ATC Kokako Project, Session 1
Weekend Special Trip
Friday 2 September 2011 to Sunday 4 September 2011 (3 days)
On Friday afternoon six volunteers, trustingly following Liz’s instructions, drove to Olivers’ farm beyond Otorohanga to join Howick TC and others for a weekend of conservation work.
Those who have been on club trips to nearby Rangitoto Station will know about the extensive pest control (rats and possums) done there over the past 15 years. This has enabled kokako to breed safely, but this very success has created further challenges. Kokako are quite territorial, which means that young birds have to move outwards from their parents’ territory. In this case the young birds have moved into areas with high rat populations, which, left uncontrolled, would devastate nests.
With the nesting season just beginning, DOC and volunteers have put in a huge rush effort to cut tracks and establish a network of bait stations covering the area where new breeding pairs of kokako are nesting. With that groundwork done, this is where we come in as the ATC team of volunteers to service these bait stations once a month for four months. Our visit was the first time these pristine new bait stations had been used.
We were comfortably housed in the former shearers’ quarters, with all mod cons including hot shower, woodburner fire and real beds.
Saturday morning we woke to a frost. After de-icing the car windscreens we drove further up the access road to rendezvous at our start point at 8.00am. Here we were paired with experienced people and were allocated one or more bait lines, complete with detailed maps. After picking up the required amount of bait (1 x 500g bag per station) we were off on our mission.
The Kokako Team
It certainly was ‘not for sissies’ - the lines, although well marked with pink triangles, went up and down and round about to ensure stations are spaced 100 metres apart, and they are hastily cut lines rather than formed tracks. An excellent workout; we were grateful for the fine weather.
It had been estimated we might need two days to cover the area, but we surprised and delighted the organisers and ourselves by ripping through it in great style - so well that we were done and dusted and back at our cottage for afternoon tea and Liz’s homemade cake.
It was most satisfying to know we had done the job and had Sunday free. During the evening we were entertained by Antal’s efforts to catch live moths to take home for his geckos. None of us needed rocking to sleep after hot showers and a hearty dinner.
Sunday morning we took our time but got going around 9.00am. After a café stop in Pirongia (important research for subsequent trips) it was a straightforward run home in fine weather.
The next session is 30 September-2 October. All welcome, the more the merrier. Contact Liz, ( 524 7409, email plware@xtra.co.nz)
The Team: (L to R in photo above): Jean Barton (driver, scribe), Liz Ware (organiser, cake-baker), Lynette Hindmarsh, Keith Ayton, Jackie Hillman (Jean’s navigation support team), Antal Kalocsai (driver).