Moments That Mattered: Visitors Share Their Tiritiri Experience - Mark, Iowa, USA.
Moments That Mattered: Visitors Share Their Tiritiri Experience - Mark, Iowa, USA.Questions answered by Mark Hubing. Iowa City, Iowa. USA.Header image: Derek Tearne What made you decide to visit Tiritiri Matangi? Research on TripAdvisor. Reasonable cost. And for as a first timer, using the services of a guide. The island itself was wonderful, but you also get a great water tour, during the back and forth ferry journey. And I liked the idea of a smaller group tour. And away from the city center. Peace and quiet. 2. What did you enjoy or find most memorable about the guided walk? Our guide was well informed, and a joy to visit with. Along with bird knowledge, she was quite familiar with the trees and plants. She took her time with taking us around. Not rushed at all. 3. Was there a particular bird, plant, or moment that stood out to you? Sadly I can not recall a specific bird or plant. However the approach to the island on the ferry, and some of the hike near the water, really stood out. 4. How did the visit make you feel or change your perspective? The visit made me feel we were experiencing something special. So special that you hope the island continues to thrive. That special plants and birds and plants are here, makes you really think. And the constant challenge to keep invasive plants and animals off the island. 5. Would you…
The Life and Time of Mr Blue the Takahē
The Life and Time of Mr Blue the TakahēFrom the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Archives. Bulletin 28, Summer 1996/97. Editor Peter LeeFor many visitors, Mr Blue was Tiritiri. No visit seemed complete without a sight of the ‘old man’ mischievously investigating visitors around the nursery. Somehow, he always seemed almost human in his fearlessness, his curiosity and his desire to have his chin scratched. It was difficult at times to remember that he in fact was a representative of one of the world’s rarest species. Yet he was… Mr Blue’s story started as an egg collected from the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland and hatched at Te Anna on 12 December 1984. From there, he was transferred to Maud Island – where his inquisitive nature soon showed up, as the photos show. His fame, though, truly arrived when he was chosen in 1991 as one of the two takahēs to initiate DoC’s policy of enhancing the species’ survival by building a population of takahē on Tiritiri. The release would herald a number of firsts – the first onto an ‘open’ island, and the first outside its hitherto-accepted ancestral range. Would it work? And who would pay the cost? Fortunately for Tiritiri, funding was made available through the generous sponsorship of Du Pong New Zealand. This, and subsequent donations by Du Post, made it possible to implement the programme. Many of us…
Remembering Cloudsley Shovell and Te Koha Waiata, Tiritiri Matangi’s Founding Kōkako Pair
Remembering Cloudsley Shovell and Te Koha Waiata, Tiritiri Matangi’s Founding Kōkako PairThe following content is the work of Morag Fordham and drawn from previous editions of Dawn Chorus collated by Janet Petricevich.Heading photo credit: Cloudsley Shovell, Geoff BealsThe North Island kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most hauntingly beautiful and unique forest birds. A member of the ancient wattlebird family, kōkako are related to tīeke/saddlebacks and the now-extinct huia. Easily recognised by their steel-blue-grey plumage, black mask, and vivid fleshy blue wattles at the base of their beak, kōkako are often heard before they are seen. Their rich, organ-like duet song carries through the forest canopy, creating an unforgettable soundscape.
Unlike most birds, kōkako prefer to glide and hop through the treetops rather than fly in long stretches. They are curious, gentle birds that live in monogamous pairs and maintain strong territories, often working together to defend their patch and raise chicks. Their diet consists of leaves, fruit, flowers and invertebrates, making them vital seed dispersers in healthy forest ecosystems.
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Nature’s Carbon Catchers: How Pōhutukawa Trees Help Our Planet
Nature’s Carbon Catchers: How Pōhutukawa Trees Help Our PlanetAuthor: Stacey Balich, volunteer guidePhoto credit: Pōhutukawa photos, Jonathan MowerDid you know that big old trees like the pōhutukawa are working quietly every day to keep our planet healthy? These trees are more than just beautiful, they’re nature’s carbon catchers.
When trees grow, they absorb a gas from the air called carbon dioxide (CO₂). This gas is made up of carbon, a natural building block found in all living things, people, animals, and plants included. When trees grow, they soak up carbon from the air and use it to build their trunk, branches, and leaves. This is called being a carbon sink, it’s like the tree is a sponge, soaking up extra carbon! This helps keep the Earth cooler, because too much carbon in the air can make the planet warmer than it should be. So, trees aren’t just growing, they’re helping cool the planet.
And there’s more! As trees take in carbon dioxide, they also release oxygen, which we all need to breathe. That means every tree is helping us in two big ways: by cleaning the air and by giving us the oxygen we need to live.
Argentine Ants on Tiritiri Matangi
Argentine AntAuthor: Chris Green, Department of ConservationDate: From the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Archives, Dawn ChorusHeader photo: Chris GreenSupporters of Tiritiri Matangi Archives, Dawn Chorus, Autumn 2000 Ten years ago a new immigrant species slipped quietly into New Zealand, arriving in Auckland and establishing itself in Onehunga, just prior to the Commonwealth Games in 1990. That immigrant was the Argentine ant (linepithema humile) and initial surveys quickly revealed it to be quiet widespread. It was decided that there would be no welcoming committee dishing out pesticide sprays, or free food laced with insecticide, as has been the scenario when insect pests such as fruit fly or tussock moth arrived. Those entomologists “in the know” however, knew that New Zealand had come of age with this arrival of one of the world’s most invasive pest ant species. The Argentine ant is a native of South America and has been invading overseas countries, including North America, Hawaii, South Africa, and Australia, for more than 50 years. Since its arrival in New Zealand, Argentine ant has spread to many areas in the Auckland Region, established itself in Tauranga and Morrinsville, and has recently been reported from Christchurch, Gisbourne and west of Dargaville. Now it has been found on Tiritiri. Argentine ants are small-two to three…
The tīeke/saddleback scheme and what it can teach us
Celebrating 40 years of tīeke/saddleback on Tiritiri MatangiAuthor: Kay Milton and John Stewart, Biodiversity Sub-CommitteeDate: May 2024, Dawn Chorus 137Header image credit: John SibleyWhen tīeke/saddleback arrived on Tiritiri Matangi in 1984, it was truly the beginning of an era. Not only did they bring new sights and sounds to enrich the experience of anyone visiting the Island, they also marked the beginning of a project that would consume many working hours over the subsequent 40 years and which continues to this day. In 1984, only a small fraction of the original bush cover remained, and the planting programme was only just getting underway. This meant there were very few sites where tīeke could nest, so boxes were provided for this purpose. There were 360 boxes, but regularly monitoring this number proved difficult, and, as the bush planted between 1984 and 1994 has matured, an increasing number of ‘natural’ sites has become available. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of boxes was reduced to a level that could be more easily managed by a team of volunteers. Since then, it has been relatively stable at around 150-160 boxes. Barbara was tasked with the responsibility of checking the boxes once a week during the season, and twice a week when eggs were hatching. This was quite a laborious task, which required a great deal of dedication, attention to…
Celebrating 40 years of tīeke/saddleback
Celebrating 40 years of tīeke/saddleback on Tiritiri MatangiAuthor: Stacey Balich, GuideDate: May 2024, Dawn Chorus 137Header image credit: John SibleyIn 1984, 24 tīeke/saddleback from Cuvier Island were released on Tiritiri Matangi. They quickly established themselves with the help of nest boxes, roost boxes and regenerating bush. This year marks the 40th anniversary of their arrival, and, to celebrate this, Barbara Walter shared with me her experiences and stories from the early years. Dr Tim Lovegrove (Auckland Regional Council Heritage Department scientist) coordinated the translocation from Cuvier Island. The 24 tīeke, comprising six breeding pairs and 12 juveniles, came from five different areas of Cuvier Island and had distinct dialects. In order to preserve these distinctions, they were released in five different areas on Tiritiri Matangi: Bush 1, Bush 2, Wattle Valley, Bush 21, and Bush 22 (see Figure 1). At the start, 360 nest boxes were made by the North Shore Forest and Bird branch, coordinated by Eric Geddes, who used to travel to the Island on a small runabout from Army Bay. There were some differences in how the boxes were made. Some were short and some were long, both types having a V shape for the opening. Later a grill was added to the opening to prevent mynas and ruru from getting in, especially ruru, as they were getting in and…
Soil: what helps create and maintain it
Soil: what helps create and maintain itAuthor: Libby May, GuideDate: September 2024Healthy soil is fundamental to our continued healthy life. It provides plants, filters and manages the volume of rainwater, hosts an enormous biodiversity both above and below ground and it can tell us about our past as well as protect our future. It’s a huge carbon pool, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air – 1,500 billion tonnes of carbon globally – almost three times more carbon than in all above ground biomass including trees, shrubs and grasses. According to the Land Care Research Soils portal, each year unsustainable land management around the globe is responsible for around 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil being contaminated, washed off the land or blown away by the wind. In New Zealand it’s 192 million tonnes a year. (1) It’s not a speedy process, creating healthy, rich, fertile soil. Its origins start with bare rock and sediment surfaces being weathered and disintegrating under the influence of climate. Over time the surface becomes available to vegetation, lead by lichens (of which we have an abundance on Tiritiri Matangi) which will root in any cracks they can find such as the greywacke we see on the Wattle Track. A thin layer of vegetation will gradually build up and in the fulness of time start decomposition which in turn produces organic acids. These help…
Spring has definitely sprung!
Spring has definitely sprung!Author: Neil Davies, GuideDate: September 2024Photos credit: Neil DaviesSunday 1st Sept. On Sunday Mary-Ann and I were over on the island checking tracking tunnel cards as part of our on-going monitoring programme. Nothing untoward and just the usual critters showing up on the cards – footprints of birds, weta, wētā punga, skinks, tuatara and Duvachel gecko to name a few. However, it was impossible not to be taken by the level of bird song, even in the middle of the day, which indeed sounded like the ‘dawn chorus’. There were lots of encounters with kōkako, hihi, korimako, tūī, pōpokotea and tīeke as well as several tuatara spotted outside their burrows. I think they were celebrating the return of sunshine and mild temperatures after the heavy rain, thunder and lightning from the weather ‘bomb’ that passed over on Saturday night. Things definitely seem to be warming up and Spring has definitely sprung! Kōwhai and karo are still blooming prodigiously all over the island and the ground is now being carpeted with yellow flower petals and the deep crimson colour of the karo flowers. It also looks like it’s going to be an exceptional year for harakeke (flax) with a huge number of flower spikes and the first flowers already opening (I haven’t seen any on the mainland yet). Rewarewa has started to flower too which also seems…
Tropical newcomers thrive as our sea temperatures continue to increase off Tiritiri Matangi
Tropical newcomers thrive as our sea temperatures continue to increase off Tiritiri MatangiAuthor: John Sibley, GuideDate: August 2024Photos credit: John SibleyOnce again in 2024 the winter minimum sea temperature off Tiritiri Matangi stayed two degrees higher than the historical recorded average 50-60 years ago.
At the same time two warm water species from the tropical North took advantage of this and were able to dominate the local marine ecology to the detriment of its indigenous residents.
The first species to appear in 2024 was the tropical…