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After the Christmas/New Year break, the North Canterbury Woodcraft Club Open Nights return on Wednesday 17 January.
Where: Northbrook Studios, 191 Northbrook Road, Rangiora
When: 7 pm, 17 January, 2024
What: A 2 hour expert free demonstration of woodturning
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Conservationists and biodiversity managers have suspected for some time the karoro (southern black-backed gull) was behaving as a predator to other native birds.
Now bird counts in Hurunui and Kaikōura show the karoro is a predator to threatened ground… View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Conservationists and biodiversity managers have suspected for some time the karoro (southern black-backed gull) was behaving as a predator to other native birds.
Now bird counts in Hurunui and Kaikōura show the karoro is a predator to threatened ground nesting birds for a source of food, Environment Canterbury (ECan) senior biodiversity adviser Heath Melville says.
The karoro are ‘‘a big, beautiful bird’’, but have been monitored attacking nesting colonies until complete failure by destroying eggs and taking young chicks for food.
They are also known to attack newborn lambs and calves, and other vulnerable livestock.
‘‘We can certainly see the black backed gulls are relentless,’’ he said.
‘‘We have been doing some controls, but they are still returning to these sites to breed."
ECan recently completed bird counts at the Waiau Uwha and Hurunui rivers in the Hurunui district, and the Clarence Waiau Toa and Charwell rivers and along the Kaikōura coastline.
This was co-ordinated with bird counts conducted by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and other councils from across the South Island, to learn more about the karora and threatened native species nesting in colonies, primarily in braided riverbeds.
The Waiau Uwha braided river bird surveys have been completed eight times since 2008.
The latest count produced a similar result to previous years, with native bird numbers trending down, while karoro and exotic species were trending upwards.
In all, 45 bird species were identified in the Waiau Uwha survey, including native wrybill, white and black-fronted tern, and banded dotterel.
The birds were also threatened by animals and humans, as well as climate change, habitat loss and weed infestations in riverbeds, leaving birds to nest in areas prone to high river flows.
The Kaikōura sites were added to the bird survey last year, after the Kaikōura Zone Committee agreed to fund a count of the karoro, provided staff engage with mana whenua.
A Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura spokesperson said karoro eggs were traditionally collected as mahinga kai, but there was no need to manage the population prior to colonisation.
The birds have expanded into areas where land use provides increased food sources, particularly braided rivers surrounded by farmland, and near landfills or refuse centres.
The Rūnanga was supportive of taking control measures, provided decisions were based on good data, the spokesperson said.
‘‘The biggest concern for Ngāti Kurī is having a clear understanding of what is going on.
‘‘If the karoro is predating other native species in decline then we need to manage it.
‘‘But what if we have a cull and then we have a disease go through the population, then we have contributed to wiping them out.’’
Kaikōura had the largest red billed gull colonies in New Zealand, while black-billed gulls, shags, terns, oystercatchers and dotterels were also surveyed breeding in the area.
Bird counts were new in Kaikōura, aside from a 52-year study by local resident James Mills of red billed gulls on the Kaikōura Peninsula. This study has shown the red billed gull was in steady decline, despite predator control measures carried out by DOC.
The endangered red billed gulls were often considered a problem to outdoor diners, which has been exacerbated by declining food sources at sea, Melville said.
‘‘They get in people’s faces, take their eggs benny or their fish ’n chips because in many instances they are literally starving, whereas the karoro don’t tend to get so close, and are better adapted at foraging a more diverse diet in highly modified environments.’’
Melville said council staff will continue engaging with the Rūnanga, DOC, LINZ, Clarence River Rafting (which have been assisting in surveying nesting sites), researchers, and other councils and biodiversity managers to monitor the population and develop strategies to manage bird populations.
The karoro are proving to be a pest in other parts of the South Island.
In Geraldine, DOC biodiversity senior ranger Ian Fraser said his office has been working to control karoro on local rivers over the last eight years.
‘‘We have been talking with [Te Rūnanga o] Arowhenua and they have been working with Environment Canterbury, identifying the potential of karoro eggs as mahinga kai and the Rūnanga has carried out some control work as well.’’
Fraser said land use changes over the last 1000 years had favoured karoro over other native birds.
The clearing of forests have created open plains, while today’s farms offered plenty of food sources - ‘‘not to mention our waste facilities’’.
‘‘We have altered the balance, so we need to try to meddle in good ways.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Is the summer heat putting you off painting your house or a building in a darker colour? With Resene CoolColour you can enjoy a cooler finish when it's unbearably hot outside!
Planning to use a dark coloured paint or wood stain on your home?
Choose a Resene CoolColour finish that will… View moreIs the summer heat putting you off painting your house or a building in a darker colour? With Resene CoolColour you can enjoy a cooler finish when it's unbearably hot outside!
Planning to use a dark coloured paint or wood stain on your home?
Choose a Resene CoolColour finish that will help reflect more heat and keep your place cooler.
Available in a wide range of colours and products from your local Resene ColorShop.
Go bold with a yellow entranceway and give your guests a memorial welcome.
Follow our handy tips on how you can add bold colour to your entranceway.
Hi neighbours
Im after top soil if any one has some for sale
Cheers linc
0211442468
Craving a recipe that’s sure to impress? Indulge your sweet tooth with our Gooey Caramel Muffins - the latest addition to Ryman’s food menu.
Quick, easy, and oh-so-delicious! Grab your apron and prepare for caramel perfection with our step-by-step recipe.
Click read more for the full … View moreCraving a recipe that’s sure to impress? Indulge your sweet tooth with our Gooey Caramel Muffins - the latest addition to Ryman’s food menu.
Quick, easy, and oh-so-delicious! Grab your apron and prepare for caramel perfection with our step-by-step recipe.
Click read more for the full recipe and video.
Ready for a Kiwi summer road trip?
Explore our essential road trip gear for a memorable journey! Don't miss out on the must-haves to make your trip unforgettable :)
As New Zealand’s most popular retirement villages and Reader’s Digest most trusted brand, you probably didn’t need another reason to choose the Ryman lifestyle. So we’re giving you 15,000! For a limited time, if you sign up for one of our new home offers, you’ll get a $15,000 credit on … View moreAs New Zealand’s most popular retirement villages and Reader’s Digest most trusted brand, you probably didn’t need another reason to choose the Ryman lifestyle. So we’re giving you 15,000! For a limited time, if you sign up for one of our new home offers, you’ll get a $15,000 credit on settlement*. There’s truly never been a better time to choose Ryman.
*Terms and conditions apply
Corokia Gentys Green is hardy New Zealand native plant with a small compact leaf. Very versatile - excellent for background planting, shelter, and clipped hedging. Perfect for hedging or as an individual specimen to add to your garden. Great for boundary.$4 per plant. Around 100 available.
New Year, New Connection! How's your broadband holding up?
Have you encountered any issues with your current broadband service in the past year? Share your thoughts and let's help each other out!
Not all Ryman residents can claim viral internet sensation status – but Patrick Hogan Retirement Village’s Doug Lineham sure can!
It was during the live televised name reveal for Ryman Healthcare’s new Cambridge village on TVNZ’s Breakfast that presenter Matty McClean happened upon Doug.… View moreNot all Ryman residents can claim viral internet sensation status – but Patrick Hogan Retirement Village’s Doug Lineham sure can!
It was during the live televised name reveal for Ryman Healthcare’s new Cambridge village on TVNZ’s Breakfast that presenter Matty McClean happened upon Doug.
The resulting hilarious sequence of dry, but complimentary-to-Ryman, one-liners left the audience calling for Doug to have his own show. One fan even touted him as the next PM!
What viewers didn’t know, however, was that behind the droll exterior, Doug was dealing with the loss of his beloved wife Jan.
Click to read Doug's story.
Good sized plants. Looks like buxus when grown but grows at twice the speed. Tiny oval dark green leaves. Plant in full sun or semi shade. Ideal plant to shape into balls cones etc perfect for planting now $3.50 per plant
Did you know you can share details of community events with your fellow neighbours on Neighbourly? Please let us know if you’ve got a school fair, community market, workshop or other event coming up that the public can attend! Click the Events tab within Neighbourly for more details.
We can … View moreDid you know you can share details of community events with your fellow neighbours on Neighbourly? Please let us know if you’ve got a school fair, community market, workshop or other event coming up that the public can attend! Click the Events tab within Neighbourly for more details.
We can also share this info in The Press’ weekly What’s On column (published Fridays in print and online at thepress.co.nz). You can email event info to us directly too at reporters@press.co.nz - please include the date, time, location, info on any costs/ticket requirements, info on what the event is and a photo, if possible.
There is no charge to submit an event for this column, but inclusion is not guaranteed. Submissions need to be in by the end of business on Tuesday to be considered for that Friday’s column.
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