands needs help to plant 1500 native plants at a new site at Urupukapuka Bay and, for the third year, and 250 at Squid Bay, which will finish planting on that site. Fullers GreatSights has once again very generously offered free transport to Otehei Bay for 86 volunteers planters in its vessel Te Papahu.
A big welcome to Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands who have become a Project Island Song supporter and have joined our Corporate Membership group.
Unwanted invasive lizard species in the Bay of Islands
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The plague skink (Lampropholis delicata), sometimes known as rainbow skink, is a small lizard introduced to New Zealand from Australia. Although smaller than native skinks, they do look very similar.
Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work! Thanks to Rana, Viki and the REP team who have worked tirelessly over Christmas/New Year as camp hosts, as well as maintaining tracks, biosecurity monitoring, pest incursions - and that's when they're not responding to all sorts of call outs on the mainland as part of the Rawhiti Rural Fire/First Response Unit. Viki organised a mannequin challenge at all the Urupukapuka campgrounds on New Year's Eve. Check it out here!
It has been a very busy season with pest incursions and unwanted pet visitors on the island wildlife sanctuaries. Since Christmas, the fortnightly island checks have detected pest-mammal foot prints and dead rats in traps which triggered our pest incursion response operations. To maintain the islands’ pest-free status this response included the setting up of extra tracking tunnels, rat traps on Poroporo, Urupukapuka and Okahu, and rodent dog surveillance work.
The cooler months herald the planting season for Project Island Song. So if you've always wanted to get your hands dirty with a spot of native tree planting, or you've enjoyed volunteering with us before, come join us!
Good news - reintroduced bird species are doing well
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Early indications from recent monitoring tell us that all the reintroduced bird species are doing well. We're seeing fledglings being fed by parents and unbanded pateke, toutouwai, tieke and popokotea are being recorded on Motuarohia, Moturua and Urupukapuka.
Another year has flown by for Project Island Song - and its been a productive and enjoyable one, tinged with sadness with the tragic loss of one of our kaimahi in January. We've planted a further 4000 trees and reintroduced more toutouwai and popokotea to Urupukapuka and Moturua. Our volunteers have made weekly trips to bust weeds and monitor birds - with promising results. We're into our third year of Floating Classrooms, providing hands on environmental education for local schools. And you may have seen us at community events including the Waimate Show and Christmas parades.If you'd like to visit the islands with family and friends, the Explore ferry and Fullers GreatSights Island Adventurer run regular trips over summer. But please remember to check all your gear before you leave home for any pests - rats, mice, plague skinks or Argentine ants.
