Marsh crake, Ahuriri Napier

[tim]

Theres no more spotless there now and very few marsh around either they have been taken by a predator or left the area as stoats have been seen and I saw stoat tracks in the mud this morning at the spot. Its been 3-4 days since my last spotless sighting and I have been spending a lot of hours at the spot.

[Cheryl Walton]

That is a great worry Tim. You would think that with the site being a significant birding area (sign at the gate) that there would be some trapping and monitoring going on (if there is not already). Is it not DOC land?? Should they not be monitoring it?

[boneywhitefoot]

we were amazed with that too.
hopefully the birds will come back when the water lever drops more

[Neil Fitzgerald]

I just looked on DOC Maps and it shows it is DOC managed estate; the Ahuriri Estuary Conservation Area. I imagine it is a low priority (unless someone makes some noise about it), and it would be virtually impossible to protect such a small area from stoats. Managed as part of Cape to City would be a different, much better situation though.

[Cheryl Walton]

Thanks for that Neil. I just wouldn't understand if there was no trapping in the area with the alledged significance that the sign says at the gate way. I have had contact with a lady from Cape to City so might contact her and see if they are doing anything.

[Wayne & Marg Twydle]

I emailed the Napier office of DOC about a week before Christmas, as we saw a stoat about 100 metres from the crake pond. I have had no reply from DOC yet, but will follow up next week.
Wayne

[Colin Miskelly]

Two birds showing nicely at 6 am today about 100 m past the previous hotspot, which is now dry.
Colin and Kate

[Jim_j]

Re the comments regarding contacting DoC because a stoat has been sighted in the area - I can imagine where that sits in the funding priority list!
I'm sure it's on their website how much of the DoC estate receives predator control - it's not that much.

If we want to keep these smaller areas in anything like a natural state it will be up community care groups and the like that will need to take ownership - same as what is happening all round the country - if you use it look after it!


cheers
jim

[bobatkinson]

Hi Wayne,
could I trouble you for a PDF of this site please. I have sent you a private email but in case it doesnt make your in box I will try asking here too. Much appreciated.
Thank you
Bob Atkinson

[bennydog]

Hello Wayne Twydle, Is it possible to send me a PDF map of those birding areas also please.
I would really appreciate it as Im from Gisborne so time is always limited there at Ahiriri..Regards Neil Foster... nfphotog@gmail.com