Blog Posts - Lake Okareka

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve - June 2015

26/6/2015

The programme for the 2015 pest control has commenced with two working bees held in May to commence preparing the lines. The programme for the rest of the year is:

Tikitapu Working Bee Programme 2015

Trimming Lines, checking stations etc.
June - Sunday 21st & Monday 22nd
July - Friday 10th & Sunday 12th

Pre Bait Monitoring
Trakka cards and Wax tags out—Saturday 25th July
Trakka cards in – Sunday 26th July
Wax tags in – Saturday 1st August

Bagging baits
Wednesday 5th August
Wednesday 19th August

Bait laying
Baits out – Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August
Top up – Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th August
Clear stations – Sunday 20th and Monday 21st September

Post Bait Monitoring
Trakka cards and Wax tags out - Saturday 26th September
Trakka cards in – Sunday 27th September
Wax tags in – Saturday 3rd October

There will also be two planting working bees which are ideal for people who are no longer able to manage going up and down the bait lines.

Saturday 22nd August, a combined working bee with Forest and Bird, Rotorua Botanical Society and Landcare Okareka to plant opposite the start of Benn Rd, in behind the area planted several years ago. Sunday 6th September, assisting Kiwi Conservation Club to extend their planted area at Hamurana.

Bird counts will be repeated in November.

We would be delighted to have some new volunteers join us for these projects. Our working bees start at 9am and we expect to be finished by 12 noon. Reasonable fitness is required.

Frances Blakely
jandfblakely@gmail.com

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve - March 2015

26/3/2015

TIKITAPU SCENIC RESERVE PEST CONTROL PROGRAMME

The annual meeting between DOC, BPRC and F&B has been held recently to review the results from 2014 and to plan the programme for 2015. It is intended to repeat the 2014 combination of Pindone Pellets and Feratox® capsules. Subject to DOC approval of the Work Plan, the Tikitapu Working Bee Programme will be:

Trimming Lines, checking stations etc.
May Saturday 16th & Monday 18th
June Sunday 21st & Monday 22nd
July Friday 10th & Sunday 12th

Pre Bait Monitoring
Trakka cards & Wax tags out Saturday 25 July
Trakka cards in Sunday 26th July
Wax tags in Saturday 1st August

Bagging baits
Wednesday 5th August
Wednesday 19th August

Bait laying
Baits out Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August
Top up Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th August
Clear stations Sunday 20th and Monday 21st September

Post Bait Monitoring
Trakka cards and Wax tags out Saturday 26th September
Trakka cards in Sunday 27th September
Wax tags in Saturday 3rd October

Following the expiry of the four months required for the poison warning signs to be in place after the removal of the bait from the reserve, and the decomposition of the two caged carcasses, the signs have now been removed from the reserve. Although there should be no toxin present now, please remember that dogs are still not allowed in the area as it is a Scenic Reserve.

Please let me know if you are interested in joining our volunteers. Each year one or two of our regulars have to leave us as the years creep up on them. Some new people would be very welcome. It is an interesting and satisfying project to be involved in and we have some interesting discussions after working bees while sharing a cuppa and muffins.

Frances Blakely blakelys@xtra.co.nz

Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project

25/3/2015

Mistletoe Monitoring Report Published June 2014
Paul Cashmore

The Department of Conservation has just published a report compiled by Johlene Kelly of Alchemists Ltd analysing the results and producing conclusions from 15 years of mistletoe monitoring at the Blue Lake Holiday Park and 11 years of monitoring in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve. The latter is part of the 150ha which have been under active animal and plant pest management since the early 2000's as part of the Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project being undertaken by Rotorua branch of Forest and Bird and Rotorua Botanical Society with support from the Department of Conservation and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

There are two green mistletoe species present in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve, the largest population being Tupeia antarctica with a smaller population of Ileostylus micranthus present mainly around Blue Lake Holiday Park. As the Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project was founded partly on the presence of a reasonably large population of mistletoes present in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve, it made sense to monitor changes in the health, distribution and abundance of these two species as a key indicator as to whether the project was meeting its objectives (set in 2002), one of which was to increase the distribution and numbers of two mistletoe species (Ileostylus micranthus and Tupeia antarctica) within the management area.

The monitoring consists of transects and plots established within Blue Lake Holiday Park and in the known mistletoe area in the NE corner of Tikitapu Scenic Reserve bordering Okareka Loop Rd and Benn Rd. Monitoring involved scoring both tagged mistletoe plants and their host trees for a range of health indicators using what is known as the Foliar Browse Index (FBI) monitoring method (Payton et al, 1999) modified for mistletoe monitoring (Department of Conservation, 2001). This included setting up 7 recruitment plots in areas where no mistletoe were present to monitor changes in mistletoe distribution and abundance. FBI monitoring at Blue Lake Holiday Park commenced in 2001 and 2002 in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve before intensive pest management began and was re-measured in 2007 and 2012 at Blue Lake and in 2007 and 2013 at Tikitapu Scenic Reserve.

Results and Conclusions

At Blue Lake Holiday Park
-          Health of existing mistletoe plants (both Tupeia and Ileostylus) has improved while health of hosts has remained stable.
-          There is an ongoing high mortality of host trees (mainly kohuhu and five finger), and hence mistletoe plants as a result. In 2011 only 8.6% of the sample of monitored mistletoes tagged in 1997 were still alive. In 2011 only 34% of the mistletoe sample tagged in 2001 were still alive. As possum browse scores have been low and have declined since 2007 the host tree death is generally believed to be largely due to the short lived host trees dying of old age rather than possum impacts.
-          It is unclear whether there is wider mistletoe recruitment at this site or not as with limited forest area within the holiday park site there is only one recruitment plot.

At Tikitapu Scenic Reserve
-          Health of mistletoe species (Tupeia) and its host trees showed a very slight decline over time for both hosts (five finger) and mistletoes but overall has been relatively stable.
-          Possum browse on both mistletoe host trees and Tupeia mistletoe plants was negligible and results indicate that possum browse was relatively low prior to control beginning as well.
-          As possum browse scores are very low small changes in Tupeia mistletoe and host health over time maybe due to age of monitored individuals.
-          Total Tupeia mistletoe volume (length x width x height) showed a large increase from 2002 to 2007 and then a decrease from 2007 and 2013. Reasons for this are unclear but may be related to increasing poor condition as mistletoes age and smaller new mistletoes are being recruited into sample size.
-          There has been 20-30% host tree mortality between sampling events, and again like at Blue Lake this probably indicates the relatively short lived nature of the host trees.
-          Seven recruitment plots established showed zero mistletoe plants in 2001, 22 in 2007 and 127 in 2013. The % of all FBI plots with 1 or more live mistletoe was 50% in 2002, 68% in 2007 and 77% in 2013.

These results demonstrate that there has been a massive increase in both Tupeia mistletoe numbers and density within the management area from recruitment of new plants. While this has likely been assisted by possum control measures, other factors such as an increase in bird numbers from rat and possum control may have assisted in dispersal rates.

Summary
-          Therefore it is likely that ongoing possum control is having a positive impact on mistletoes at both Blue Lake Holiday Park and Tikitapu Scenic Reserve. With the benefit of possum control, the Tupeia mistletoe population is now expanding throughout suitable habitat within the reserve into areas it was not previously present. Results for Ileostylus are less clear mainly because of the very small number of plants present in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve but suggest it is at least stable at Blue Lake Holiday Park.
-          This monitoring indicates that the Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project has met their objective to increase the distribution and numbers of Tupeia antarctica within the management area.

This report shows some good results which although not all as clear cut as we would like it does demonstrate that the project has met at least one of its key objectives in regard to mistletoes, which are the key iconic species partly around which the project was set up. Mistletoe monitoring will continue on a 5 yearly basis to determine future trends in mistletoe health, abundance and distribution within the reserve.

The Department of Conservation wishes to thank all the volunteers from Rotorua branch of Forest and Bird, Rotorua Botanical Society and other locals who have assisted with the animal pest control and mistletoe monitoring programme since 1997. Anyone who would like to see a full copy of the report can contact Paul Cashmore at the Department of Conservation, Rotorua District Office on pcashmore@doc.govt.nz or phone 07 3497 432.

References

Department of Conservation. (2001). Mistletoe Recovery Group - Best Practice for Monitoring Loranthaceous Mistletoe - WSCCO- 22338. Department of Conservation.

Kelly, J. (2014). Tikitapu Scenic Reserve mistletoe (Tupeia antarctica and Ileostylus micranthus) monitoring 1997-2013. Report prepared by Alchemists Ltd for Department of Conservation, Rotorua.

Payton et al. (1999). Foliar Browse Index: A Method for Monitoring Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) damage to plant pecies and forest communities. Wellington: Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research.

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve - December 2014

11/12/2014

A big thank you to all those who have helped with the Tikitapu Pest Control Project this year. The project depends on your assistance. As well as the main working bees, the roster for checking and maintaining the Mistletoe and Nature walks has continued. Parents and children from the Kiwi Conservation Club have once again looked after the monitoring on rat line 1. We appreciate having their involvement and the introduction of youngsters to this type of conservation work.

The pest control project for 2014 is now complete. The toxins of Pindone and Feratox® (cyanide) were used again this year, and the results have been satisfactory as shown on the chart below. The ? for the number of marsupials is because we awaiting an expert second opinion on one wax tag, as to whether the bite is a large rat or a small marsupial! The number of kills found was 67 possums, 2 young possums, 6 wallaby and 1 rat. Prior to baiting a trapper also got 22 possums and 1 rat.

The caution period for the reserve will continue until the signs are taken down, approximately 4 months after the stations were cleared at the end of September.

This time is required for the complete decomposition of the carcasses and degredation of the bait. Until the signs are removed please do not touch any carcasses and remember to keep dogs out of the reserve at all times.

The annual monitoring of bird activity in Tikitapu Reserve, to determine if bird abundance is increasing as a result of the pest management strategy that is carried out in the Reserve, has now been completed. Counts at each of the 26 established stations were undertaken during November and shared by twelve volunteers. With a minimum of three counts per station this entailed quite a number of early morning hours. This year the 20 stations within the Tikitapu Reserve were supplemented with a further six stations in a nearby area of bush where there has been no pest control for comparison. Although the data is still being collated we can see that there are lots of tui, bellbirds and grey warblers in the Reserve. Other birds commonly recorded include tomtits, whiteheads, both shining and long-tailed cuckoos, chaffinch, silvereyes and fantails. Less frequently heard were kingfisher, wood pigeon, eastern rosella and blackbirds and a number of others. A comprehensive report , including comparisons with counts made in previous years will be prepared for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council which supports the pest control programme.

New volunteers are always welcome and if anyone is interested in being involved in the pest control programme, or going on the roster to check the Nature and Mistletoe walks please let me know.

Frances Blakely
Phone: 3628 480 or email: blakelys@xtra.co.nz

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve September 2014

25/9/2014

The winter has been a busy time for the Tikitapu Forest and Bird Pest Control Project. Working bees were held to trim and check all the bait lines and stations prior to the bait being put out on the 8th and 9th August. A combination of Pindone pellets and Feratox® capsules, which have proved successful in the past, has been used this year. The bait was topped up on 24th and 25th August and any remaining bait will be removed on the 21st and 22nd September.

Monitoring of rodent and marsupial numbers was done prior to baiting and will be repeated after the stations are cleared. We hope for a better result with the rodent numbers than we achieved last year.

The caution period for the reserve will continue until the signs are taken down, approximately 4 months after the stations are cleared.

This time is required for the complete decomposition of the carcasses and degradation of the bait. Until the signs are removed please do not touch any carcasses and remember to keep dogs out of the reserve at all times.

New volunteers are always welcome and if anyone is interested in being involved in the pest control programme, or going on the roster to check the Nature and Mistletoe walks please let me know.

Frances Blakely
Phone: 362 8480 or email: blakelys@xtra.co.nz
TIKITAPU SCENIC RESERVE
PEST CONTROL PROGRAMME

Bird Counts in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve

In conjunction with the pest control programme, Forest and Bird carries out an annual survey of birds in the Tikitapu Scenic Reserve. The number of birds seen and/or heard are recorded at 20 pre-defined locations throughout the reserve using the 5-minute bird count methodology.

Tui has been the most frequently recorded bird in the last three years. The report for the 2013 count is available at http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/ branches/rotorua.

Another count will be carried out in November this year. New volunteers are welcome. If you are interested in helping please email Forest and Bird at: rotorua.branch@forestandbird.org.nz. Margaret Dick ph 357 2024 is the contact for the bird count.

TIKITAPU SCENIC RESERVE PEST CONTROL PROJECT

10/6/2014

The 2013 Pest Control Project was completed with the removal of the poison signs at the beginning of April. There were no problems encountered during the project, although the results were disappointing, with the high number of rodents and marsupials monitored after the baiting was completed. This year the baits will go out early in August when we hope the pests will be cold and hungry, and we will achieve a better result.

The Pest Control Programme has commenced with the first working bees to trim the lines and to check the bait stations are intact. The programme for the remainder of the year is:

Tikitapu Working Bee Programme 2014

Trimming Lines, checking stations etc.

June—Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd
July—Friday 11th & Sunday 13th

Pre Bait Monitoring

Trakka cards and wax tags out - Saturday 26th July
Trakka cards in – Sunday 27th July
Wax tags in – Saturday 2nd August

Bagging baits

Wednesday 6th August
Wednesday 20th August

Bait laying

Baits out – Friday 8th and Saturday 9th August
Top up – Sunday 24th & Monday 25th August
Clear stations – Sunday 21st & Monday 22nd September

Post Bait Monitoring
Trakka cards and wax tags out - Saturday 27th September Trakka cards in – Sunday 28th September Wax tags in – Saturday 4th October.

There will also be working bees to plant some new trees around the mistletoe area and to infill gaps near the start of the Nature Walk. These working bees are ideal for people who are no longer able to manage going up and down the bait lines.

We would be delighted to have some more Okareka residents assisting with this project which benefits the local community. If you would be interested in helping please contact Frances and James Blakely on 3628 480 or blakelys@xtra.co.nz.

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve Pest Control March 2014

2/3/2014

The pest control programme in 2013 followed a different format than previous years, with the use of Feratox® (cyanide) strikers to target wallabies as well as possums, instead of Feratox® capsulated pellets in the bait stations with the Pin-done pellets. This was done as a trial but unfortunately the results were disap-pointing. It appears that the possums ate much of the Pindone, but not enough to be lethal, and consequently the rats did not get enough to be lethal either. The strikers, which were put out after most of the Pindone had gone, were treated as toys by the rats which are cunning enough to destroy the strikers but not eat the Feratox® capsule in the potato starch. We did find a total of 13 wallabies and 37 possums by the striker stations.

The post baiting monitoring recorded a Rat Tracking Index of 42% and Waxtag Bite Index of 41% for marsupials, equivalent to 10% with the previous used Residual Trap Catch method.

At the recent meeting between Department of Conservation, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and Tikitapu Forest and Bird Care Group it was unanimously agreed to bait this year. It had been hoped to reduce baiting to alternate years, but with the disappointing results last year, and the expected mast year this year, we will bait again. At this stage the programme has not been finalised but I expect we will start with the line trimming in May or June.

The bait stations have been cleared of the remaining bait and the striker remnants removed. However it is still important to observe the precautions on the next page.

The bird counts were repeated in November and the data will be compiled shortly. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this project in 2013 and we hope to see you back again this year.

New volunteers are always welcome and if you are interested and would like further information, please contact me.

Frances Blakely—phone 362 8480 or email: blakelys@xtra.co.nz

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve Pest Control December 2013

2/12/2013

Spring has been a busy time in the reserve. The bait stations were filled with Pindone baits targeting rats and possums in mid September. All bait was taken by early November when the stations were refilled with Pindone and non toxic prefeed strikers nailed to trees at approximately 50m intervals along the bait lines. These strikers obviously caused a lot of interest and were removed, nibbled, munched and generally investigated. Two weeks later the remnants of the prefeed strikers were replaced with Feratox® (cyanide) strikers with the objective of cleaning up any remaining possums. We hope to also reduce the wallaby numbers with the strikers.

Any remaining strikers and Pindone will be removed in Mid December but caution is still required until any dead bodies have decomposed and the caution period of 4 months is over. At that stage the signs will be removed.

The final working bees were there on Sunday December 8th and Monday December 9th to clear all stations and remove remaining strikers.

Annual bird counts have been completed and results will be compiled. Rodent and marsupial monitoring was done in September prior to any baiting, repeated before the Pindone top up and will be done again after all bait is removed.

Our thanks to Doc and BoPRC for their support and guidance during the year. To the volunteers who have been involved during the year – our sincere thanks. There would be no project without you.

For further details about the project and how you may help, please contact:
Frances & James Blakely
07 362 8480

Tikitapu Scenic Reserve Pest Control September 2013

17/9/2013

It is lovely to see the spring flowers and blossoms and to hear the birds in the village. The comments we hear confirm the benefits of the pest control project with the increase in the bird life and flourishing Mistletoe.

During the winter volunteers have checked and trimmed the bait lines ready for the pest control commencing in September. If anyone is able to help get the bait out we would be delighted to hear from you. It is a case of many hands
make light work. Volunteers do need to be reasonably fit and able to carry a pack.

The Mistletoe and Nature walks have been checked each month by those on the roster – our thanks to them.

Programme for remaining 2013

Friday Sept 13th and Sunday Sept 15th - Pindone baits out.
Saturday Nov 2nd and Monday Nov 4th - top up all stations as required with Pindone and place non toxic Ferafeed strikers at marked positions.
Friday Nov 15th and Sunday Nov 17th – remove non toxic strikers and replace with Feratox® strikers.
Sunday Dec 8th and Monday Dec 9th - clear all stations and remove remaining strikers.
Saturday Dec 14th to Saturday Dec 21st - monitoring.

New volunteers are always welcome and if anyone is interested in being involved in the pest control programme, or going on the roster to check the Nature and Mistletoe walks please let me know.

Frances Blakely
Phone: 3628 480
Email: blakelys@xtra.co.nz

Rat and Possum Control in theTikitapu Scenic Reserve

16/9/2013

The Tikitapu Forest & Bird Care Group with the approval of the Department of Conservation plans to reduce possum and rat numbers over approximately 150ha of the Tikitapu Scenic Reserve.

Why we are controlling Possum and Rats?
The objective of this work is to protect the native mistletoe within the reserve and to increase native bird numbers which disperse the mistletoe seeds. The work is also undertaken to protect and restore the ecosystem in general in this area for all native plants and animals.

This possum and rat control operation is part of an ongoing programme undertaken by Tikitapu Forest and Bird Care group to reduce pest numbers in one of the Area’s well known and well used reserves. This will reduce possum browse and predation allowing the forest and in particular the native mistletoe population to recover.

Possums and rats are known to negatively impact on ecosystems by preying on young birds, eggs and invertebrates. They compete for food and generally have a destructive impact on the habitat. Possums can damage mistletoe by browsing and consuming seeds and fruit.

What has been decided so far?
Using a network of approx 150 bait stations (see left photo) placed along bait lines within the operational area, it is intended to reduce possum and rat numbers using Pindone cereal baits to target rats and Feratox® Strikers to target possums. Research shows bait stations to be an effective and targeted form of possum and rat control. Feratox® Strikers will be nailed to trees at 50 metre intervals along bait lines, to target possums this year, and Pindone pellets to target rats will be placed in the bait stations. Feratox® Strikers contain Ferafeed, a non toxic paste appealing to possums and contain a Feratox pellet, which is a controlled substance and will be handled only by certified operators.

Operational planning
The use of this pesticide requires the consent of the Medical Officer of Health and any advice that they provide is incorporated into the operation. In addition, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the local authority (Rotorua District Council) must be advised. The Department of Conservation also has an internal approval process to ensure the operation run by Tikitapu Forest and Bird Care Group is meeting the Department’s Quality Management standards for pesticide use.

These consents entail a detailed assessment of the risks involved in the work. Before approvals are granted, a satisfactory means to manage these risks has to be shown. (This is called an Assessment of Environmental Effects and if you’re interested, a copy for this operation can be viewed at the Department of Conservation, Rotorua Lakes Area Office.) Conditions applied to this operation further safeguard the public and the environment.

The Tikitapu Forest & Bird Care Group will consult those surrounding landowners affected by this operation prior to the baiting operation commencing. This will involve considering their concerns and needs regarding the operational method and its timing. Other people who have a general interest in the area will be notified using this fact sheet.

Timeframe
The Pindone ® poison will be placed in bait stations on or just after the 13th September 2013. Bait will be topped up as required and Ferafeed non toxic strikers placed at 50m intervals along bait lines on or just after 2nd November 2013. Ferafeed strikers will be replaced with Feratox® strikers,(cyanide) on or just after 15 November 2013. Uneaten poison bait will be removed from the bait stations by mid December. Possum and rat numbers will be monitored during this period to assess the effect of the baits. These dates are indicative and may change due to factors such as bad weather. Warning signs will be placed immediately prior to the operation starting and removed when the caution period is over which is around the end of April.

Important information
The pesticides used are effective and safe when properly handled. The use of bait stations allows for the pesticide to be made available to target pest species while at the same time restricting accessibility to native and non-target species. However there is a risk of poisoning to humans and non-target animals such as dogs if the bait is handled carelessly or eaten. Poisoning can occur through eating baits or poisoned animals.

The risk to dogs from pesticide in carcasses will remain until the carcass have decomposed, which can be up to or more than six months.

These risks can be eliminated by following these simple rules:

DO NOT handle any bait
DO NOT allow CHILDREN to wander unsupervised in the treatment area
DO NOT bring DOGS into this area
DO NOT take ANIMALS for eating

The presence of Warning signs indicates that pesticide residues may still be present in baits or animals. The removal of signs will tell you that you can resume normal activities in the area. If in doubt, check with DOC.

What do I do if I suspect poisoning?
Always contact your:

Local doctor, or
Local hospital or
National Poisons Centre 0800 764 766

Who do I contact for more information?
Frances Blakely
Rotorua Branch, Forest & Bird
PO Box 1489, Rotorua 3040
(07) 362 8480
www.forestandbird.org.nz

Maurice Wilke
Department of Conservation
Rotorua Lakes Area Office
99 Sala St, Rotorua.
ph(07) 349 8212