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ENVIRONMENT WATCH HAURAKI GULF ISLANDS BECOMING HAVENS FOR NATIVE SPECIES BY JEFF COOK 12 3 T he birdsong hits you before you reach the shores of Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. As a safe haven for species like takahe, kokako, tieke (saddleback) little spotted kiwi, tuatara, wetapunga and native reptiles, Tiritiri is one of the most well-known and visited pest-free sanctuaries in the country. It underwent the first 'pest bust' in the gulf in 1993, and has inspired a series of successful eradication projects since. Pest eradications have now been carried out on a number of other islands in the gulf. The most recent in 2009 on Motu Kaikoura and the Broken Islands by Auckland Council, and on Rangitoto-Motutapu, in an ambitious operation by the Department of Conservation. There are also the 'mainland islands' of Tawharanui and Shakespear Open Sanctuaries, with predator-proof fences, monitoring, and pest control in place to combat any unwanted incursions. Tawharanui was cleared of animal pests in 2004, while Auckland Council carried out a bait drop at Shakespear in July last year. A lot of the time we talk about pests and risks, but we want to also celebrate what is going on in the gulf and our amazing success stories. The results speak for themselves with the birds, insects and reptiles that come back to pest-free islands either on their own or with a bit of help. For instance, since we eradicated rats from the Broken Islands in 2009, tracking cards are picking up a symphony of prints from things that you didn't see much of before the eradication, like skinks and invertebrates. The benefits of this are not so obvious to us at first glance, but they are huge for the island's biodiversity, and the flora and fauna that are now thriving. Auckland Council and DOC work closely together to help protect the Hauraki Gulf islands and run a joint awareness campaign called 'Treasure islands'. Sandra Jack is the community relations ranger at DOC: "We Treasure islands PLEASE Check for stowaways CHECK YOUR BOAT AND GEAR FOR RATS, MICE, ARGENTINE ANTS, RAINBOW SKINKS, SOIL AND SEEDS SET BAIT OR TRAPS FOR ANIMAL PESTS REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS TO 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) July/August 2012 Professional Skipper 57 www.projectislandsong.co.nz www.treasureislands.co.nz 4 5 1: Kakariki (red crowned parakeets) arrived back to breed on Motutapu Island in 2009 after a one hundred year absence (photo credit Luis Ortiz-Catedral). 2: The tieke (North Island saddleback) once only lived on Hen Island but is now present on many of the pest-free islands in the gulf. 3: Sixty rare tuatara were released onto pest-free Motuihe Island in March 2012. 4: Seventeen of these endangered shore plovers have a new home on pest-free Motutapu Island. 5: Shore skinks thrive in pest-free environments. want to raise awareness of the impact pests have, and the huge conservation gains achieved by creating pest-free islands. We've been able to release critically endangered shore plover and takahe on Motutapu, and threatened tieke (saddleback) on both Rangitoto and Motutapu because we've made the islands safe by removing the pests. The tieke in particular have been very successful, breeding within months of being released and producing 40 chicks. They have survived and bred well enough to replace themselves. That wouldn't have happened if any rats remained. A pest like the Argentine ant would also have a big impact on nests, so it's important for people to be aware of the risks of transporting anything like that to islands." Other recent translocations occurred in March this year when tuatara were transferred to pest-free Motuihe from Lady Alice Island of the Hen and Chickens group, and kakapo from Codfish and Anchor islands in Southland were released on Hauturu (Little Barrier) in April. Birds often come back of their own accord too, and since the pest bust kakariki have returned to Rangitoto-Motutapu to breed in the absence of rats, stoats and feral cats. Bellbirds also returned to Rakino after the last rats were eradicated in 2002, and kaka, bellbirds, hihi and grey-faced petrel are now seen at Tawharanui. Native forest also recovers when pests are removed. New CONTINUED ON PAGE 64