Events

Forest & Bird Te Rere Penguin Count

The annual yellow eyed penguin count at Southland Forest & Birds restoration project , Te Rere, on the Catlins coast. A day trip to the Te Rere project takes you to an area not usually accessible to the general public. This restoration project began over 25 years ago with the goal of protecting yellow eyed penguin breeding habitat. Annual counts have shown breeding pair numbers are generally increasing, however this year is not a good one for the penguins. However come along to see an amazing piece of the Catlins coast and with the possibility of seeing some of the yellow eyed penguins. Please contact Brian Rance to register your interest and organise car pooling - email [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or phone 213 1161.

SERN Spring Field Trip 2014

A trip to the Catlins to celebrate restoration work in the area. Biodiversity Southland coordinator, Janet Gregory, Landcare Trust updated attendees on wider Southland biodiversity happenings as well. The annual spring field trip run by the Southland Ecological Restoration Network (SERN) visited a number of restoration sites in the Catlins on Thursday 6th November. The day, run in conjunction with Biodiversity Southland, was a celebration of people’s efforts to enhance and protect our native habitats and species. At Waipapa Point, Forest & Bird Southland are undertaking pingao plantings, although the lumbering of fur seals through the area is proving a challenge. The forest remnant near the Curio Bay Camping Ground, purchased and protected by the local Development Trust, now has a track through it to allow people to enjoy the experience of the living forest so close to the renowned petrified forest. The Leith family from Waikawa, for decades involved in possum eradication around Southland, are also making their environmental contribution through native plantings and wetland creations.

The younger generation, Vincent Leith, spoke to the group about his vision for the future of the land he owns at the mouth of the Waikawa Stream. His connection to the land, the flora and fauna, bedded in his ancestor’s cultural use of the area, was clear and expressed with passion. Of the small stream that ran in to his place from the nearby hill, Vincent said, “Come here any night and shine in a torch and you will see native fish – kokopu, inanga, bullies, eels and koura.” He has fenced the stream off with help from a Biodiversity Southland project in the Waikawa Catchment. Looking in to a rushy gully he said, “Fish & Game have helped to work out levels to build a series of dams here. The ponds will provide habitat to the fish and waterfowl. I enjoy hunting a few mallards!” He also said that they still saw grey ducks in the area. The recent return of the land adjacent to the Niagara Falls to Ngai Tahu recognises this area as a Nohoanga site, where whanau would camp to gather food , like the kana kana (lamprey). Further work supported by the Living Streams project was visited in the upper Waikawa catchment on the Bergius property. Ross and Ana have been busy undertaking extensive riparian plantings, including reintroduction of ribbonwood (Plagianthus regius) along smaller streams and ditches on their property. Karl Erikson, Environment Southland Land Sustainability Officer, told of their wetland story. “Instead of draining it, when they realised the natural values there and the significance to water quality, the Bergius’s decided to protect and enhance it”, he said.

Omaui Reserve Restoration Plantings

The Invercargill City Council and Omaui Community are jointly hosting this event promoting the ongoing restoration of the Omaui Reserve. The event starts at 1.00pm. Bring along your spade to help plant native shrubs. A free sausage sizzle will follow. The Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust will be on hand to explain the predator control programme they have been carrying out. There will also be information about the proposed extended walking track into the adjacent DOC reserve. For further information contact the ICC Parks Division on (03) 219 9070.

OLG Living Legends Planting Day

The Otatara Landcare Group continue their restoration plantings at Bushy Point with their 4th Living Legends Planting Day. From 2011-2013 there have been an additional 10,000 native plants grown, planted and maintained under the “Living Legends” project at Bushy Point, the Otatara Landcare Groups major restoration project on DOC land at Otatara. To join the OLG for this year’s event, meet at 10am at the Bryson Road entrance, where there is off road parking. FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE - email us on www.otataralandcare.co.nz to let us know how many of you would like a sausage, before 6th September. Same email if there’s anything else you would like to know. All gear provided - bring your friends and family.

Forest & Bird Te Rere Working Day

Join Forest & Bird for the winter planting day at Te Rerepenguin colony on the Catlins Coast. Bookings essential (see below). Southland Forest & Bird’s Te Rere is one of the longest standing restoration projects in the province. Initially started to preserve yellow eyed penguin habitat, with native plantings and predator control, this has become a biodiversity hot spot. Not only do the YEP nest here, but more recently little blue penguins and even sooty shearwater have been recorded coming in to the area through the breeding season on a webcam. Come along and explore this special place, making your own contribution by helping with this year’s plantings. Contact leader, Brian Rance on 213 1161 to join the minibus on the day.