NZ wildlife questions? Ask them here.

[Kifaru Bwana]

I'm not sure what you mean by keeping an open mind on privately-kept tuatara. These animals were illegally removed from the wild, threatening those populations with a whole range of factors including the possibility of accidentally introducing rats or diseases to the islands. Nobody who obtains these animals can have any doubt that they were illegally obtained (two seconds on the internet would verify that they could not be obtained otherwise). They are doing nothing for the species other than causing more problems for them.

You may have misread this remark. I mean if, if .. if I do see them advertised in any reptile forums I frequent as well or while surfing the internet (hobbywise for Uromastyx and related lizards), I will contact the relevant DoC authorities a.s.a.p. I am a reptile conservationtist, not a consumer.

Not sure what the DoC would do with any confiscated Sphenodons: would they be returned to Kiwi captive facilities (fear of introducing obvious rep diseases in wild populations) or true re-release to the wild (on non populated and rat-free islands as is done with most of the Kiwi avian fauna)?

 

[Chlidonias]

despite what I was told about confiscated reptiles being returned to NZ, I'm not sure if that's what would actually happen. If they have been in contact with foreign reptiles (and hence potentially foreign diseases) then I would say the risk would be quite high if bringing them back into the country. I certainly don't think they would be released if they were brought back. Much better to my mind to deposit them in a zoo overseas.

 

[Jurek7]

What is known about New Zealand Storm Petrel? What was about telemetry attempt? Why it failed? Any more plans?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I agree we should be cautious with release of individuals coming from a captive environment, but I would wish that we opt for more realistic scenarios (I feel the arguement is made more often than not just to stifle any real discussion on whether this would be detrimental or not).

I know we speak island environments and stuff, yet I still feel somewhat uncomfortable with the entire thing. Australia has the highest number of mammalian extinctions and NZ is a close folllower in the avian stakes. If one could demonstrate by in depth testing your individuals to be disease-free .. the least thing one could wish for is for them and/or their eventual offspring to be able to be released back onto islands from whence they were extirpated. Anyhow enough of that for now!

Re Kakapo: the rimu fruit is out this year in full bloom 11-12 kakapo females were nesting and males were heard booming on Codfish early in the new year. 1-2 kakapo females had already were with eggs and DoC staff were expecting a good season! Do you have any news of the kakapo recovery since early March 2008?

 

[Chlidonias]

What is known about New Zealand Storm Petrel? What was about telemetry attempt? Why it failed? Any more plans?

what is known about the NZ storm petrel? Precious little!

For those unfamiliar with the story, the NZ storm petrel was known only from three museum specimens, all collected in the 1800s. It was actually generally thought to be a form of another known species, or at most a subspecies (it has now been determined to not only be a distinct species, but possibly also to belong in its own genus). Then in 2003 NZ birders Sav Saville and Brent Stephenson spotted some unfamiliar storm petrels while on a pelagic birding trip in the Hauraki Gulf out of Auckland. Some detective work showed these to be the presumed-extinct NZ storm petrel. They have since been seen by hundreds of birders on trips into the Hauraki Gulf. The probable reason for the 150 year absence of sightings probably relates to the fact that pelagic birding trips here are a fairly new phenomenon, and the population is almost certainly very small (probably a remnant one, with most colonies eliminated by rats etc).

At the start of January 2006, Brent and DoC workers set out on a trip to catch some petrels and fit them with radio transmitters to try and find their breeding sites. Several were captured but as the transmitters only have short ranges and also short lifespans most birds were not found again (the signal of just one was picked up, and that was at sea not on land). There were plans to repeat the scheme in 2007 but I don't know the results if any.

The breeding grounds are still unknown, and it is quite important that they are found. There is obviously only a small population, quite probably all from one colony, and if rats reach whatever island this is on, they could very quickly be wiped out. Finding the island would ensure that it could be monitored to remain rat-free.

 

[Chlidonias]

Re Kakapo: the rimu fruit is out this year in full bloom 11-12 kakapo females were nesting and males were heard booming on Codfish early in the new year. 1-2 kakapo females had already were with eggs and DoC staff were expecting a good season! Do you have any news of the kakapo recovery since early March 2008?

at the start of March there were five active nests with one or two eggs per nest. Two of the breeders this year are six year old birds (the previous youngest bird known to have laid eggs was a nine year old), so this is pretty exciting news. In the last breeding year (2005) 58% of eggs were fertile; of the eggs laid this year all are fertile which is also good news. Unfortunately the two six-year-old breeders showed their inexperience. One female broke one of her eggs and accidentally pulled the other out of the burrow when leaving to feed so it was removed for artificial incubation. The other female seemed to get bored of incubation and gradually spent longer and longer off the nest each night, so her eggs were also taken after 25 days. All three eggs are developing well apparently. Of the other birds on eggs, one female hatched her sole egg on 17 March but sadly it died a week later. Both of another female's eggs have hatched and the chicks are so far still alive. There are currently five other eggs in other nests still being incubated.

I could potentially have been much more help because I was aiming to be part of the volunteer programme on Codfish Island during this year's breeding, but unfortunately for me there were no positions available this season (its a very popular activity).

For anyone who's in NZ between 8 September and 22 October this year, Sirocco a nine-year-old male kakapo will once again be on Ulva Island (Stewart Island) for public viewing. He was last there (also for the first time) in 2006 while I was out of the country. The cost is $90 for adults and $50 for children aged 5-14 years, the fee going towards the Ulva Island Sanctuary. He is to be kept in a special enclosure, viewable on a guided tour at night. Although its hardly a "wild kakapo experience" it is the only chance most people will ever get to actually see one.

 

[Chlidonias]

new information regarding the NZ storm petrel. On 8 April one was spotted and photographed off New Caledonia during a pelagic birding trip from New Zealand to Japan. It is the first one seen outside of New Zealand, and the area MAY be the species' wintering grounds. They leave the Hauraki Gulf around late March and disappear entirely from NZ between May and September. The website with photograph is WildWings Western Pacific Odyssey Spring 2008 sightings

 

[Chlidonias]

latest info on the kakapo breeding this season. Of the ten eggs laid, seven hatched and all seven chicks are being hand-reared in Nelson and are doing well. Total kakapo population is now 92 birds.

 

[Chlidonias]

first wild tuatara breeding on NZ mainland in centuries

Wild sex in the sanctuary - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

The first tuatara eggs have been laid in the wild on mainland New Zealand in more than 200 years.


Karori Wildlife Sanctuary staff accidentally unearthed four leathery white eggs during maintenance work near the sanctuary's predator-proof fence.

It is believed to be the first confirmed mainland nest since the 1700s when tuatara were wiped out by egg predators, especially rats.

Sanctuary conservation manager Raewyn Empson said tuatara were seen mating in April last year. "We knew of two suspected nests but didn't want to disturb them to confirm whether or not they contained eggs.

"[This] is the first concrete proof we have that our tuatara are breeding. It suggests that there may be other nests in the sanctuary we don't know of." She said the discovery "takes the cake" in what has been achieved at the sanctuary.

It is likely that there are more than four eggs in the nest as an average clutch is 10.

The tuatara could hatch anytime from now till March and would care for themselves.

 

[NZ Jeremy]

Very groovy...

 

[Kokakola11]

They were in a relatively small aviary... Four poles about 10 feet high, in 4m x 4m aviary with mesh on three side and 1m or so of shelter at the back... There was no floor just the earth planted out with small native bushes...

When I last went there at the end of may they also had quite a few in the walk-through aviary. They were so tame they would sit on your arm.
I know it's a bit of topic, but I made a list of birds in the aviary with them.
Tui
Kereru
Kokako
Kaka
Sacred Kingfisher
White-faced
Heron
Nz Shoveller
Scaup
Grey teal
Blue duck
Paradise shelduck
Banded rail
red-crowned Kakariki
Hi, I only just joined now and I would like to know the best place to see Nth Island Rifleman in the wild or Captivity.

 

[Chlidonias]

haven't posted in this thread for a long time, but a new little item has popped up connected to these earlier posts:

what is known about the NZ storm petrel? Precious little!

For those unfamiliar with the story, the NZ storm petrel was known only from three museum specimens, all collected in the 1800s. It was actually generally thought to be a form of another known species, or at most a subspecies (it has now been determined to not only be a distinct species, but possibly also to belong in its own genus). Then in 2003 NZ birders Sav Saville and Brent Stephenson spotted some unfamiliar storm petrels while on a pelagic birding trip in the Hauraki Gulf out of Auckland. Some detective work showed these to be the presumed-extinct NZ storm petrel. They have since been seen by hundreds of birders on trips into the Hauraki Gulf. The probable reason for the 150 year absence of sightings probably relates to the fact that pelagic birding trips here are a fairly new phenomenon, and the population is almost certainly very small (probably a remnant one, with most colonies eliminated by rats etc).

At the start of January 2006, Brent and DoC workers set out on a trip to catch some petrels and fit them with radio transmitters to try and find their breeding sites. Several were captured but as the transmitters only have short ranges and also short lifespans most birds were not found again (the signal of just one was picked up, and that was at sea not on land). There were plans to repeat the scheme in 2007 but I don't know the results if any.

The breeding grounds are still unknown, and it is quite important that they are found. There is obviously only a small population, quite probably all from one colony, and if rats reach whatever island this is on, they could very quickly be wiped out. Finding the island would ensure that it could be monitored to remain rat-free.

new information regarding the NZ storm petrel. On 8 April one was spotted and photographed off New Caledonia during a pelagic birding trip from New Zealand to Japan. It is the first one seen outside of New Zealand, and the area MAY be the species' wintering grounds. They leave the Hauraki Gulf around late March and disappear entirely from NZ between May and September. The website with photograph is WildWings Western Pacific Odyssey Spring 2008 sightings

and the new item is as follows:
Rare storm petrel confirmed breeding in NZ - Yahoo! New Zealand News

A team of researchers have collected the best evidence yet that the New Zealand storm petrel, which was thought extinct until 2003, is breeding in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Before dawn on Wednesday (1 February) Chris Gaskin, Dr Matt Rayner (University of Auckland), Shane McInnes (DOC) and boat skipper Brett Rathe headed out into the Hauraki Gulf to capture New Zealand storm petrels and identify signs of breeding in the birds. This is no mean feat given NZ storm petrels are small, highly mobile and maneuverable seabirds living on a big ocean.

The team captured five birds with specially designed net guns. Four of them showed signs of breeding with bare "brood patches" on their belly that are used to incubate eggs. The project team, including Department of Conversation seabird expert Graeme Taylor, believe this strongly suggests the birds are breeding locally, with islands within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park the most likely sites.

The New Zealand storm petrel was presumed extinct until its rediscovery by bird watchers in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in 2003. Since then there has been much speculation as to whether this diminutive 35 g seabird breeds on one of the Gulf's many islands, or is a visitor to New Zealand waters, breeding elsewhere, and has thus little claim to the name "New Zealand" storm petrel.

Mayor John Tregidga, Chairman of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, welcomed the finding. "It's wonderful to think that these birds are breeding right now on islands in the outer Hauraki Gulf, quite possibly in sight of where the researchers captured them."

The team is funded by a Birdlife International Community Conservation Fund grant, and support of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, Department of Conservation, Auckland Council and Forest & Bird.

The team will continue its capture programme through February and March to find out as much as they can about the birds' breeding cycle. Armed with that information they will determine when would be the best time to try and track birds to their island breeding location using radio tracking devices - once additional funding is secured. New Zealand storm petrels are listed as critically endangered by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature and finding where the species breed is of paramount importance for their conservation.

 

[DavidBrown]

Is there a complete accounting somewhere of what megafauna species the humans wiped out when they first got to New Zealand? I saw in an earlier post that there were 9-11 species of moas. Wasn't there a giant moa-eating eagle too (Haast's eagle?)? Anything else? Is there a museum in NZ with an exhibit of the former megafauna?

 

[Chlidonias]

this Wikipedia list is pretty good although it does include prehistoric species (pterosaurs, fossil penguins, etc): [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_animals_of_New_Zealand]List of extinct animals of New Zealand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

It is largely based on the work of Richard Holdaway and Trevor Worthy. There is a scholarly article of historic extinctions (i.e. less than the last 1000 years) called "A working list of breeding bird species of the New Zealand region at first human contact" by Holdaway, Worthy and Alan Tennyson, published in the New Zealand Journal of Zoology in 2001; and Holdaway and Worthy also wrote a very thick and detailed book on post-human extinctions called "The Lost World of the Moa" in 2002 which is well-worth getting if one can afford it. A more "popular" version - but still very very good - of post-human extinctions is "Extinct Birds Of New Zealand" by Alan Tennyson and Paul Martinson.

Several museums in NZ have reconstructions of moa or articulated moa skeletons. Te Papa (in Wellington) has a life-size reconstruction of a Haast's eagle pouncing on a moa, while the Otago Museum in Dunedin has an articulated skeleton of the eagle.

 

[DavidBrown]

If one wanted to see some wildlife in the wild in New Zealand what would species would you recommend one try and see and where would you suggest that one go see them? Is it possible to see wild tuataras, or are they in remote and restricted areas? Ditto kiwis?

Are keas, wetas, and penguins accessibly viewable in the wild to visitors? What wild landscapes would you recommend? Douglas Adams was rapturous about the fjords in "Last Chance to See".

 

[Chlidonias]

this recent thread has recommendations for where to see some selected NZ wildlife: http://www.zoochat.com/17/new-zealand-zoo-tour-advice-256408/ (post #8). Most of the wild species in NZ can be seen relatively or actually easily if one knows where to go (only a few species are pretty much impossible to try and see).

Kiwi are reasonably easy if one goes out with a guide at certain spots. If one wants to try by oneself its a bit harder but still quite possible so long as you know what you're doing. They are of course very rare, pretty shy, nocturnal.....

In general tuatara are only on restricted-access islands but you can see Brothers Island tuatara on Somes Island in Wellington Harbour, and common tuatara at Zealandia in Wellington and on Tiritiri Matangi off Auckland.

Kea are very easy to see, two of the three resident penguins are easy and the third not as easy but still far from impossible, and depending on what species of weta ranging from dead easy to not a chance (some species, like the fantastic tusked weta, are only on restricted-access islands).

The whole of the South Island is a landscape not to be missed by tourists. (We locals barely notice the mountains etc because they're just there, but if you've seen the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, those landscapes weren't faked [mostly!]). In the North Island you've got all the geothermal areas in Rotorua with geysers, steaming cliffs, boiling mud pools, and so on; White Island off the coast which is a continuously active volcano; the Volcanic Plateau in the middle of the island; even Auckland is worth seeing because its built on top of something like 80 dormant volcanoes which have mostly been terraced by pre-European Maori into pa defence fortresses.

The longer one can spend in NZ the better really.