On_Board_559_Decembe.. - Mana Cruising Club

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Pigeon PostMANA ISLAND PIGEON POSTIt is a given that the diverse job on the island can change in aheartbeat, and on November 19 they did just that. We had placedout some trail cameras, which have a motion sensor and infra-redcapability for nighttime, near two of our shore plover nests as amonitoring tool. We suspected something was happening thatwe hadn’t picked up during daytime checks. The cameras detectmovement and take images of whatever moves.We’d got into a habit of checking the cameras at the end of eachday, and again each morning. Reviewing the images was quite aninteresting job, it is amazing the activity at night here, penguins,ducks, shore plover, oyster catchers and pied shags all movingaround past the camera in the wee hours. Like a wildlife version ofPiccadilly Circus. But then an image caught my eye that I’ll neverforget – a rat.<strong>Mana</strong> Island has been pest free since mice were eradicated in 1989and the all-clear was given in 1991. So the rat sighting swunginto motion an incursion response on the same day, with trackingtunnels set (with ink cards and a peanut butter lure) to detectfootprints, stations with wax chew tags, and the following day, anetwork of traps were set. Dog handlers with rodent detectiondogs swept the island for sign, and we continued the use of our trailcameras. We knew we had a rat but didn’t know whether it was oneor many, and how far the problem had spread over the island. Wealso needed to closely monitor the shore plover, as any nests wouldmake the adults and egg/chicks very vulnerable.The use of small amounts of rodent bait around ‘hotspots’ seemsto have paid off so far, and we believe we are hot on the tail of thisrodent and its days are numbered. We will still need to continuetrap checks etc. and need a two-year period of no detection or signbefore the island can once again have a pest-free status.In the meantime, our other work here continues with the breedingseason for shore plover and takahe underway. The five takahe chicksare nearly two months old, and we have one pair on a nest, withseveral others due to start their second clutches. The forest birdshave also had a successful breeding season, with many bellbird andwhitehead fledglings in areas of forest canopy.Weeding the island continues and is nearly complete, with just someof the eastern and northern cliffs to go. Nicki and Di have done agreat job.It has been quite busy and great to see people coming ashore toexplore the island. Now more than ever the importance of checkinggear and vessels for animal and plant pests before heading to theisland is vital. Watch your step on the beaches too as the shoreplover and oyster-catchers are both breeding.We look forward to a warm and settled summer, and seeing you outthere.Seaview Marina100 Port RoadLower HuttPh 04 566 5240Fax 04 566 6469Email wellington@gulfgroup.co.nzMARINE BROKERS LTDwww.gulfgroup.co.nzBuzz Falconer 027 444 2037Trevor Burgess 029 620 0290Bert Reeves 027 460 6115Nigel Misseldine 021 415 220“Ninness offers a full range of funeralservices... and is still locally owned.”Brenden JacobsenCheryl AmysTodd Wearne17 Kenepuru Drive | Porirua | Phone (04) 237 417418 Kapiti Road | Paraparaumu | Phone (04) 297 0207info@ninness.co.nz | www.ninness.co.nz18
MCC Children’s Christmas Party 2011
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Page 5 and 6: Trade & ExchangeFor SaleMana Marina
Page 7 and 8: FISHINGReports of good groper in cl
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Page 11 and 12: 165 out of the Club’s 846 members
Page 13 and 14: and turned hard a-starboard. The sh
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On_Board_559_Decembe.. - Mana Cruising Club

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