IN THIS NEWSLETTER : September 2014FUNDING SUCCESS / PLANTING NEWS / SUN LOVING SKINK / THE PEST WAR
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Bring on The BirdsSuccess with DOC FundingThe first allocation from the new Department of Conservation Community Conservation Partnerships Fund (CCPF) was announced at the end of August, with Bream Head Conservation Trust receiving $163 972.00 funding (over 3 years) for the reintroduction of locally extinct birds. Greg Innes (BHCT Chair) says “This is really exciting. We’re working to the 5 year plan that the community created and this funding allows us to deliver on what the community said they wanted.” The money will be used to create a translocation plan, employ local people to prepare the area, with the idea of introducing two species, North Island Robin and Whitehead, over the next three years. “Birds don’t care about the boundaries we place on the land, they are just seeking safe habitat. So work carried out to support the success of the translocations will happen across the peninsular, not only on the Reserve. It is a fantastic opportunity for community groups across the area to work together toward a goal we will all enjoy achieving.” says Greg. The Trust will work to deliver this project by linking with other community groups to work toward the removal and monitoring of pests in order to meet the DOC requirements for translocation of bird species. This has been the largest funding round that DOC has experienced, receiving more than 280 applications for projects collectively seeking more than $50 million. We’re really excited that our application held up through this process and the work going on in our community is considered as important and the Trust is recognised as capable of delivering on our plans.
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In Brief100+Big thank you to the 100+ volunteers who showed up for this years planting! 2346PLANTS IN THE GROUND BiosecurityArgentine Ant population at Ocean Beach has been significantly reduced to one very small localised area. Ongoing monitoring and control of this site should hopefully see eradication at Ocean Beach. Weed controlA focus has been shifted to prioritise control of Moth Plant and Eleagnus as these two weeds are the worst offenders for rate of spread and canopy domination. |
PLANTING REPORT2346 plants this year planted by over 100 volunteersContributed by Wendy Holland |
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THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS The revegetation planting is a huge volunteer undertaking, from the seed collection, preparing the sites, getting the plants on site and then getting the plants in the ground. The Restoration Committee do an outstanding job of this every year, requiring huge volunteer hours and commitment. It is such an awesome thing to be able to look at the areas planted out in the early days of the Trust and see the maturing trees providing habitat for the abundant fauna. |
PLANTING AT HOME BAY This years planting happened at Home Bay amongst previous scattered plantings of flax and cabbage tree that happened about 15 years ago, and within the newly fenced off areas at the Urquharts Bay end of the Reserve. A total of 2346 plants went in the ground. Over half were manuka, roughly 500 kanuka, almost 200 flax and 30 pohutukawa. The seed was collected from the Reserve and grown at Kerikeri Shadehouse. |
Farewell and Thank youto Pete and Cathy MitchellOn the 19th of January, we held a lunch time BBQ on the beach at the Urquhart Bay, to recognise and celebrate the contribution that Pete and Cathy Mitchell had made to the ecological restoration at Bream Head and to the organisation of the Trust. Pete began as our first ranger at the beginning of 2010 fresh from a stint on Matakohe Limestone Island. Immediately he began applying the high standards of work and organisation that we have come to associate with him. During his almost four years with us, the five year restoration plan was adopted and the structural frame work to intensively manage Bream Head was put in place. Our second full time Ranger, Evan Davies was hired, and Bruce Cole- Baker on a part time basis. With their help almost two thirds of the reserve was tracking zero for rats by the time Pete left to take up a position as ranger on Hauturu (Little Barrier island). If anyone has walked over to Peach Cove and back, they will have some appreciation of the shear physical effort involved. Our great appreciation goes out to Pete for his professionalism and to Cathy for volunteering her time and vetinary knowledge in support of the ecology. Welcome Adam WilletsIn March 2014 we welcomed Adam Willets, a young and very enthusiastic ranger coming from DoC on Great Barrier Island, as the new Ranger/Project Manager. Adam has been with us for six months and the team now has four fifths of the reserve under intensive management with only the area from Ocean Beach to the Old Woman to go. They saved the toughest bit to last! We are very happy to have Adam on the team and look forward to all the innovations he will bring. Contributed by Geoff Pike |
Our Sun Loving SkinkResearch on the New Skink Species found in the ReserveContributed by Ben Barr Ayla Wiles (NorthTec third year research student) and I (Ben) undertook research last summer in Bream Head looking at the distribution and the habitat preferences of the species discovered in the Reserve last year. The research revealed they are first and foremost sun-lovers. This means they prefer shorter (but pristine) forest, which is most often found near the ridges. They were also observed climbing trees, which makes them one of only three species known to do this regularly in New Zealand. Anecdotally, the species seems to be increasing in abundance and they are in fact quite conspicuous in certain areas. The bad news is that they appear to have an incredibly restricted range, perhaps not more than 1.6 ha. So we have all our eggs in an incredibly small basket. We cannot drop the ball. We are still working on describing the species, which will involve giving it a name. Watch this space. |
The Pest WarIntensive management is a winnerWE HAVE REACHED THE LAST PHASE IN TRAPPING LINES Areas 1-3 and Busby Head are continuing to be intensively managed despite high storm damage, with very low trap and bait take numbers observed now. Latest trap catch data shows we are recording exceptionally low numbers of pests, all thanks to the intensive pest management operation run by the Trust. For the months June through August trap catches were: Mouse 0.12%, Mustelid 0.19%, Possum 0.05%, Hedgehog, 0.04%. We have reached the last phase in laying trapping lines - the area between The Old Woman and Ocean Beach. When this is complete we will have the entire Reserve under intensive management. This will be something to celebrate! |
Bream Head Conservation Trust Audit 2014 |
HELP US KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKThe Trust is working to restore Bream Head to a place in which natural ecology has been returned to healthy forest and abundant bird song, and where visitors can experience nature at its best. The Trust relies on the time and contributions of supporters to run the restoration operations. You can help by making a donation. Payment to Bream Head Conservation Trust What can your money buy?1 rat trap maintained for a year $25 |
Your support makes a real difference |
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