Thames/Hauraki Branch of Forest & Bird:

Halls Reserve Jan-March 2005

Halls Reserve Dec

Halls Reserve Nov

News 16-Sep-04

Pohutukawa home

Thames/Hauraki Branch of Forest and Bird

Thames Wetlands Activities Sep-Dec 2004

During the period the Wetlands Group has been engaged in:

• talks with local user groups and the TCDC on the best route for a walkway along the East riverbank of the Waihou
• exploring and analysing the potential for a shorebird recovery area on the West bank of the Waihou

EAST BANK

The group talked on-site with Gun Club and Aero Club along with TCDC programme manager Mike Martin in September. It was concluded that a walkway could pass Shelley Beach only at a safe distance from the Gun Club, this distance to be determined by OSH. OSH was written to in September, An inspection of the site was promised but so far this has not happened.

Regardless of whether the original walkway or a much shortened version of it is approved, its starting point would be the Kauearanga bridge. At issue here is the 200 m stretch of riverbank immediately downstream. DOC grants access to a 2 m. wide strip between the mangroves and the stopbank. But a 10 m. wide strip would allow for a more easily constructed and accessible track. To extend to this would entail a slight trim of the area used by Rhodes Park for its cattle. Errol Kingsbury, Chairman of the Rhodes Park Management Committee however pointed out that:

• the cattle are needed to keep down the weeds in the Park
• bulls form part of that herd
• public use would entail opening and closing gates
• perhaps the area contains Ngatimaru grave sites

The Wetlands group joined DOC for Conservation week in planting 30 rare/endangered smaller plants of the Coromandel. The group also weeded and staked trees planted over the last two years in the Shelley Beach area. The outcomes for these are reasonably reassuring. Some 30 of the flaxes came into flower this spring. Rabbits still pose a threat but are being contained by Talon baits.

WEST BANK

Because of holdups arising from procedures on the Thames side, an exploratory area of about 400 m x 240 m was marked out on the West bank, beginning downstream from the Kopu bridge. First plantings have been of a trial nature, of several species and in various places, to test reactions to salinity and wetness as this part is occasionally touched by high tides. Trees in the trial were sourced from:

• Environment Waikato 150 flax and 50 cabbage tree plants
• IHC Nursery
  40 flax
  60 manuka
  40 cabbage trees
  50 jointed rush
  150 coprosma propinqua
• Thames Coast Protection Society 30 pohutukawa

Though planted late in the spring nearly all these have done fairly well, except for the pohutukawa which seem to be suited to the soil but have been damaged by rabbits. A predator control line against these and other pests is in place

The site was visited by Karen Denyer, botanist, Waikato Resource Council, 0n 14 Dec. Karen identified some of the marsh plants and advised on choices appropriate to the site as shorebird habitat Though it once sheltered many shorebirds and waterfowl its present population comprises only a pair of pied shags, 4 mallard ducks, and some pukeko. The sharp decline in bird life may be attributed not only to human settlement but also to displacement of original fish in the Waihou by newly arrived koi carp.

A request has been made to meet with Hauraki District Council through its Community Services Manager Gary Paterson and Councillor Robyn Wightman to coordinate with the Council's activities in environmental protection.

ASSISTANCE

Pub Charity has continued its help with the project. A further sum of $5,972.00 was granted on 24 Dec.

Staff of Thames Intellectually Handicapped nursery at Kopurahi have helped in planning for this year's planting programmes

Coromandel FM radio has given valuable publicity to the project by airing calls for volunteers when planting days come round.

Local volunteers have contributed a total of 115 man-hours

Comments on the project are invited to be sent to Thames Forest and Bird ( kow@xtra.co.nz) or to Ken Clark

Wetlands Activities Jul-Sep 2004

In the period under review the group has been engaged in a variety of issues, a central one being the siting of a walkway. Possible routes have been considered, and talks held with other groups which have interests in the area. In a meeting on-site with the Gun Club, Aero Club and TCDC it was agreed that:

• the walkway would have to be at a distance that OSH (Labour Dept) decided to be safe for the walking public
• an exit suggested to cross over a culvert on the Southern boundary of the airport would not be safe from aircraft
• an exit suggested via the sanitation reserve of TCDC would raise difficulties within the operational area.

However an exit along the Northern boundary of the airport met no objection from any of the parties concerned. We are now awaiting a visit from an OSH representative to evaluate the main route along the riverbank.

TCDC has also yet to consider the allocation of a wider strip running along the left bank of the Kauearanga, immediately below the road bridge on SH25. The present strip outside of the fenced and grazed area is a 1-2 metres wide, tidal, and would incur added costs of construction.

SHELLY BEACH

Plantings made in DOC's Conservation Week in August included toetoe, kowhai, mingimingi and manuka. Earlier plantings there now look good with little damage from the infestation of rabbits encountered a year ago. Rabbit baits have still to be put out now and again.

SALTMARSH OF LOWER KAUEARANGA

Earlier plantings of flax and ribbonwood are slowly establishing. Shorebird life is under pressure from predators. Many rats and an occasional stoat or ferret live close to the water's edge. A line of about 8 rat bait stations has been set up and is serviced about every 10 days.

A small colony of from 12 to sometimes 30 pied shags occupy a line of mangroves within sight of Shortland St wharf. With materials brought up on high tide by Malcolm Sowman in his launch a group of 7 perches for shags has been set up to test the reaction of the birds towards artificial roosts.

WEST BANK OF WAIHOU

A large stretch of DOC land from the Kopu bridge towards the river mouth is covered mostly in fescue and mangrove. As a step towards better habitat for birds in that area some native trees have been planted on the West bank just below Kopu bridge. Because the area is tidal a variety of trees was put in to test their reaction to salinity. These comprised:

• oioi (fractured rush)   10
• pohutukawa                   4
• cabbage trees             35
• ngaio                               4
• mingimingi                     4
• manuka                        60
• flax                              150

Surviving black shags in the area are being monitored. They now depend upon improvised perching such as on mangroves and an occasional stub of an old jetty pier. The usual predators are found there and are being countered through a line of bait stations.

Literature on black shag behaviour and habitat has been gathered by Jane Hart and sent to Environment Waikato. Jane is also planning a count of birds on the adjoining lower Piako

ASSISTANCE

Pub Charity has continued its financial assistance to the project.

Volunteers have given 88 man-hours of their time.

Thames Intellectually Handicapped nursery staff have been very helpful in the provision of plants.

Material support, technical help, and encouragement have been received from Environment Waikato, EW.

Comments on the project are invited to be sent to Thames Forest and Bird Ken Clark , or ph 868-8307.