1. Predation Quotes

44 Apr-02

6

Waikato

birds

New Zealand dotterel: The early season nest predation was most likely from aerial predators and ceased when nests were covered.

37 Jun -00

13

Wellington

cats, weka

Chatham Island oystercatcher: predation events..recorded on video..2 clutches of eggs were predated by a cat and 1 clutch of eggs predated by a weka.

51 Dec -03

17

Southland

cats

Rakiura (Stewart Island): the hoiho may slowly be disappearing from Rakiura. Cats are suspected of playing a role here, possibly killing chicks before they leave the nest.

51 Dec -03

3

Waikato

cats, dogs

To date we have lost eight of the 38 birds from the pateke release at Port Charles. Autopsy has confirmed that four were killed by cat(s)..one was killed by a dog

44 Apr-02

9

East Coast/ Hawke’s Bay

cats, stoats

North Island weka: Of the four dead birds, three were predated by stoats and the other was either predated or scavenged by a cat. From the Motu area, three juveniles are still alive. Of the other two birds, one had wandered two kilometres beyond the trapped area and was predated by a stoat.

40 Mar-01

6

Wellington

cats, weka

Chatham Island oystercatchers: Predation by cats and weka, and stock trampling were the main causes of failure.

53 Jun -04

9

Wanganui

dogs

An adult kiwi and chick died as a result of a dog attack in northern Taranaki. This is the latest in a series of deaths as a result of dog predation

50 Sep -03

4

Waikato

dogs, cats

pateke: Four birds have been lost to predation: one likely to a dog, and the others to a cat(s).

55 Dec -04

3

Northland

dogs, mustelids

pateke: suffered losses to dogs, mustelids and unknown causes

49 Jun -03

20

Otago

falcons, weka

weka on Te Peka Karara in Lake Wanaka.. of the 30 birds bought over from the Chathams..one was killed by a falcon…Nine other chicks were killed near the aviary by other weka.

38 Sep -00

6

East Coast/ Hawke’s Bay

ferrets, pigs

kiwi: Mount Ruapehu: at least three deaths (ferret, pig & misadventure)

55 Dec -04

9

Tongariro/ Taupo

ferrets

Two kiwi were killed in August by a ferret

37 Jun -00

5

Northland

harriers

(Kokako) There were only 3 nesting attempts this season: 1 failed owing to a suspected harrier predation; 1 was suspected to have infertile eggs (and was also suspected to have been preyed on by a harrier)

44 Apr -02

24

Kapiti Island

harriers

kokako: One nest was apparently preyed on by an Australasian harrier hawk.

36 Apr-00

5

Northland

harriers

Kokako in Northland had a very poor breeding season: only three nesting attempts out of 14 pairs that were checked. Of those, only one was successful, the others were suspected to have been preyed by harriers.

41 Jun -01

2

Northland

harriers

Brown teal: About a month ago, seven captive-reared brown teal were released..Predator control had been in place for several months by the time of release, and supplementary food was provided. A month on and six of the seven are still alive. The one death is suspected to have been harrier predation

44 Apr-02

3

Northland

harriers

kokako: harriers are thought to be responsible for many nest failures in this area.

53 Jun -04

10

Wellington

harriers

Kokako: The bird whose demise was reported last issue is now thought to have been the victim of a harrier.

55 Dec -04

11

Tongariro/

harriers, spur-

New Zealand dotterel: a marked increase in numbers. However, nest failures are still unacceptably high, with harriers and

Taupo

winged plovers

spur-winged plovers featuring highly as predators, in addition to the usual run of predators

44 Apr-02

21

Otago

hedgehogs

Central Otago Area staff have been surveying new areas on the Hawkdun Range for scree skinks, without success so far. An interesting find was evidence of hedgehog predation of lizards at relatively high altitude on the range

43 Dec-01

17

Tiritiri Matangi Island

morepork

hihi: Two adult males have been found dead, one had no head (thought to have been preyed on by a morepork)

43 Dec-01

18

Tiritiri Matangi Island

morepork

Approximately 50 adults have been seen this season and 55 fledglings have been recorded. Although chick production appears to be much the same as last season, four female have died during nesting compared with zero last year. Several toutouwai bands have been found underneath morepork roosts and nests

37 Jun -00

10

Wanganui

mustelids

Whio: birds have succumbed to predation from stoats or ferrets

53 Jun -04

12

Canterbury

mustelids

titi/sooty shearwater: There was no sign of any chicks alive, and four dead chicks were found inside the burrows. Their ripped out throats pointed to mustelid predation, confirmed by stoat scats and a small hole forced between the netting and fence posts.

38 Sep -00

14

mustelids, falcons, harriers

Whirinaki Forest Park: radio-tagging kereru..(44.4%) have died..the following are the assumed causes: 5 killed by cats, 6 killed by mustelids, 5 killed by falcon/ harrier

36 Apr-00

11

Tongariro/ Taupo

pigs, ferrets

The Tongariro Forest Kiwi: One bird has been killed by a pig, another by a ferret

49 Jun -03

9

Tongariro/ Taupo

possums, stoats

kiwi: We named the chick Possum, a fitting name as another nest due to be robbed on the same day was predated by a suspected possum!.. eight have returned to the forest, one of these was predated by a stoat..Eight chicks successfully hatched in the wild: four were predated by stoats..new chicks were..released back into their parental territory in Tongariro forest. Three were predated by stoats

54 Sep -04

13

West Coast

possums, thrushes, rats

Powelliphanta: numbers have decreased. An analysis of empty and damaged shells showed that mortality resulted from predation by song thrush, rat and possum. Populations at the other two sites were also considered to be low and damaged shells were again found.

40 Mar-01

5

Wellington

prions

Chatham Island petrels:two were killed by visiting broad-billed prions.

36 Apr-00

16

Nelson/ Marlborough

rats

The Mt Stokes mohua population has dropped dramatically…Predation by ship rats is thought to be the cause of the sudden decline

37 Jun -00

15

Nelson/ Marlborough

rats

[Rhydita oconnori,] Although large numbers of shells were found..almost all of them had been recently eaten by rats.

39 Dec-00

15

Southland

rats

Mohua Rat numbers are very high in the Eglinton Valley and appear to be causing heavy predation of mohua in the Eglinton this year.

43 Dec-01

1

Northland

rats

Placostylus ambagiosus subsp. Paraspiritus colony: Norway rats invaded a small island (Snail Rock) off Purerua Peninsula about six months ago and seriously depleted the snails (P. hongii) there. Instead of well in excess of 100 snails, just 15 were found this time

53 Jun -04

1

Big South Cape Island

rats

In March 1964 muttonbirders returning to Big South Cape reported that a ship rat plague was causing immense damage to property and wildlife on their island..but by the time we reached Big South Cape (five months after the first reports) many land bird populations had already been almost totally destroyed.. Sadly, we were too late to save the bush wren, snipe and

bat, all of which were quickly exterminated along with an unknown number of invertebrate taxa.

55 Dec -04

12

Nelson/ Marlborough

rats

Recent monitoring of plots shows Rhytida oconnori, a Nationally Endangered terrestrial snail, continues to decline and is in urgent need of protection from predators; the main culprit is likely to be rats.

51 Dec -03

12

Nelson/ Marlborough

rats, cats

black-fronted terns (BFTs): all eggs destroyed within the colony. Rats appear to have been the culprit. An incubating adult that was killed, probably by a cat, has also been found in another colony.

36 Apr-00

16

Nelson/ Marlborough

rats, cuckoo

The Mt Stokes mohua population has dropped dramatically. At the end of the 1998-99 summer there were around 90 birds, but now numbers are estimated at 27, of which only 6 are female. Predation by ship rats is thought to be the cause of the sudden decline. This may have occurred during winter if the birds also roost in cavities. Cuckoo parasitism was an added problem.

36 Apr-00

10

East Coast/ Hawke’s Bay

rats, falcons

The restoration phase of the Boundary Stream Mainland Island Project continues to gain momentum as the sustained reduction of pests and predators, produces visible changes to both plant and birdlife..Given the additional pressure from rats this season which were implicated in the higher number of failed nests this year, a 55% nesting success is considered a favorable result..As introduced predators are displaced it would appear native predators are making the most of the opportunity, e.g. a pair of NZ falcon known to have nested in the reserve.

42 Oct -01

2

Northland

rats, mice

Kaitaia Area staff have been busy setting up a new project to protect the Te Paki flax snail (Placostylus ambagiosus) populations from rodent predation..There will be four treatment sites to start with; two where rats and mice will be trapped, and two where we will trap only rats.

49 Jun -03

5

Waikato

rodents

After discovering a concerning number of rodent-predated frogs, Maniapoto Area Office is beginning rat control in parts of Whareorino Forest to protect Archey’s frog

45 Jun-02

8

Wanganui

rodents, mustelids

Powelliphanta traversi tarauensis : shells showing signs of rodent predation were found. Powelliphanta ‘Egmont’: One shell showed signs of predation by a mustelid (probably a stoat)

37 Jun -00

5

Auckland

stoats

The Hunua kokako project: 1 had paired with a resident male she had been killed during winter by a stoat.

37 Jun -00

7

Waikato

stoats

The kiwi chick.. Tester was from a 2-egg clutch, but its sibling (21 days older), was killed by a stoat about the same time.

37 Jun -00

1

Nelson/ Marlborough

stoats

kaka: Nelson Lakes National Park: 4 of 7 radio-tagged females were killed on the nest by predators, probably stoats.

37 Jun -00

16

West Coast

stoats

Karangarua and Copland Valleys: Two more birds found last week showed the cause of death was predation. Both had puncture wounds on the back of their skulls. Stoats are presumed to be the likely predator.

44 Apr-02

9

Tongariro/ Taupo

stoats

Four months after an effective possum and rat knock-down by a 20,000-ha aerial 1080 operation over Tongariro Forest, stoats reappeared in the centre of the forest and began killing kiwi chicks. So far five of the 11 chicks have been predated, and all in the centre of the treatment area.

45 Jun -02

13

West Coast

stoats

rowi: Stoats were implicated in at least 12 of the 14 kiwi chick deaths that occurred this year.

46 Sep -02

7

West Coast

stoats

Haast tokoeka: Within two weeks of hatching two chicks were predated by stoats and another was predated at 45 days old.

47 Dec -02

4

Waikato

stoats

The Pureora Field Centre is monitoring radio tagged kaka: Nine of these were probably (some certainly) killed by stoats.

48 Apr -03

11

West Coast

stoats

Haast tokoeka: Three of the chicks were subsequently killed by stoats

48 Apr -03

12

West Coast

stoats

The current rowi breeding season has been very disappointing. All 14 of the monitored chicks were dead by early January, with stoat predation being the major cause.

48 Apr -03

15

Southland

stoats

kiwi: three [chicks] were predated by stoats… five were predated by stoats

49 Jun -03

1

stoats

whio: Research in Fiordland over the last three years identified stoats preying on nesting females, chicks and eggs, as the greatest threat to the species.

51 Dec -03

6

Bay of Plenty

stoats

Kiwi: One chick released into the forest at 950 grams has since been predated by a stoat

51 Dec -03

11

Wanganui

stoats

whio: An angler reported a stoat attack on a duckling.

52 Mar -04

8

Bay of Plenty

stoats

The Matakana Island dotterel: Stoats were responsible for the death of a number of dotterel and variable oystercatcher chicks and also took some dotterel eggs at Panepane Point.. there were 30 dotterel nests on the Maketu Spit but sadly not one chick fledged. No predator control operations took place at this site due to a lack of resources and other complications

52 Mar -04

11

East Coast/ Hawke’s Bay

stoats

weka: 40% (n=10) and 8% (n=12) of monitored juveniles were killed by stoats in the Whitikau and Motu valleys respectively.

52 Mar -04

21

West Coast

stoats

Haast Tokoeka: four showed signs of stoat predation.

52 Mar -04

27

Southland

stoats

kiwi: Six of the seven chicks that have died were confirmed stoat kills.

55 Dec -04

17

Southland

stoats

Kiwi monitoring in the stoat trapped and non-trapped blocks of the Murchison Mountains is progressing, with some chicks having now hatched and several birds still incubating. Last week the first sign of stoat predation was picked up with one, possibly two, chicks having been preyed upon in the non-trapped area

39 Dec-00

7

East Coast/ Hawke’s Bay

stoats, cats

The NI weka project: recorded predation events were attributed to stoats (4) and feral cats (3).

39 Dec-00

6

East Coast/ Hawke’s Bay

stoats, hedgehogs, black- backed gulls,

spur-winged plovers

NZ dotterel: Three main breeding sites were monitored in the Opotiki Area..there was 1 pair at Waiotahi, 3 pairs at Waioweka, and 7 pairs at Waiaua. A total of 21 nesting attempts were made by 11 pairs with 23 chicks known to have hatched from 46 eggs this season. Predators..were stoats, hedgehogs, black backed gulls, and spur winged plover.

39 Dec-00

15

Southland

stoats, possums

Whio: A stoat destroyed one of the nests and the female survived, while the other female managed to defend her nest from a stoat and a possum although the stoat stole one egg. A third female was thought to have just begun incubating when she was killed, she was found pulled under a rock with stoat scats surrounding her.

38 Sep -00

1

stoats, rats, falcons

Eglinton Valley: This season we lost three nests, one with eggs and two with chicks, and 2 females were killed probably by a stoat..Mohua: 10 [nests]failed (female killed) – 6 rat predation – 1 probably falcon

44 Apr-02

2

Northland

trout, smelt

It was concluded that any proposed restoration programmes for land-locked koaro needs to enhance the survival of these life stages, and manage the combined effects of trout and common smelt in both lake and respective tributary stream habitats

51 Dec -03

14

West Coast

thrushes

Powelliphanta annectens is one of the largest giant land snail species. The Heaphy subpopulation is restricted to the area around the Heaphy River mouth, but is abundant and increasing further due to annual ground control for possums. During late winter and early spring, Buller Area Office staff became aware of exceptionally high numbers of P. annectens snails being eaten by thrush at three localised sites on the Heaphy Track. On 15 August, 477 shells were collected from the sites. The majority of the snails had been killed within the previous 3–4 weeks. Over the next 2 months the sites were checked every 2–3 weeks and the empty shells collected. By 13 October, over 1,700 snails had been killed. No decline in the rate of

predation was found

51 Dec -03

19

Southland

weka

Whio: Two nests have been preyed on by weka so far this season

44 Apr-02

13

Wellington

stoats

The wild kaka population at Mt Bruce: The two natural nest sites were unsuccessful – one was breached by a stoat, which killed two chicks..Despite predator control over 75ha, two adults, two chicks and two fledglings have been lost; stoats look to be the main culprits.