FW: Ashley Update, mid November, 2011
Frances Schmechel
HI,
The most recent update on the Ashley below and a survey coming up. If you want to get Nick’s informative and interesting updates on a regular basis, contact him directly (n.le...@xtra.co.nz). I’ll forward these to the BRaid email list just occasionally.
(Apologies for any duplicate postings.)
And a reminder – anyone can post to this group (email address: BR-...@googlegroups.com) – and anyone can sign up or sign off at any time. If you have any issues or want me to do that I’m more than happy (or want an email forwarded to the group) just let me know (frances....@ecan.govt.nz) . Happy to do that!
Warm regards,
Frances
From:
n.le...@xtra.co.nz [mailto:n.le...@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 9:56 a.m.
Subject: Ashley Update, mid November, 2011
Hi All
Down on the river.
You might remember that at the start of the last Update, I commented on the dynamic nature of braided rivers, and how the bird breeding scene is the same – concluding that this season looked OK for wrybills, but bleak for gulls and terns. Well, a week later, the situation has changed yet again. During that time, a small flock of BB gulls have arrived and appear to have started nesting alongside quite a reasonable colony of BF terns. Both are not far below the Tulls Road river entrance, and on a mid-river island, well surrounded by water (so well so, that it has not been possible to cross over and inspect more closely). When the gulls first arrived, there were around 90 located at the Tulls site, but a couple of days later they shifted down river, where there now appears to be around 30 pairs. Geoff Sw and I watched them shortly after they had moved, and noted how they had settled right where a pied stilt was sitting on eggs – the PS pair were certainly not happy about that. It is always hard to determine nesting tern numbers, as they come and go, with some always on the ground. A passing hawk can be a great help by getting the majority in the air. So, at this stage it looks like there are 20-30 tern pairs nesting just down river from the gulls, on two large islands. Alongside the gull colony were two white-fronted terns, and while there we watched a Caspian tern flew by. I have seen two of these quite frequently, but am not sure if they are nesting. The 6 wrybill pairs are still in situ, although I think the Railway pair might have lost another nest, as after a while of seeing only one present (other presumably on the nest), there are now two peacefully feeding together. The fact that they are still present indicates that they may well try a third time (lucky). A lone UB male bird is occasionally with them - only tolerated at a distance.
At our last meeting we decided to approach local schools about ‘adopting’ a nesting area on the river – with colourful pupil-posters on site. A great idea - copied from the N. Island NZ dotterel nest protection programme. The wrybills were to be the focal birds, but our plans were disrupted by the Oct 19 flood eliminating all nests, and since then the birds have relocated into less accessible parts of their territories. So this initiative may have to go on hold until next year.
Surveys.
- Our local one is still on this coming Saturday, but the river may well be too high. Eric is watching that closely, and will be in touch within the next couple of days. If not on then, it will be postponed to the following Saturday. Yes, that is Election day, but as the survey will take 3-4 hours and voting 10 minutes, it should be possible to do both.
- The upper Waimak survey (Nov 21-23) seems to have fallen into place nicely, with sufficient people coming along to enjoy the riverside accommodation and jet boating, plus the beautiful days observing birds by the water.
BBQ / meetings / presentation
- Our end-of-year BBQ is on the evening of Thursday, Dec 1, at the River Road DOC centre. We need numbers for that, and will be asking for attendees in the next Update – but make up your minds now, and mark the event on your calendar.
- The following afternoon is the BRaid AGM out at Lincoln. Anyone is welcome to attend – details of the venue etc in the next Update.
- Then during the following week, the newly formed Waimak Rivercare Users Group will be having their evening meeting - details later.
- Geoff Sw is showing our Ppt to North Loburn school next Friday, together with Jane Buxton, who is talking about her book. Thanks to Geoff and Jane for this promotion.
Regards
Nick L.
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