We're excited to welcome Tilde Sorensen and Harri Raby to the stoat team - both joining as field technicians to help in the efforts to catch the remaining stoats on the motu.
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Kākā are a key indicator species for stoat abundance, given stoats predate on kākā chicks and eggs, so as stoat numbers continue to drop on the motu, kākā numbers are soaring. You are invited to participate in a citizen science initiative to help understand the abundance of these magnificent bush parrots on our island. Whenever you see or hear kākā this November, record your sightings!
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Get to know what a day in the life of a Field Technician looks like, working towards a predator-free Waiheke. Chris Anderson shares what his day-to-day looks like, how he got into conservation, and his best work story.
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We're pleased to welcome Steve Cook as the Te Korowai o Waiheke Communications Manager, replacing Jessie who is finishing up this week.
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As technology gets more and more advanced in the eradication arena, one of the key challenges for projects is how to process the large amounts of data collected. A crucial part of rat eradication programmes is the monitoring and detecting of rats. Trail cameras are a very sensitive detection tool and are able to detect rats in low density such as survivors and invaders after an eradication attempt.
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While Waiheke is home to a number of well known and visible taonga species, there are a few that fly under the radar and prefer to ‘blend in’. Geckos and skinks, or mokomoko in te reo Māori, can be found all over Waiheke. It is important to note that our mokomoko are protected, this means that you cannot touch, collect or disturb any of our native lizards.
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A big thank you to everyone who came last Thursday evening to celebrate the journey towards a predator free Waiheke. It was stoat-ally great to see so many people attend and bring their excellent questions with them. A big thank you to Dr Andrew Veale for his insight into stoat genetics and for the in-depth analysis of Waiheke stoats.
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The island-wide stoat eradication team enjoyed learning about how to sex and age stoats based on the dimensions of their skulls from Dr Elaine Murphy when she was on Waiheke Island. This knowledge came in handy recently when a stoat was caught by farm staff at Rarowhara!
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After over three months of servicing lines in the rat pilot operational trial, the field team have got to know the locals quite well. Always up for a yarn, team member Dylan Hinchey has got to know not just the residents in his area, but their pets too, getting the scoop on the ratters of the island.
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The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey is the longest-running annual survey of biodiversity in the country. Not only does it encourage an appreciation of the diversity of beautiful birdlife on our doorstep, but it allows for members of the community, from tots to tīpuna, to actively contribute to vital conservation research. The data collected from Waiheke over the last 10 years tells a very interesting story.
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We are shrouded by the night sky, a blanket of stars and satellites. The air is crisp and thick with salt, loose pebbles crunching underfoot as we make our way around the coastline. Over the sound of our slipping feet, I hear a rustle from the bushes beside me, the pampas grass seems alive and wiggling.
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A huff of olive green streaks past me, bouncing back and forth between the mahoe. He is electric with energy as his plumage stands on end, the males surrounding all decorated with the same round and ruffled shape.
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