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Kārearea
Protecting a southern land
May 2015
Image: Craig McKenzie
Education and practical conservation go hand-in-hand at
Earthlore Insect Conservation Habitat
Gordon Thompson
C
ertified with the Moths and
Butterflies Trust of New
Zealand, Earthlore’s Insect
Conservation Habitat is designed not
only to save insects but to educate,
inspire and get people actively
involved in the conservation of New
Zealand’s many and varied native
invertebrates. Janine and I live near
Owaka in the Catlins where we
have an area of approximately two
hectares which we are revegetating
in species specific habitats for a
number of NZ insect species.
for larval food; kowhai for Ringlet
food, shelter and nitrogen fixation;
and Southland tussock for overwintering. We also add charcoal
to aid soil diversity and water
retention/filtration.
When the habitat is fully established
we shall install nectar feeding
stations at various observation
points along the paths so visitors
will get to see our little wonders up
close. We also intend to have a legal
covenant put in place to protect the
entire area in perpetuity.
BUTTERFLY HABITAT To date
PLANT SELECTION We select
we have planted habitats for Red
and Yellow Admiral and Common
Copper butterflies (which were
here already), and have begun
planting for Tussock Ringlet and
Glade Copper butterflies, local
species that we aim to reintroduce
once we have areas established for
them. People are invited to sponsor
the planting of trees and shrubs to
create habitat, and whilst they are
planting their seedling we take the
opportunity to make a presentation
designed to get people enthused
about the fascinating lives
of insects. Janine and I aren't
entomologists ourselves, but insect
enthusiasts who try very hard to
make the insect world interesting to
adults and children alike.
Establishment of the butterfly
habitat began seven years ago
and contains plantings of Olearia
hectorii (which is endangered in
the wild) for nectar; muehlenbeckia
the plants for each habitat based on
research of an insect’s needs over
its entire lifecycle, along with our
observations of similar habitat in
our local area in which the insect is
found to be living.
Species: Copper butterfly,
Common and Southern Blue
butterfly, Tussock Ringlet butterfly
Larval food source:
Muehlenbeckia axillaris, M. complexa,
M. Australis, tree lucerne, red clover,
white clover, Southland tussock
Nectar source:
Winter: Viburnum tinus, Hebe
speciosa, calendula, tree lucerne
Spring: Olearia ilicifolia, O. cheesemanii,
kaka beak, kowhai, alyssum
Summer: Hebe salicifolia, Geranium
traversii, Marlborough rock daisy
Autumn: Sedum species, Hebe
species, Olearia avicenniaefolia,
wallflower
Photographs at Earthlore
taken by Richard Schofield
Gordon (right) explains to South Otago Forest & Bird
members the work being done at Earthlore
Earthlore cont from p1
WASTELAND HABITAT: There
is a wasteland area close to the
conservation habitat, on which
for the last 10 years we have left
wilding Muehlenbeckia to smother
elderberry and hawthorn bushes for
the express purpose of providing
food for the Copper butterflies.
SHELTER: At present the habitat
contains mature tree fuchsia,
pepper tree, Coprosma species,
tree ferns and a shelter belt of
conifer and tree lucerne. Our
planting is ongoing and in the
last seven years we have planted
totara, rata, manuka, pittosporum,
pseudopanax, ribbonwood,
wineberry and many other native
trees and shrubs. We have also
planted many ground cover species
for food and shelter.
WATER: A number of springs run
through our conservation habitat,
one of which comes out on the side
of a hill. In this area we have dug a
pond and begun creating a wetland
habitat. Within two weeks these
ponds had water insects taking up
residence. This area will include a
boggy patch for puddling (male
butterflies drink muddy water to
get the minerals they need to make
healthy caterpillars).
MOTH HABITAT: Our native
moth habitat is in its eighth season
of growth and is just now beginning
to become established. Twice a year
we cut the grass from around each
tree, mulch with newspaper and
then cardboard, placing the cut grass
back on top of the mulch, where it is
left to break down into the soil.
A gully runs through the middle
of the moth habitat which contains
remnants of mature bush. When
we bought the property, this area
was being grazed by cattle. The
vegetation is reverting very quickly,
now that livestock is no longer
allowed to roam here.
PEST CONTROL: Wasps are our
main pest species which we control
by targeting the new queens in
early September. We do this by
placing bait stations around the
habitat in a grid pattern at 20 metre
spacing, using tuna cat food to
attract the wasp to a powdered
poison. By poisoning early in the
season we thus reduce the number
of wasps before they can breed,
and so prevent them from taking
butterfly and moth caterpillars as
protein for their grubs.
We also poison for rats and mice
and trap stoats, ferrets and weasels
as well as possums, and in the last
season, shot 80-plus rabbits.
FUTURE PLANS: Our planting
programme continues, with the
focus remaining on plants for insects.
We include many endangered native
plants as insect hosts, such as our
rare native broom species.
South Island kowhai
Handle with care! Ongaonga (tree nettle)
planted as food for Red Admiral caterpillars
Bellbirds appreciate supplementary
feeding as winter approaches.
For more information about New
Zealand's only insect theme park:
www.earthlore.co.nz
www.facebook.com/www.earthlore.co.nz
Sharky Facts – in the
wake of the recent Friends for
Sharks presentations from Kathryn
Hodgson & Nicholas Curzon
The Greenland shark is a strong
contender for the loneliest creature in
the world. It lives almost a km beneath
the Arctic ice where its only companion
is a copepod parasite that attaches to
its eyeballs.
The basking shark is a harmless
plankton eater which can grow up to
8 m long.
Ragged tooth sharks go in for
Intrauterine cannibalism – the largest
and strongest embryo consumes its
own siblings.
The epaulette shark lives in the
shallow waters of coral reefs and can
use its fins like legs, enabling it to walk
out of danger when the tide goes
out. Its ability to live without oxygen
for 60 times the length a human can
is currently helping scientists in their
studies on stroke victims.
Insects of the mechanical kind at the
Great Orlando's Magical Flea Circus
2 May 2015
Kārearea
SOUTH OTAGO FOREST & BIRD
What we can offer to schools:
KCC Membership
KCC (Kiwi Conservation Club) is Forest & Bird’s junior
branch. In 2013 South Otago Forest & Bird offered a two
year free membership of KCC to all Clutha schools. This
offer is still open if your school didn’t take it up at that time.
South Otago once more has an active KCC group and all
children are welcome to take part in camps and field trips.
Sea lion spotting at Surat Bay
Co-coordinators are Kaye Jopson, Laura Gourley and Catriona
Gower. For information about KCC:
KCC coordinator 027 418 0044 southotago@kcc.org.nz
Plants and planting
Forest & Bird is keen to promote the propagation of
native plants. Our annual plant sale is now held in April
each year, and at other times plants (at very reasonable
prices) are available from:
Ian & Wilma McDonald 18 Edinburgh Place, Balclutha 418
0606 ianwilma@kinect.co.nz
Jane & Jim Young 145 Hinahina Rd, Owaka
415 8532 janejimyoung@slingshot.co.nz
We may also be able to give advice and help with planting.
Catlins Bat Project
Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable ‘bat lady’, Catriona
Gower, is always keen to work with schools and has
a selection of bat activities designed to get students
interested in these rare New Zealand mammals. The
Branch has purchased a number of bat detectors that
may be available for loan by groups or individuals.
Contact Catriona at 418 5616 or at catlinsbats@gmail.com.
Threatened species education
We are fortunate to be within easy distance of
populations of some of New Zealand’s most iconic – and
sadly, threatened – animal species. The most accessible
population of Catlins sea lions hangs out at Surat Bay.
Forest & Bird members may be available to accompany
school groups and provide information about sea
lion biology and behaviour. Members are also happy
to accompany schools on visits to Roaring Bay at the
Nuggets to see yellow-eyed penguins.
Weed and predator control
A large part of the work that we do involves the control
of invasive species. We have regular weeding sessions at
Otanomomo Scientific Reserve on the 4th Sunday of each
month. Older students, parents and teachers are always
welcome. Roy and Jim carry out pest control in a number
of locations such as Long Point. This work involves first
setting up tracking tunnels to detect the presence of
predators – an activity which can easily be carried out at
home or in school using DIY tracking tunnels.
Koura farm
Roy and Jan Johnstone welcome visitors to their koura
farm in the Puerua Valley near Balclutha.
03 418 1319 johns-stones@rivernet.co.nz
Competitions
Conservation-based competitions organised by F&B
have included 'Grow a Rata', photograph an envirostory, and ID pests and predators. We can provide
pdfs for the ID activities, including Catlins Birds, which
schools can print off for their own use.
Lenz Reserve
The F&B-owned Lenz Reserve near Papatowai has
accommodation suitable for small school groups at
Tautuku Forest Cabins. Information compendia can be
viewed at the Balclutha and Owaka Information Centres.
Bookings: 03 415 8024 diana-keith@yrless.co.nz.
Catlins Birds: a pocket guide
We can’t miss the opportunity to promote
this great publication. A free copy has been
sent to all Clutha schools, and additional
copies can be purchased from the Branch
for only $10 or $8 each for five or more.
Karearea – protecting a southern land
This electronic newsletter contains
southern-focused environmental news. It
isn’t an official Forest & Bird publication,
but includes information about our
Branch’s events such as field trips and
monthly meetings which everyone is
welcome to attend.
3 May 2015
Kārearea
Towards a climate change solution
There are some encouraging signs that people in
positions of influence are starting to take climate change
seriously. Pope Francis, for example, is preparing to
deliver an encyclical on environmental degradation
and the effects of human-caused climate change on
the poor. The Anglican Church is also being outspoken
about the need to avert climate change, which will be
especially catastrophic for the people of the Pacific. Here
are excerpts from a report by Bishop Api Qiliho of Fiji who
recently attended a meeting in South Africa organised by
the Anglican Community Environmental Network.
Kiribati www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/10707114883
WHAT IS NEW? Our story in the Fiji Islands is much
the same story that is shared across our ocean, with
our Pacific brothers and sisters. Our home is the ‘Pacific
Ocean’; the largest body of water in the world. It covers
one third of the earth’s surface – 69.4 million square
miles. In other words it is larger than all the Earth’s
landmass amalgamated. We can’t imagine it.
We have 14 Independent States, excluding Australia
and New Zealand, this leaves 10 small island states,
plus Papua New Guinea and Fiji. While our needs are
different and our responses to these environmental
needs and concerns vary depending on where we are
in the Pacific, we can all find overarching responses that
find their mark all across our sea of Islands.
But the reality on the ground is one hundred percent
true. We are no longer in need of scientific wisdom to
prove beyond doubt, to each and every one of us, that
the Climate Change is real.
It is true and real and above all it is
already destroying our homes.
IN THE REGION At this point, I should like to take
us on a journey to this sea of islands, so that we may
glean the truth and the reality of Climate change, but
also the incredible resilience of its inhabitants. Pacific
Island countries and territories already experience an
extraordinary level of risk from the effects of extreme
weather and climate unpredictability, and these risks can
be exacerbated by climate change. Climate models suggest
that the Pacific region will continue to warm, which could
result in changes in the frequency and/or intensity of
extreme weather and climate variability phenomena, and
in the faster rising of sea-level.
Kiribati We have heard of the plight of our brothers
and sisters in the islands of Kiribati, of the encroaching
sea, and of the loss of their land, before their very eyes.
Their President, Mr. Anote Tong, is an ardent campaigner
for a change in global thinking on climate change and is
pleading the case of his people and disappearing nation
around the world. Fiji, a close neighbour, has already
offered unconditional resettlement to all I-Kiribati. The
Anglican Church in Polynesia sold a large parcel of
land to Kiribati, so that their people could have some
food security for their future, through the planting and
harvesting of that land. Our neighbors Australia and
New Zealand are also looking at ways to help.
Tuvalu In Tuvalu, her scattered atolls have been feeling
the serious impacts of climate change now for almost a
decade. Any arable land is now saline. The sea has also
found its way into people’s gardens and homes. Atolls
are being abandoned in the face of an ever present, ever
creeping ocean. The people now crowd into the few towns
in Tuvalu, trying to escape. In a few years, even these towns
may no longer be suitable areas of habitation.
Fiji In Fiji alone, we expect 500 communities from
our coasts, flatlands and rivers to be relocated within
the next decade. According to existing climate change
models, we will still be just at the start of the long
process of this change in our climate, temperatures
and world . . . Fiji, for at least the last seven years has
been in the process of reforming its existing legislative
framework and enacting new policies and legislation
for the mitigation of climate change in Fiji. While Fiji is
not a major polluter by global standards, it has already
seen suffering brought about by climate change. This
is indeed the case amongst most of the Pacific Islands,
with countries such as Kiribati and Tuvalu seeing some
of the most prolific sea level rise and food security
concerns wrought by soaring global temperatures and
rising sea levels within this decade.
The strength and ferocity of weather events has also
been noted by national and regional meteorological
bodies. Also noted are the increasing severity of
droughts and flooding occurrences in recent years.
Furthermore, warmer weather has brought cyclones in
increasing strength to the region.
Proactive approaches, multi-lateral cooperation,
innovation and actions are needed to shore up the
Pacific, and indeed the world, into making a permanent
change. More can be done, and it will be done if we are
of one mind, one heart and of one spirit, to challenge
our leaders and decision makers to work effectively to
end the calamity that surely awaits us if we continue
blindly down this road.
The seas rise a little bit more every year and more
frequent, more deadly, extreme weather events occur.
It is our task to stand in Solidarity today, and approach
those who would lead us, to make our voices heard. We
are working towards safeguarding a future that is not
ours, but the future of our children. Work must begin
now for that future.
www.anglican.org.nz/News/Papers/ACEN-2015-Report-from-Pasefika
4 May 2015
Kārearea
Climate Change Consultation
350.org On May 11 the Obama Administration gave Shell
provisional approval to start drilling for oil in the Chuckchi
Sea off the Alaskan coast. Industry and environmental
groups agree that the Chukchi Sea is one of the most
dangerous places in the world to drill. Consequences of
a spill would be catastrophic for wildlife, which includes
walruses and bowhead whales. In Seattle, a flotilla of
hundreds of kayakers protested against the arrival of Shell's
rilling rig 'Polar Pioneer' on its way to the Arctic.
Southern Events
Sat 23–Sun 24 May
Southland Forest & Bird
Tautuku Working Weekend at Lenz
Dawn Patterson 2160226
◊
The Government is currently holding a
consultation on setting New Zealand's post-2020
climate change contribution under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCC). Countries will meet in Paris in
December to establish a new international climate
change agreement. An important part of the
agreement will be the individual contributions
each country makes to address climate change.
A discussion document and information about the
New Zealand consultation process can be found at:
www.mfe.govt.nz/climate-change/reducinggreenhouse-gas-emissions/consultation-settingnew-zealand’s-post-2020
The consultation process lasts for only a few weeks,
and submissions close at 5.00pm on Wed 3 June.
Less than a week's notice was given of the first
public meeting held by Government officials, but
Nelson people were so keen to attend that the
organisers had to rush round and get more chairs.
There will be a public meeting in Dunedin at
6.30pm on Thursday 21 May at the Kingsgate
Hotel, 10 Smith St. Might need to be there good
and early to be sure of finding a seat.
Contact Details
South Otago Forest & Bird
Roy Johnstone 03 418 1319 johns-stones@rivernet.co.nz
www.facebook.com/ForestAndBirdSouthOtago
South Otago KCC
KCC coordinator 0274180044 southotago@kcc.org.nz
South Otago Forest & Bird
The Catlins Bat Project
Catriona Gower (03) 418 5616 catlinsbats@gmail.com
◊
Southland Forest & Bird
Chris Rance 03 213 1161 rances@ihug.co.nz
Sun 24 May & Sun 28 June 1pm
Weeding & revegetation at Otanomomo
Mon 25 May 7.30pm
South Otago Forest & Bird
Coal Action Murihiku (CAM)
Jenny Campbell 027 351 0180 jennycam@xtra.co.nz
Colin Fisher St Andrew’s Church Hall Balclutha
◊
Conservation Volunteers Coastal Otago
volunteerscoastalota@doc.govt.nz
kconnor@doc.govt.nz
The National Bird of China is the Crane
Tues 09 June 7.30pm
Southland Forest & Bird
Battle for the Birds Colin Bishop DOC
Federated Farmers Building, 70 Forth St, INV
◊
Fri 12 & 19 June 10am–noon
Southland Community Nursery
Propagation workshops – growing
plants from cuttings Ph Chris 2131161
◊
Sat 20 June Southland Community Nursery
Matariki Night Walk Ph Chris 2131161
Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust
www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz
New Zealand Sea Lion Trust
www.sealiontrust.org.nz
Kārearea
Contributions for Kārearea are welcome from groups
or individuals with an interest in environmental issues.
Copy for June–July is due on 25 June.
Editor Jane Young: janejimyoung@slingshot.co.nz
Our thanks to Telford for
sponsoring the printed
version of this newsletter.
5 May 2015
Kārearea