Pukeko Eating Dotterel Eggs
Of course my presence could well have distracted the NNZD but I don’t think she could defend her nest. The whole time I was observing her she was never more than a few meters from her nest. A passing cow would have been a much bigger and very common distraction for her. The Pukeko was moving with two others who stayed nearby but did not seem interested, there were no observable Pukeko chicks (or paternal behaviour from the Pukeko). The Pukeko definitely seemed to be consuming the egg for food not destroying it for territorial reasons.
Egg predation by Pukeko might explain other nest losses I have had this season.
Things Aucklanders can do to help the Hauraki Gulf
Inspired by some recent conversations, I put together this list (in no particular order).
Things Aucklanders can do to help the Hauraki Gulf
- Have fun and do good with Voluntours
- Join an event in your area ecoevents.org.nz
- Look for and photograph invasive pests and post them here inaturalist.nz
- Survey your favourite spots
- Do restoration at your favourite spot naturespace.org.nz
- Find and submit plastic pellets pelletwatch.org
- Join BirdsNZ (the Ornithological Society of NZ) contribute to bird counting surveys and beach patrols osnz.org.nz
- Join Sustainable Coastlines and clean up a beach sustainablecoastlines.org
- Donate to Revive our Gulf reviveorgulf.co.nz
- Volunteer to cleanup rubbish with the Watercare Harbour Clean-Up Trust
- Report pollution
- Report poaching
- If you fish learn how to better release undersize fish. fishing.net.nz FYI, I don’t think we should kill our native fish.
- Explore and understand your waterway. Use these resources to improve it: waicare.org.nz and lawa.org.nz
- Join the conversation facebook.com/loveourgulf
Invertebrates
If I really care about biodiversity and 95% of described species are invertebrates then I am spending too much time with birds. Tho based on a talk I heard at the Zoological Society we don’t know how to look after them yet. The things we do to protect birds also help the insects (removing rodents and wasps).
State of the Hauraki Gulf Report 2014
I was absolutely stoked to work on this document. I have so much respect for the author and the team that put so much work into getting it right.
Itchy Dotterel
The enemy of my enemy…
The Hidden Valley
I made this sign for a restoration project I am involved in. The Hidden Valley I am not sure if it will go ahead now as the Selwyn School Plans to bulldoze down the native bush and build a… carpark. I think its interesting they didn’t have money to remove this hazordus waste from their creek but do have millions to cover it with asphalt.
Rare Birds Nesting
I think I will get good results from this sign but I now want to change it. ‘Threatened with extinction’ and ‘conservation dependant’ is better (and more accurate) than endangered or rare. Also the council recently added ‘please don’t let your dog chase me away’ which I like. Full size here .
