Recent Accomplishments
The Kaipupu Sanctuary jetty
The jetty in Dolphin Bay is now complete and is awaiting the pontoon and linkspan. The jetty was constructed through hundreds of hours of work by our volunteers, and generous donations from Kenny Barging, Crafar and Crouch, Blacks Fasteners and The Trusts Charitable Foundation. This jetty will form part of the only access into the sanctuary. The pontoon-linkspan complex is under construction and we anticipate this will be attached to the jetty before the end of summer 2012.
The Kaipupu Shop and Information site
Volunteers have put together a beautiful exhibit which tells the story of Kaipupu Sanctuary at 23 High Street in Picton. The displays show where we have come from and where we are going, and what we are hoping to create on the sanctuary. Drop by and learn more about the native birds you see around the Sounds. There are activities for the kids and cool items to purchase to raise funds for the sanctuary development. Take a look the next time you are in Picton. Make contact if you’d like to help with the gallery.
Water Feeders for Birds
On a recent day out for Kaipupu volunteers in September, Team Leader Dave Nichols unveiled his brand new creation – a water feeder for birds on Kaipupu. Fashioned from an old toilet cistern, this new water facility will enable birds to have access to water without being able to get in it and foul it. Volunteers were “flush” with excitement about this invention of Daves, as it is simple, inexpensive, easily transported to locations on Kaipupu where it will be installed, and very effective. Rainwater collects on a section of roofing, which is then fed down into a polythene pipe, slit open to give birds access to the fresh water. Several of these water feeders are planned for the sanctuary.
- The inside of the converted toilet cistern
Bird Counts
Bird counts are undertaken annually on Kaipupu, led by Diane John. These bird surveys are being conducted to give us a base line number so that we will be able to track the effect on the bird life as the fence is completed, trapping intensifies, and final areadication of pests is done. It is intended that these counts will continue for several years to plot any changes in the bird species and numbers. A team of at least 3 people conducts the 5 Minute Bird Counts with 2 observers and 1 scribe. They stand at a designated station for 5 minutes and record all birds seen and heard. Following this they move to the next station, which is at least 200 metres from the previous one and repeat the count. The stations have to far enough apart to avoid counting birds twice. Currently we have 7 count stations identified on the point but intend to add 1-2 more as the track access improves. These counts are seen as an index rather than an actual numbers of birds present. They record the types of birds present, and give an indication of density of populations.
Native birds in the area include kereru, wekas, fantail (piwakawaka), silvereye, riroriro (grey warbler), tui, bellbird (korimako), brown creeper, and welcome swallow, along with various shags, gulls, and other coastal birds including the little blue penguin.
Currently the most common bird is the silvereye.
Construction of the Sea Ends of the Predator Proof Fence
The landward section of the fence is completed, but in order to keep pests out the seas ends must be carefully constructed. Volunteers have contributed many hours of time, both in the design phase, and in the construction of this important phase of making Kaipupu into a true “mainland island”.
Special durable materials must be used, piles driven into the seabed, and the fence constructed and attached to the piles.This construction of the sea ends was another huge challenge to be met. It is no easy task in this terrain, and we are grateful for the donation of time and materials by Port Marlborough, Crafar and Crouch, and Kenny’s Barging for all their help in accomplishing this.
The predator proof fence stands 2 metres high. The base fence consists of 3 metre tanalised fence posts extending 2 metres above the ground and positioned at 4 metre spacings. Stainless steel wire mesh designed to exclude even juvenile mice, is attached to the body of the fence. The special hood is positioned on top of the fence to prevent the passage of jumping animals such as cats, deer and goats, and to serve as a barrier to climbing animals such as possums, stoats, rats and mice. This hood is made of zinc-alum “coloursteel”, the same material that si used for roofing iron throughout New Zealand. Greater amounts of aluminium is used in the material which is used for hoods installed close to the sea, as this is such a corrosive environment.
The wire mesh is extended out horizontally from the base of the fence as a “skirt” to prevent burrowing animals such as rabbits and rats from digging under the structure. The fence is designed so that sections or materials can be replaced without having to strip large parts of the fence, so that in the event that one small section of the fence is damaged or needs replacing, that small section of material can easily be replaced without having to replace a larger section of fence.
- Constructing the Picton end of the predator proof fence
To learn more about what is happening on Kaipupu phone 027-898-2517
