Matuku Muster
Saturday 8th November saw some groups organised by Philippa Crisp, a Trustee with the Aorangi Restoration Trust, stand at assigned listening posts in the Wairio Wetlands for one hour after dusk. They were listening for the eerie calls of the male matuku-hurepo or Australasian bittern. These birds call out a repetitive low soft “boom” in their endeavours to attract a female to mate with. The groups were part of a nationwide citizen science project endeavouring to work out how well the bittern is doing.
The Aorangi Restoration Trust along with Wairarapa Moana Incorporated, Ducks Unlimited and many volunteers are mounting a massive predator control campaign in the Wairarapa Moana and its surrounding countryside in an endeavour to create a near predator free environment with the aim of saving the matuku and other moana birdlife from extinction or further decline. The long tail bats and the spotless crake will also benefit positively from this work.
There was great excitement at the end of evening regroup as the groups compared notes on
the many matuku calls heard, with seven distinct
birds identified.
If you want to hear the matuku, go to one of the Boggy Pond bird hides with a picnic and sit quietly for an hour or so just after sunset over the next month. If you would like to volunteer to clear our predator traps call or text 027 597 2667.
Walking festival Old Mill Track walk
On Sunday 16th November 22 folk walked the restored Old Mill Track in the Aorangi Forest Park. The walkers were delighted with the work that has been done clearing and improving this historic track. There was general agreement that the regenerating beech forest up there is very amazing. The Haurangi Road is now passable to domestic cars to the carpark at the Turanganui watershed but will need some work over the summer to ensure it is usable next winter.
