Shearwaters take flight
HealthPost Nature Trust is delighted to announce 91 of the 92 Pakahā Fluttering shearwater chicks it moved last month from the Marlborough Sounds to Cape Farewell have successfully fledged and taken flight from the Cape.
The translocation of the Pakahā from Kokomohua-Long Island in the Marlborough Sounds to Cape Farewell in mid- January is the Trust’s third successful translocation.
92 Pakahā Fluttering shearwater chicks were translocated to the sanctuary in January 2024.
“A big thanks to everyone who gave their time to make this such a success,” says HealthPost Nature Trust Chair, Peter Butler.
A large team of volunteers was involved with the birds’ journey by plane, car and air to their new burrows at Cape Farewell.
Since then, more than 35 volunteers have spent a total of more than 1500 hours feeding and weighing the birds getting them ready for their departure to coastal Australia where they will stay for two years before returning to New Zealand and hopefully the Cape to breed.
They were fed and weighed each day and their Wings were measured every second day. The amount of down on each chick was also assessed.
“Wing measurements not only show steady growth but are our best indicator of the birds age and indicate when to allow birds to roam out of their burrows so that can practice flying. Our record keepers Bree and Tracey used these three measurements to help guide feed volumes daily for each bird,” says Project Co-Ordinator Marian Milne.
“The birds were fed nourishing smoothies made up from fresh frozen pilchards and canned sardines.
And they have had the best of attention from a highly qualified local group of volunteers - a vet with postgraduate papers in avian medicine and captive management as well as three other qualified local vets and vet nurses.”
All of the birds were named by the volunteers. Eric, the last bird yet to leave, has an eye infection and has been placed in quarantine until the eye heals and he is ready to fly. He has been cared for by the veterinary team including a test to determine the cause of infection and inform his treatment. Once the infection is cleared, he will be released to join the others on their journey to Australian waters.
“It’s hoped that the first of the birds moved to the Cape two years ago will return here later this year with breeding not likely to begin till next year.
“And it looks like we may have some other prospective tenants for the purpose- built burrows. The onsite cameras have shown other local shearwaters visiting them.
“The area was once teeming with seabirds but they have disappeared because of changing land use and predation, with limited local offshore stacks and islands for them to breed. The HealthPost Nature Trust has created a safe cliff top site with a defendable predator fence to attract the birds back,” she says.
Photo credit: Andrew MacDonald
The aim is to rebuild an abundant colony, Peter Butler says.
“We have the chance to protect and enhance this ecosystem with our work to fence out the new kids on the block such as the mustelids, possums and farm animals; to plant up with native vegetation and then to reintroduce some of the bird species lost to the area.
“None of this would be possible without our supporters, volunteers and partners Manuwhenua ki Mohua and the DOC Takaka team. HealthPost donations pay the bills. We follow in the footsteps of translocation pioneers like the Matiu Somes Charitable Trust but when the birds return it will be the first fluttering shearwater colony back on mainland NZ since predators wiped them all out, “says Peter.
For more information contact: Debbie Hannan (communications volunteer) ph 021 871 685 or email debbiehannan61@gmail.com
Or visit the HealthPost Nature Trust website:
https://www.naturetrust.nz/
