News

Tawaki Ranger, Catherine Stewart, reports on the interesting 2023 tawaki season at Gorge River.

The last big El Niño year was a disaster in the Tawaki colonies, with most chicks starving to death, hence we were all anxious going into this season knowing it was another El Niño year.  However it was an entirely different story this year. At Gorge river, 9 out of the 10 monitored nests with camera deployments were successful, with at least 4, probably 6 or 7, raising a double clutch. (As chicks from different nests often sit together, it can be hard to tell when they are from the same nest, unless they are seen chasing the same parent for food.) The most important thing to mention, is that in the last 9 years, only one nest has definitely been seen raising a double clutch - two chicks. So this was a very different El Niño year!  

Tawaki Ranger, Catherine Stewart, reports on the interesting 2023 tawaki season at Gorge River.

Gorge River Tawaki Monitoring 2023

  Aim: Tawaki nests were monitored for survival/failure due to predation and to assess general chick growth and apparent health as an indication of food supply, etc. Method: 27 nests were checked 5 times between 18/8/23 and 8/11/23 at intervals of 10 days to 3 or 4 weeks. 10 of these nests had Little Acorn trail cameras set. An additional 16 nests known from previous years were checked on 18/8/23. Two lured cameras were set early in the season and again at the end. The cameras were baited with sausage in a fine metal mesh ball inside a tin can wired to a tree approx. 1m above the ground.   Results/Conclusions for the season Nest checks Most birds were sitting on eggs by August 18^th. Of the additional 16 old nests, 13 showed no sign of having been used. At 2 nests, sitting birds jumped off, possibly suggesting new pairs, and subsequently these were found empty with no sign of egg-laying. The last nest is an old one which has been used continuously (mostly with success) for more than 10 years, but no egg has been seen since 2021. A bird was sitting but not seen on subsequent visits. There was no sign of hatching at the end of August. All eggs were hatched by September 22nd. Chicks appeared well-fed throughout the season and grew quickly. As few chicks were seen during nest checks later in the season, it is assumed, from the earlier evidence, that they survived, though we could only confirm 2 successful nests that were additional to those monitored with cameras. Nest cameras Of the ten camera-monitored nests, one was found empty on September 22nd but, due to camera/operator failure, no reason could be determined. Although 2 adults remained for approx. one more week, the egg was no longer present. When a nest was seen on September 22^nd with 2 healthy chicks present, a nearby camera was shifted over to it. The following 2 weeks showed them persisting into the post-guard phase when chicks are left alone and both adults leave to forage. Eight (probably nine) of the ten camera-monitored nests were successful. Photos were reviewed from September 22nd to November 8th. Double clutching where two chicks were raised was seen in 6 (possibly 7) of these nests near or after the end of the guard phase. The presence of 2 chicks was confirmed beyond the middle of October in 2 of these. The other 4 nests are considered likely to have raised both chicks; however no photo actually showed 2 chicks together with the parent that would have distinguished them from 2 chicks from separate nests crèching together. During the nest check on November 8th, a pair of chicks was seen in a feeding chase after the same adult. These were likely from the other monitored nest. Camera Traps: Using the same protocol as last season, two camera traps were run for 21 days from August 31st. As one camera failed to record anything, they were both re-baited and set for another 21 days from September 22nd, and again from November 8th. Result: Several rats and possums were seen near the bait and just one stoat, at the end of November. Just one stoat was seen on a camera. Subsequently 2 chicks were still present and were raised successfully. Tracking Tunnels: Not run this season.  

Catherine Stewart, West Coast Penguin Trust, February, 2024

 

Collaboration to protect shore birds

Concern has prompted the design and installation of two new signs at the Fox River parking and camping area north of Punakaiki. Both locals and visitors were concerned to see tourists and particularly dogs in areas where birds were resting and nesting on the island and at the beach around the mouth of Fox River.  As freedom camping has ramped up in this beautiful spot, with more New Zealanders camping with their pets, there are more dogs and more people enjoying the area, all the fun potentially impacting birds such as variable oyster catchers and spotted and pied shags now and in the longer term. The West Coast Penguin Trust has penguins as its main focus but the vision is "Sea and shore birds, and their habitat across the West Coast Te Tai Poutini, are healthy and thriving." So when the trust was asked for help to raise awareness, we stepped up, designed a sign and appealed to Buller District Council and DOC to print and install it, which they kindly and generously have done. The signs have just been installed and they look fantastic, raising awareness as intended and prompting discussion. We have heard: "The wording is spot on and non confrontational and the general feedback already is very positive about how they are welcoming but educational and preventative. Today's campers were having positive conversations about them'" An excellent bit of community collaboration to protect shore birds. The wording is as follows: BIRD RESTING & NESTING AREA FOX RIVER ISLAND AND COAST Oyster catchers, spotted shags, pied shags and other sea and shore birds rest and possibly nest on the river island beside the camping area.  Others nest on and close to the beach.  This is home for wildlife and cared for by the Fox River community. Dogs are welcome in the car park and at the beach on a lead or under very close control. Please, no dogs on the island.

A gift in your will helps the West Coast Penguin Trust to protect little blue penguins - kororā, Fiordland crested penguins - tawaki, Westland petrels - tāiko, and other threatened seabirds.

A gift in your will helps the West Coast Penguin Trust to protect little blue penguins - kororā, Fiordland crested penguins - tawaki, Westland petrels - tāiko, and other threatened seabirds. If you are one of the four in ten New Zealanders who have not yet written a will, you are clearly not alone. Gathered Here has recently launched a free online will-writing service in New Zealand to make it simpler and more accessible for all adults.  Provided you don’t have great complexity to your family and your estate, their easy to use template will help you write your will in no time.   Start writing your online will for free   Not only have Gathered Here made this task, one that so many of us keep putting off, very easy, they have also linked it to charities like the West Coast Penguin Trust.  They have found that many people would like to include their favourite charity or charities in their will but don't know how.  As a result, only a few percent of wills include charities.  But by using this simple template, that percentage rises significantly, as people like you and me are enabled to add a charity, or more than one charities, very easily. For these reasons, the West Coast Penguin Trust has partnered with Gathered Here to offer you the opportunity to write your free online will and receive unlimited updates for life. Get rid of that nagging worry that you really should have done it by now!

Find out more here...

... and one click from that page takes you to the template and gets you started. There is no need to include our charity or any charity.  The free template can be used by anyone.  It will prompt you to consider how your estate should be divided, who should be your executors, who you would like to receive precious items and other handy things like looking after your pet and your funeral wishes. Feel free to Email us by clicking here  

I have had a fantastic first season in the field this year. It has been so interesting to follow the season and watch the adults prepare their nests, lay eggs, incubate, little black golf balls of fluff turn into larger brown balls of fluff and then the alopecia style hair do's of brown fluff and the mullets and then the day you arrive and there is nobody home..... they have fledged the nest and we say good luck to them.

I have had a fantastic first season in the field this year. It has been so interesting to follow the season and watch the adults prepare their nests, lay eggs, incubate, little black golf balls of fluff turn into larger brown balls of fluff and then the alopecia style hair do's of brown fluff and the mullets and then the day you arrive and there is nobody home..... they have fledged the nest and we say good luck to them. Ever wondered what blue penguins look like at each stage of their lives? And what my Ranger role entails? Some photos courtesy of Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony and some from the local colonies - enjoy! It has been very exciting for local school students to have a visit from the ranger who is still covered in mud and poop, smelling like penguins, with fresh photos from the colony that morning. We have all enjoyed the journey this season!    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

An amazing journey was had this year for Rūma Kereru at Kaniere School and it's teacher, Maria Lockington and her daughter, Grace.

An amazing journey was had this year for Rūma Kereru at Kaniere School and its teacher, Maria Lockington and her daughter, Grace. It all started at Hokitika Primary last year with some penguin education and some planting with little ones and Maria's first experiences of the West Coast Penguin Trust and the fight for the protection of penguins. Maria moved to Kaniere School this year and took her passion for penguin conservation with her into Rūma Kereru. They started with some penguin education and went on to taking action with a nest box project, and raising awareness through creative means of animation, powerpoints and education resources. It was an absolute pleasure to work with such an enthusiastic and passionate teacher.

 

 

 

 

  Meanwhile, whilst Maria and I were starting the next box project, I carried out a penguin dissection class at John Paul II for seniors (years 11,12,13) which was a huge success again. A young and talented student, Grace Lockington, happened to take part in this dissection class and found it fascinating and at the same time she had won her place on a prestigous full-scholarship learning opportunity by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania for young women interested in STEM. She had been struggling to come up with a Capstone Project for her scholarship and then it clicked - penguins, nest boxes, primary kids. Read Grace's journey here and find out about the AFS Global Stem Accelorators Programme here. And so the journey began. The class did design work, advocacy work, built 6 nest boxes and took a trip to the beach to learn how to spot tracks, learn about their habitat and how to protect penguins and other seabirds. Have a look at their journey here.

 

 

  Thanks to this young chap and his mother, the beach was cleaned up from rubbish. They never go to the beach without a spare rubbish bag just incase there is rubbish to collect!   A huge thank you to Rūma Kereru, Kaniere School and the Lockington family for all the hard work and dedication, patience and time spent from the West Coast Penguin Trust and myself!

Thank you to Grace for including penguins in the AFS Global STEM Accelerators Programme.

The West Coast Penguin Trust owe a big thank you to Grace Lockington for including penguins in the AFS Global STEM Accelerators Programme. Women around the world currently make up more than half of the college-educated workforce. However, STEM fields are made up of only 28% women. Women and girls who desire to learn more about STEM often face a challenging set of circumstances in fields that are traditionally dominated by men. That’s why AFS Global created a program dedicated to the future of women in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). By providing an opportunity for girls from around the world to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we can start to change this trend and open up more possibilities for the perspectives of women in the greater goal of reaching a sustainable future. Read more about the programme here. A local, talented, young woman won her place on the programme, embarked on the journey this year and we were lucky enough to be part of it. Grace Lockington, student of John Paul II in Greymouth carried out a penguin dissection class with us and at the same time her mother was starting a penguin project with her primary class and it all slotted into a perfect collaboration. Grace organised and ran the project, sourcing all the resources needed and preparing all the wood and screws ready for the students to make the nest boxes.

 

 

 

 

I interviewed Grace to find out more about the AFS Global STEM Accelerators Programme:

1. How did you hear about your programme?

2. What did you have to do to qualify for a place?

3. What does the programme entail?

4. Why did you choose to use the West Coast Penguin Trust nest boxes as your project?

5. What was the motivation behind the project?

6. What did you find difficult?

7. What were the most enjoyable parts?

 

 

 

Grace is now off to Spain in January on a 4 month exchange programme as part of AFS Global. We wish her good luck and all the best. Thank you and well done Grace!

Your donation, matched by a generous supporter, will help us understand and respond to threats to West Coast penguins.

We are very excited to share this opportunity with you. A very generous donor has offered to match donations up to $5000!  With your help, we can reach $10,000 in donations between December and April.

Donate now

To counterbalance Black Friday, Giving Tuesday was born for the following week.  It's a day to remember and support causes you believe in and we're going to continue it through this season of giving and the summer! Your donation will help us better understand the threats to penguins here on the West Coast and take actions to protect them in 2024. We have a fabulous opportunity to maintain and extend our penguin conservation projects, focussing on our research and extending to practical solutions, education and advocacy.

And we need you to make it happen!

Your donation will firstly ensure we monitor penguins, both little blue penguins - kororā, and Fiordland crested penguins - tawaki.  The data we collect is critical in informing what actions we can take, so your donation will also help ensure we take the next steps, whether building penguin protection fences, working with school children or liaising with councils and developers for example. We know that you will feel good about supporting a cause you believe in and value - the work that we do and the penguins we all love.  But did you know that science confirms that? I like to call it the 'joy of giving' and it turns out others call it that too.  Some of the benefits - and joy - of making a donation, small or large, include a greater sense of community and a sense of purpose and fulfilment, a greater happiness and satisfaction, feelings of gratitude, an improved outlook on life and boost your mood!  I have even read that giving lowers levels of inflation!

How to make a donation

There are a few ways you can donate and feel the warmth and joy of giving for penguin conservation. Easiest is via our donation page using a credit card - bish, bash, bosh - thank you! You can also go there to make a donation in memory of someone special. Also easy is a direct bank payment donation.  We just ask that you also email us so we can thank you and send you a receipt. Whether credit card or bank payment, you can of course make it a regular donation if you'd like to keep that joy going! There are donation boxes at New World and J's cafe in Westport and in Hokitika at Moment's in Time/NZ Post, Hokitika Craft Gallery, and the Kiwi Centre.  (Any suggestions for a location in Greymouth gratefully received!) And you could use any of these to make a donation on behalf of someone as a gift, Christmas or otherwise.  We have a couple of cards you can print out to let them know. Download - Christmas Penguin - donation in lieu of gift card Download - Penguin love donation in lieu of gift card                              

Westland Petrel/Tāiko chicks fledge from November to January. Their first flight can be a tough one, as they are inexperienced fliers, and can become disorientated by bright lights and poor weather conditions. Adult birds are also found at any time of year.

Westland Petrel/Tāiko chicks fledge between November to January from their colony just south of Punakaiki. Their first flight can be a tough one, as they are inexperienced fliers, and can become disorientated by bright lights and poor weather conditions. Adult birds are also found at any time of year.

Once on the ground they need our help, as they are unable to take flight again easily, and are very vulnerable to being struck by cars and attacked by dogs. The main flight path area for these birds at the northern end of the Barrytown flats has no street lights, which is great for the birds ordinarily but means that they may be distracted by vehicle lights and come down on the highway.  These large all black birds are then almost invisible against the black tarmac until the next car comes speeding along. If you're driving in the area, please be mindful of these birds particularly November to January, and travel a little slower.  The same applies in all coastal areas where penguins could be crossing too - better for wildlife, safer for you, and less fuel used - win - win - win. The Department of Conservation and Westland Petrel Conservation Trust work together to help these birds get back out to the sea, and document when/where all birds are found, so we can work to remove attractive lights sources or hazards. Particularly around Punakaiki and Barrytown but in fact anywhere between Hokitika and Westport, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the risk to this special bird, which only breeds in one place in the world. To give them the best chance of success:

• Avoid leaving bright outdoor lights on after dark and close curtains and blinds, as this confuses them
• Keep dog(s) secure at home
• Keep a cardboard box, with air holes and towel in your car, just in case!

If you find a bird on the ground,

1. Use a towel (or item of clothing) to cover the bird and gently lift it into a box (unwrap the bird once in the box), or move it away from danger (traffic).
   • If you feel uncomfortable handling the bird or require assistance, please immediately call the numbers provided.
2. Birds found can be transported to the “Petrel Drop Off Boxes” at the DOC Visitor Centre (if the centre is closed go through the gate to the left of the front door).

*Leave your details in the log book.

3. If you are unable to transport the bird please call the numbers provided.
4. Please do not attempt to release the bird yourself.

24-hour contact numbers Westland Petrel Conservation Trust 03 731 1826Department on Conservation 0800 DOCHOT (362468)

What happens next?

• All birds are health-checked by DOC or the WPCT. Healthy and uninjured birds will be assisted to take flight again.
• Injured or underweight birds are provided veterinary and rehabilitative care by DOC.
• If you would like to know about your bird or attend its release, please let us know.

  The flyer is here if you would like to print and keep handy, share etc:  2023 11 Westland petrel flyer PDF  

Our annual report always includes a message from the Trust Chair, the highlights and challenges of the previous year and our enormous thanks to all those organisations and individuals who have supported our work.

Our annual report always includes a message from the Trust Chair, the highlights and challenges of the previous year and our enormous thanks to all those organisations and individuals who have supported our work. This year, our Chair, Robin Long, reinforces our vision -  sea and shore birds and their habitat across the West Coast Te Tai Poutini are healthy and thriving - highlights the funding challenges, and embraces the changes over the year. We report on our various projects and, for little penguins or kororā, this meant a poor season apparently linked to a severe cycle of La Niña conditions and the marine heatwaves that it brought last spring and summer. The little penguin mortality database we share with the Department of Conservation has been invaluable in focussing attention on the key threats to these birds.  We have now worked on the data so that it can be viewed on maps providing even more value to our advocacy role and for council planners.  It also helps focus our attention on areas where extra action may be needed, perhaps new penguin protection fences. Speaking of fences, we were very pleased to add fencing in the Limestone Creek area north of Punakaiki and will need to add more fencing between breeding seasons in the next couple of years to completely protect kororā in this section of the coast road. The report is available as a PDF via the link below, with updates on our Fiordland crested penguin / tawaki work, Cape Foulwind and Seal Island trapping projects, a note about our favourite petrel, the Westland petrel or tāiko, our education programme - much treasured by all the teachers and staff that get to work with Ranger Lucy Waller, and our awareness and advocacy work. We are so grateful to our donors and sponsors all year round but this is our annual opportunity to put it in writing where everyone can see it.  Our heartfelt and huge thanks go to these wonderful individuals and organisations that enable us to help understand and better protect penguins and seabirds.

WCPT 2022-23 Annual Report (PDF)

Generous support from whānau and local community helps St Canice's students build twelve nest boxes.

George Atfield's year 3/4 wonder class at St Canice's School in Westport take action for penguins! We had a fun day at the school building nest boxes for little penguins and we were ever so grateful for the generous support we received from whānau and local community. The students did so well with drills, hammers, nails and lots of paint, successfully building twelve nest boxes for the trust to put out where needed in the local colonies for next season. There were no blue thumbs in the process either! We would like to say a big thank you in particular to Laurie Cockfield, Milah's Grandad, who built seven penguin boxes at his house, two of which he funded himself. We would also like to say a big thank you to Jake Orchard (Louie’s Dad), Chris Kennard (Hudson’s Dad) and John Noble (Hadley’s Dad), who all took a group and helped out on the day.

Our very grateful thanks go to Steve Atfield at Vetpak, who sponsored the materials for ten boxes.

Vetpak is a New Zealand owned company that manufactures a varied range of Veterinary products for the production animal sector.  Products include Rotagen Combo, a non-antibiotic treatment for calf scours effective against Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium, feed additives, sanitation solutions, mineral supplements for sheep, dairy and beef cattle.  They also produce a range of specialist nutritional supplements designed for penguin and kiwi chicks.

Vetpak is proud to support the West Coast Penguin Trust and the great work they do. You can visit their website here www.vetpak.co.nz 

George Atfield's year 3/4 class have embarked on a penguin journey with us, learning all about penguins and how to help protect them. We are very happy to have this wonderful class and teacher on board!  

 

We managed to have a mini certificate award ceremony for the students and the last challenge of how many nest boxes could I get in my car in the pouring rain! I am sure class teacher, Georgina Atfield was glad to finally see the back of me and those boxes!