Short-tailed bats are the main pollinators of New Zealand’s only fully parasitic flowering plant – the wood rose (Dactylanthus taylorii), known to Māori as te pua o te rēinga. Both the bat and the wood rose are endangered, but we still have a lot to learn about the feeding/pollinating relationship … [Read more...] about Bats influenced by rainfall when visiting unique ‘wood rose’
Native wildlife
Breeding wrybills face multiple challenges
Wrybills, the little shore birds with a bend in their beak, are only found in New Zealand. They breed on the South Island’s braided rivers with well-camouflaged eggs and chicks to help protect them from flying predators. But camouflage is no protection against mammal predators who hunt by … [Read more...] about Breeding wrybills face multiple challenges
Predator pitfalls for live-trapped lizards
A common way to monitor what insects or lizards are around, is to use a live-capture pitfall trap which skinks, geckos and ground-based insects then fall into. With lizards, slices of pear or sometimes petfood are used to attract them to the trap. The Barber pitfall trap - essentially a plastic … [Read more...] about Predator pitfalls for live-trapped lizards
Sheep, beef farms have significant conservation potential
Productive land such as farms, horticulture and lifestyle blocks make up 60% of the land area in New Zealand and often contains native vegetation. Such land could – and often already does – make a significant contribution towards conservation goals. But currently we know very little about the amount … [Read more...] about Sheep, beef farms have significant conservation potential
If our native birds were gardeners, what would they plant?
Native plants are a good way to attract native birds to your garden. No matter how small, you can always make your backyard more attractive to native birdlife by providing food, water, shelter, and nesting places/materials. Puriri tree. Photo credit: Jon Sullivan You can break down the … [Read more...] about If our native birds were gardeners, what would they plant?
A glimpse of the social life of Otago skinks
Researchers have recently been studying the social life of our native skinks – and yes, skinks really do have a social network. Who would have thought it? Otago skinks (Oligosoma otagense) living in a large enclosure at Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary were the subjects of this unusual study of skink … [Read more...] about A glimpse of the social life of Otago skinks
Researchers evaluate what pāteke need for successful reintroduction
Pāteke/brown teal are mainly nocturnal, small dabbling ducks found only in New Zealand. They once inhabited a wide range of habitats including wet forests, swamps, slow-flowing streams, lakes and estuaries and in pre-human times may have been the most wide-spread and abundant of our waterfowl. Even … [Read more...] about Researchers evaluate what pāteke need for successful reintroduction
Longterm banded dotterel study shows predator control benefits
Annual bird counts show that banded dotterels have been declining on our braided rivers for many years. But there’s good news amongst the bad. A recently published analysis of longterm population trends, using data from 1962 to 2018, reveals just how big that decline has been – and how one riverbed … [Read more...] about Longterm banded dotterel study shows predator control benefits
New home for barking geckos in successful penned release
Small, slow-moving in cold weather and with limited defenses other than camouflage and hiding, our skinks and geckos are vulnerable to predators – but efforts to relocate some of them to sanctuaries haven’t always been successful. Researchers have been refining their methods, however, and a recent … [Read more...] about New home for barking geckos in successful penned release
What’s outside the fence matters too
Fenced sanctuaries don’t come cheap – but they do offer a way to create areas of rich, predator free habitat for vulnerable species. But what about the habitat outside the fence? Most research to date has looked at ‘inside the fence’ habitat and bird populations, but good habitat beyond the … [Read more...] about What’s outside the fence matters too