December 2022
Thank you !
We are very grateful to receive messages of thanks, support and donations from people who are noticing our work.
Te Whakarauora whio - project update. Butch Goodwin
20th December 2020
Re: Te Whakarauora whio – Friends of Rotoiti project
ID 10674 – Application 295119 - Milestone reporting
The Te Whakarauora whio, Friends of Rotoiti project which started in August 2021 with funding from
the Rata foundation to provide five hundred trap boxes, each with two DOC200 was completed early
2022.
Deployment down the Travers valley from Upper Travers to John Tait, John Tait to the swing bridge
including the loop from Lakehead to Coldwater hut has been completed and has been in operation
since March 2022.
Winter conditions arrived in May, and it was decided not to check the trap line from Upper Travers
to John Tait as there had been very few predators caught to date and snow and ice made for difficult
conditions.
There have been good catches but mainly below John Tait hut (800 metres) and we have been
experimenting with new terracotta lures soaked in a meat scented oil as we were having problems
with mice taking the eraze bait, but the new lures are working well on the Loop trapline, these lures
have been in the field for six months and still attracting rats and stoats. Volunteers have just
completed a total rebait of all 212 trap boxes down the Travers and we will be checking these
monthly until May 2023.
Sabine Valley.
It was hoped to have the Sabine section of this project completed by the end of this year, but
unfortunately bad weather had us postpone three times to get volunteers up to Blue Lake. We did
however get some sunny days early December during the week and flew twelve volunteers to Blue
Lake who worked their way down the valley carting and bedding in traps.
We still have approximately two to three days work for volunteers to complete the Sabine section
which will also be the completion of the total project for building and deploying five hundred traps.
This will happen mid-January 2023.
It is anticipated that during the summer months Nov – May we will fly in three volunteers to Upper
Travers and Three volunteers to Blue lake who will check, record and rebait traps over two days
during these months.
The winter month’s May – Oct subject to weather conditions we will look to check lines from John
Tait down the valley and West Sabine down to the Sabine hut.
Building the traps ourselves and the support from suppliers means we have managed to make
savings which will go towards helicopter charter and the purchase of baits and lures.
We are eighteen months into this five-year project which ends August 2026. We will need to
consider options of funding beyond 2026 to allow the Travers and Sabine trap lines to be checked
after that time.
Eight volunteers who are local residents have done the majority of this work.
Total volunteer hours for this project for 2022 1,772 hours
Total hours for the project to date (since Aug 2021) 3,091.5 hours
Total Predators
Stoat 17 , Rat 190, Mice 33, Weasel 1
News from the Traplines
Rainbow Line - co-ordinator David Price
Thank you for your patience during these last few weeks of silence from me
as Rainbow Trapline coordinator. We did the trapline on Saturday 3/12/22
after a very frustrating and prolonged period where weather did not
cooperate at all. It was a great day-Tammy and I took our son and his wife
who are visiting from the US and did a full rebait, returning just in time
to return the keys. Catches are below:
8 Rabbits: 9, 18, 20, 32, 40, 53, DF2, DF4
5 Rats: 38, 68, 119, 120, 145
6 Hedgehogs: 50, 70, 82, 116, 122, 146
4 Stoats: 62, 76, 88, 136
1 Eurasian Blackbird: 60
5 Possums: 150S, 195S, 183S, 168S, 164
Grass is beginning to get long and so I will try to get up there for a day
of maintenance before the next run, scheduled for 17 December.
If you can help check the line please call me on 021 125-9885.
We can arrange for people to have a look and learn outing.
And an update from Rainbow Line
I forgot to mention that when Tammy and I did the run on December 3 with our son and daughter-in-law we heard a kea calling clearly while parked just below the ski area. Couldn’t see it though. Logged on eBird.
Pat and Shirl Terry did the run on December 17 .
Sprung: 21, 54, 133, 157, +
2 Rats: 119, 143
1 Rabbit: 86
1 Starling: 137
2 Hedgehog: 76, 155
1 Possum: 15
6 Stoats: 36, 46, 60, 70, 99, 151
They also saw some deer and some chamois—that’s pretty awesome! Thank you, Pat and Shirl.
Don McFadzien has been up there fishing and has done some of the much-needed maintenance on the valley traps while up there, mostly weed-eating, and is almost done with that, so this summer’s checks should be a lot more enjoyable. He cleared a stoat from #143 the day after we did the line and another, also from #143 the day after Pat and Shirl did. He wonders if he’s got Mum and Dad and now it’s time for the kits.
It’s certainly wildflower season up there now, especially up the top. The mountain buttercups are in full bloom and so are many of the tiny, understated but lovely white alpine jobs. Haven’t seen the mountain daisies or speargrass out yet. It’s a beautiful time to head up there, so if you can volunteer, let me know.
Whisky, Mt Robert, Speargrass and Tophouse Lines- Wayne Sowman
Update on catches for December and the next checks for Whisky, Mt Robert and Speargrass.
Brian checked the Link Line 1st Dec - 6 mice.
Lynda checked Loop Line 1st Dec -11 rats, 1 mouse. I checked the line today 2 rats.
Wendy and Richard checked Mt Robert and Speargrass on Saturday 10th. Mt Robert 1 rat, Speargrass 5 rats 1 possum.
Paul checked Tophouse on 11th Dec -5 rabbits 5 rats.
Jules and I checked Whisky on the 13th Dec -6 rats.
Ross and Chris are checking Whisky over Christmas, so if anybody out there that can help with checking Mt Robert and Speargrass please let me know.
That's the end of 2022 thanks for your help and support over the year, will be in touch in January.
Best wishes for the season to you and your families, take care, see you in 2023.
Cheers Wayne