@docgovtnz

class="content__text" The busy hatching period at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head is over, for the season. Our rangers have worked tirelessly to get through this period, making sure all the northern royal albatross eggs, chicks, nests and parents were monitored and cared for. The reward for all this hard work was welcoming 33 new chicks to the colony, which the team are so pleased about. This is the second highest number of chicks to ever hatch at Pukekura! Even though this busy period is over, our rangers will continue their work right through until the chicks have fledged. They'll be weighing and monitoring the chicks and will do things like supplementary feeding, to those that need it. Here are some snaps taken from the live stream, from some of the fans. You can join the discussion with the rest of the fans, and get the latest news directly from the local team by visiting here: https://bit.ly/3H777SV Like always, get your dose of cuteness by tuning into the Royal Cam LIVE 🔴 stream here: https://bit.ly/2MyVNUi 📷 #1: TaniaN27 📷 #2: Dianne Catherine Galvin 📷 #3: christinewhiston

February 14, 2023

class="content__text" Did you know that the critically endangered Southern New Zealand dotterel is only found on Rakiura/Stewart Island? Southern dotterels are hearty and breed on mountain tops unlike there northern cousins which breed on beaches. They're also larger and with darker colouring. Find out more about these wee birds from the deepest south and some of the many dangers they face: https://bit.ly/3E2jVbg (link in bio via TapBio). 📷: Daniel Cocker

February 13, 2023

class="content__text" Eighteen juvenile tūturuatu/tchūriwat’/shore plover were translocated to Portland/Waikawa Island last month, where they joined around 80 other birds in the largest population of the species outside of the Chatham Islands. This translocation is part of our ongoing efforts to preserve this critically threatened species and we couldn'nt have done it by ourselves. A big thank you to the landowners Tawapata South Incorporated, New Zealand Nature Fund, who helped with funding, the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust for raising the chicks in Christchurch and Air New Zealand for flying the birds to Hawke's Bay There are only around 250 tūturuatu/tchūriwat’/shore plover in the world and they have the highest possible threat ranking of Threatened: Nationally Critical. So, there survival depends on captive breeding programmes with translocations to predator-free islands that has secure island biosecurity. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3YeMf2z 📷: Tūturuatu/tchūriwat’/shore plover birds in pre-release aviary - Rose Collen

February 13, 2023

class="content__text" Troy's at Waihora Lagoon in the Waikato area. #RangerReckons

February 13, 2023

class="content__text" We've published a new blog post about trapping with compassion. In it, we've got tips and tools for doing the job as kindly as possible. Read it now on the conservation blog. Link in bio (via tapbio): https://bit.ly/3YfNoXB 📷: Image, DOC. Pictured is a DOC series trap in nature with the Predator Free tohu sprayed on the side

February 13, 2023

class="content__text" In early 2022, it came as a bit of a shock when the discovery of hundreds of thousands of bleached sea sponges in Fiordland was made, during an extreme marine heatwave. In the second week of January this year, scientists from @wellington_uni along with our scientists re-visited survey sites in Doubtful Sound/Patea, to investigate the state of these sponges a year after the bleaching, as well as to conduct some further experiments on black coral genetics and the effect of climate change on sponges. Although it appeared that many sponges had recovered from total bleaching, it was still concerning to find several sponges had white patches or holes where fish had chewed off the bleached parts of the sponge, and it is suspected that many sponges from last year's heatwave have died or been eaten. Many of the sponges this year were a lighter colour than their usual deep brown, indicating that another season of bleaching may already be underway... It will be very interesting to see how another marine heatwave in Fiordland this summer might impact these sponges a second year in a row. We'll keep you updated. See photos of bleached sea sponges on our Facebook page. Read more here: https://bit.ly/40wtfOp 📷1: Black coral in shallow waters of Fiordland 📷2: Cymbastella cup sponge 📷3: Diver next to black coral 📷4: Flask sponge

February 13, 2023

class="content__text" Waitangi Day is an opportunity to focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and what it means for Aotearoa. Te taiao – our nature is an important part of all our lives, it’s a part of who we are and underpins our identity. Today is also a time to reflect on how we protect and restore te taiao, working in partnership with iwi, hapū and whānau. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3jwoILc (link in bio)

February 06, 2023

class="content__text" If you’re a fan of all things David Attenborough like us, you probably tuned in to the latest episode of Frozen Planet II and saw our wonderful Antipodean albatross. The segment followed a 14-year-old male albatross returning to the Antipodes Islands to find a mate. After failing to impress a female albatross with his courtship displays, hope was not lost as he soon sparked a connection with a different albatross. This time though, it was another male. While this partnership may seem like a happy ending for our young albatross, it highlights a much bigger problem for the species. Male pairings are becoming more and more common amongst Antipodean albatross because there are no longer enough females left to breed with. The harsh reality is that there are now three times as many breeding males as there are females. To figure out what was causing this sudden skew in population numbers, DOC scientists attached satellite trackers to some of the albatross, which provided some invaluable information. As oceanic conditions have changed, Antipodean albatross have begun to travel larger distances in search of food. The females, who have smaller wings in comparison to the males, can soar in lighter winds and head further up north. Unfortunately, their new feeding grounds take them far beyond New Zealand waters and bring them closer to long-line fishing fleets. As a result, roughly 2,300 birds aren’t making it back home to the Antipodes every year, and we could lose the species within 30 years. However, there is still hope for our albatross. With the satellite tag data making the reasons for their decline clear, we now have an action plan in place which involves further population monitoring and bycatch mitigation measures. We also advocate for the conservation of Antipodean albatross in international waters through our work in international forums and with other fishing countries. To learn more about Antipodean albatross and the current conservation plan, click here: https://bit.ly/3C1475V To watch the Frozen Planet II clip, click here: https://bbc.in/3Hp1XRj 📷 1: Leon Berard - Antipodean albatross in flight 📷 2: Levi Barton - Juvenile Antipodean albatross

February 06, 2023

class="content__text" Today is World Wetlands Day Wetland restoration is a critical part in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises and it's sad to say that globally, wetland biodiversity is under significant threat of irreversible loss and decline. When you think of wetlands it can be difficult to make a connection with these wet, boggy and sometimes swampy areas, as having a positive impact on climate change, especially when we see and experience events such as the flooding and damage happening in the northern parts of the country. It's easy to assume that wetlands are adding to the issue. But the facts are that wetlands act like the kidneys of the earth, cleaning the water that flows into them. They trap sediment and soils, filter out nutrients and remove contaminants. In doing so, they can reduce flooding and protect coastal land from storm surges and they also return nitrogen to the atmosphere. Here in Aotearoa, we have lost extensive areas of wetlands, which include peatlands that are rich in carbon and support species found nowhere else on earth, such as the swamp helmet orchid and black mudfish. Our work on wetlands includes actively restoring some of our ecologically and culturally significant wetlands, as part of our Arawai Kākāriki wetland restoration programme. But more needs to be done, including more collaboration with industry, as part of Treaty partner-led projects, and with local community. Find out more about the Arawai Kākāriki wetland restoration programme here: https://bit.ly/3l2n9Fh Find out more about wetlands in Aotearoa here: https://bit.ly/39DBsbi 📷: Pekapeka wetlands Image: Shellie Evans 📷: Swamp helment orchid: George Novak

February 06, 2023

class="content__text" We're so pleased to announce that 13 juvenile whio/blue duck are now riding river rapids in Arthur’s Pass National Park, after being helicoptered to their new home last week. The ducks were raised by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and all of them came from three captive pairs held at Orana Wildlife Park and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, as well as from Kiwi Park Queenstown. These captive pairs are amazing. Not only have they been very successful in producing ducklings for this release into the wild, they have given us over 100 juveniles over the past five years! With this success we’ve been able to extend the whio recovery sites in Arthur’s Pass and release juveniles there as well as into the Central Southern Alps security site focused around the Styx-Arahura-Taipo valleys near Hokitika. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Roulrb The recent floods and damage up north is a striking reminder to the affects of climate change, that inevitably impact not only us but our taonga species too. An event like this, around whio habitat, would be devastating, displacing whio who rely on healthy river and stream system to survive and thrive and severely knocking back our progress with this species. Our thoughts are with all of those who are impacted by the flooding and damage in the northern parts of Aotearoa.

February 06, 2023

class="content__text" Attention all bird watchers and enthusiasts! We want your help in keeping track of our banded manu 🐦 Did you know that you can record sightings of banded birds through our website? Many DOC projects rely on bird bandings for monitoring, and any information we receive helps. Using your sightings we can paint a bigger picture on our bird species life cycles, behaviours, breeding activities and movements. So next time you see a bird rocking some bands, we would love it if you recorded it here (link in bio): https://birdbanding.doc.govt.nz/ If you'd like to learn more about bird banding, listen to our DOC Sounds of Science podcast episode on 'Banding Banter' here: https://bit.ly/3UXEzPr 📷: Bruce McKinlay - Bar-tailed godwit captured and banded at Catlins Lake Otago

February 06, 2023

class="content__text" Here’s Beth at the Tōtara Loop Walk in Pureora Forest Park. #RangerReckons

January 30, 2023