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.
While materials were chosen that would stand up to the harsh coastal conditions, those same coastal conditions are conducive to plant growth! Occasional checks of the fences have been carried out by volunteers and rangers so that any maintenance needs can be identified and remedied. The never-ending need for maintenance is managing the vegetation that can grow through the fence, for example gorse, blackberry and hydrangea, pushing it to breaking point in places, or flop over causing damage from the weight of rank grass, rushes and weeds such as montbretia.
Volunteers recently spent a few hours tidying up the main fence along Woodpecker Bay north of Punakaiki so a big shout out to them - thank you Fiona, Jony, Reef, Katrina, Mandy, Marty, Teresa and Deb! Flax had been pressing down on the fence, but now the fence has been freed up by these wonderful volunteers - and they picked up a fair bit of rubbish too.
Volunteer Natassja Savidge has offered to check and help maintain the Hokitika penguin protection fence and joined Ranger Lucy Waller and Manager Inger Perkins in May to inspect the length of the fence. Some minor issues were found but the main finding was the extent of the vegetation growth that was damaging the fence in places. Big thanks to Natassja!
