Saddleback transfer - Bushy Park to Rotokare Scenic Reserve

Annette, a long time and very active member of our group helped with a recent transfer of 40 Saddleback (Tieke) from Bushy Park Sanctuary to Rotokare Scenic Reserve.

 

Annette has filed this report.

Bushy Park Sanctuary is 100 hectares of fenced, predator free, original lowland rainforest about 25km west of Whanganui.

Complementing the magnificent rainforest (which contains Ratanui, known as the largest living N I rata) are healthy populations of a variety of native birds. Saddlebacks and robins are particularly conspicuous, which is exciting since both populations have grown from relatively recent translocations.

The first day of catching started with a heavy frost and was very cold. Saddleback are usually caught in mist nets and attracted using playback of recorded calls.

Saddleback in mist net, photo taken on Kapiti Is during a previous transfer

That morning most of them were more interested in feeding than in responding to unusual disturbances, so we caught just 15 between 9am and 2pm. However after that things livened up and 20 more were caught in about half an hour.

Kevin P processing a bird while others wait in line on a line.

5 more were easily caught the next morning, and we had our quota in record time, with a few juveniles and an even mix of sexes.

A juvenile bird complete with bling.

The birds were kept in an aviary where they soon keyed into their new diet and feasted on thousands of mealworms and pecked at juicy oranges. Many other fruits and food were available but these were their favourites. Four days later most of them had gained weight and they were caught and put in transfer boxes and driven to Rotokare.

Rotokare Scenic Reserve is a 230 hectare forested hill-country catchment with extensive wetlands and a 17.8 hectare natural lake.A Trust was formed in 2004 and in an ambitious community-owned and community-driven project the reserve was surrounded by a pest proof fence and the pests within eradicated. Now they are starting to reintroduce missing species. Both Whitehead and Saddleback have now been introduced this year.

It is a free access, open Sanctuary and boating is allowed.

www.rotokare.org.nz

N I Saddleback Transfer

Three of our group (Nikki, Sussie and Annette) have just returned from a week on Cuvier Island, helping mistnet Saddleback (tieke) for a transfer to Cape Sanctuary near Napier.

The bird's journey, from Cuvier Is to Cape Kidnappers

N I Saddleback in mistnet waiting processing

 At the start of 20th century N I Saddleback were extinct on the mainland and found on only one island - Hen Island. Cuvier Is was one of the first islands they were translocated to, in the 1960's and now has a very healthy population.

The plan was to transfer up to 120 birds over 2 weeks, but the Saddlebacks were so numerous and the weather so good that 120 birds were caught in three and a half catching days, and the whole operation was over in a week. They had great weather but it wouldn't have been so good the following week when there were gales and torrential rain.

A bird receiving its bling

After banding a sweet drink was welcome (sorry the image is on  its side, can't seem to correct it)

The birds were transferred by helicopter in 2 trips, but Annette and the others had to travel by boat. There is a steep track between the sea and the house where the lighthouse keeper used to live (which is now used for accommodation) and so the down side to this speedy conclusion was that after carrying gear and food up for 2 weeks, they then had to carry much of it down again although there was only half as much and the going was down hill.

The birds being loaded ready for the longest journey of their life

Surprisingly, although Saddlebacks are plentiful, there appeared to be quite low numbers of the other native species. Birds that are present such as Bellbird, Red Crowned Parakeet, Grey Warbler, Fantail and Morepork were few in number and there were only about a dozen birds caught as bycatch. There were some large flocks of Silvereyes, but even Blackbirds and Finches were comparatively scarce.

The link below shows a video of the birds being released, great to see so many young folk involved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kXKa8Ry7w8&feature=em-share_video_user