Setting of Annual Subscription for 2021/2022

OFF TO SEE THE WORLD: (at left) Te Marino gets a last look at Tiritiri before ranger Emma Dunning packs her in her travelling container; (at right) Te Marino enjoys a trip down the Wharf Rd with ranger Hedley Timbs; (opposite page) Hedley carries her on board for the sea trip to Auckland, and the exciting journey to Cape Sanctuary. Photos / Emma Dunning Fauna Notes Te Marino gets permission to move home

Covid-19 restrictions have played havoc with our routine during late winter and early spring. No volunteers have been able to get to the Island since mid-August. This means that all the bird monitoring is having to start late, and for most species we don’t yet know how late.

As of mid-October, the kōkako team has not been able to start searching for nests. Nor has the tīeke team been able to check nest boxes, or even do any pre-season maintenance. The pre-season titipounamu/rifleman survey didn’t take place, so we don’t know how many pairs we have or which boxes are occupied. The kākāriki boxes have not been cleaned out in preparation for reuse.

John Stewart had started monitoring seabirds before the lockdown (see below) but has been unable to update his information. There is still time to catch up with much of this work if we are able to get out there within the next few weeks, but we’ll have to hit the ground running when we do.

Fortunately the rangers, Emma and Hedley, have been on the Island throughout the lockdown, and Deb Smith has been allowed to return to look after the hihi.

Takahē

Like us, the takahē have had their winter plans disrupted by Covid. Te Marino, Pukunati and Kanorau Tīrama (Anatori and Tussie’s three daughters) were all set to be transferred on the 24 August, but Auckland’s level-4 lockdown called an abrupt halt to that plan.

Te Marino was the priority, as she is coming up to two years old so would soon be kicked out of the family group to look for a mate of her own. Fortunately, we got permission to move her once Auckland went to level 3. In fact, she had crossed the border and was testing out her new digs less than 24 hours into level 3.

She winged her way to Cape Sanctuary, in the Hawke's Bay, where she has joined Isra, a single male. By all accounts she is living up to her name (‘Te Marino’ means ‘peace’), has settled in well and is getting along with her new mate. Fingers crossed they may even attempt nesting this season.

Her young sisters Pukunati and Kanorau Tīrama have missed their intake at Burwood, the takahē facility near Te Anau where they carry out tussock survival training. They will now be staying on the Island until autumn and so will be there to help raise any chicks this year and to show off to the visitors. The other takahē are doing well and have again adapted to lockdown life. They are regularly checking up on the rangers to make sure we are looking after their wellbeing, and hoping that we will have forgotten they have already received their ration of pellets.

Edge has continued to heal and put on condition after her visit to Auckland Zoo for the grass seed incident reported in the last issue of Fauna Notes. Her son Moke will remain with his family to help raise any new siblings this season. Finally, we are pleased to report that both pairs have started nesting in early October, Anatori and Tussie on the 1st and Edge and Turutu on the 5th, so with luck we shall have chicks on the Island in early November.

Hihi

Care of the hihi nest boxes is regarded as a matter of animal welfare, so special permission was granted for Deb Smith to return to Tiritiri in September to carry out the necessary preparations for the season.

To mitigate against avian mites, all the 200-plus boxes were cleaned and, where needed, sprayed with an avian-mite spray, in preparation for the hihi to start nestmaking and laying eggs.

So far (mid-October) only four lined nests are waiting for eggs. However, laying is late this year, probably due to the gusty, wet weather.

The pre-breeding survey couldn’t be carried out in early September so this was