COASTAL OTAGO

HOIHO MONITORING 2017/18

Acknowledgements

DOC Oamaru staff

Pip Agnew and the OBP team

Penguin Rescue

YEPT staff

Winsome White and Jim Caldwell

Aramoana Conservation Trust

DOC Dunedin staff

Penguin Place staff

Des Neill

David McKay

Elm Wildlife Staff

Otago University staff and students

(Especially Mel Young!)

DOC Southland staff

Leith Thomson

Fergus Sutherland

Many, many volunteers

Hoiho populations

“Demographically Independent Management Units”

1. Southern populations

– Campbell Island

– Auckland Islands

2. Mainland population

– Banks Peninsula

– Otago

– Rakiura, Bravo and Titi I.

– Whenua Hou

Nest and productivity monitoring

• Nest search estimate = 254 nests

• The last 3 years returned similar 25 year low

counts of around 250-260 nests

• Productivity monitoring at 27 sites

• Fledge rate down on last year for OP

• Chicks in good condition at fledge

• Small re-occurrence of unexplained adult

deaths (affecting 4 birds)

• Avian Malaria had an impact late season

• Fewer juveniles seen this season cf last

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Bre

ee

din

g p

airs

Estimated number of YEPs in Otago(breeding pairs)

North Otago – 52 nests

9 known sites – 52 nests:

• Bushy Beach = 3 (↑1)

• Beach Road = 0 (NC)

• Waianakarua = 0 (NC)

• Okahau Point = 18 (↓3)

• Katiki Point = 27 (↑1)

• Katiki Beach = 2 (↑2)

• Shag Point = 0 (NC)

• Tavora = 2 (↑1)

Otago Peninsula - 91 nests (1)

8 known sites – 12 nests:

(19 including est. site)

• Whareakeake = 0 (NC)

• Kaikai = 0 (NC)

• Aramoana = 4 (NC)

• Otekiho (0)

• Kumokumowhero (7 est.)

• Omihi = 2 (NC)

• Pipikaretu = 4 (↑1)

• Ryans Beach = 2 (↑1)

Otago Peninsula (2)

6 known sites – 29 nests:

(17 monitored)

• Victory Beach = 4 (↑2)

• Dick’s Bush = 0 (↓1)

• Fuchsia Gully = 3 (NC)

• Papanui = 12 (NC)

• Otapahi = 10 (↑4)

• Allans Beach 0 (NC)

Otago Peninsula (3)

8 known sites – 43 nests:

• Sandymount = 3 (↓1)

• Sandfly Bay = 2 (NC)

• Waterfall Bay = 0 (NC)

• Double Bay = 3 (↓1)

• Midsection = 8 (↓2)

• A1 = 3 (↓1)

• Highcliff = 12 (↓3)

• Green Island = 12est

8

Catlins – 111 nests (1)

5 tracked sites – 42 nests:

• Nugget Point = 12 (↓8)

• Sandy Bay = 7 (↓1)

• Jacks Bay = 6 (NC)

• Penguin Bay = 10 (↓1)

• Hinahina Cove = 7 (↓1)

Catlins (2)

7 tracked sites – 45 nests:

• Purakaunui = 1 (↓2)

• Harts Rock = 1 (NC)

• Cosgrove Ck = 8 (NC)

• Long Point = 17 (NC)

• Helena Falls = 2 (↑1)

• Te Rere = 13 (NC)

• Curio Bay = 3 (NC)

Catlins – estimated sitesChecked every 5 years

• Owaka Heads• Tunnel Rocks• Flaxy • Mahaka Point• Tautuku Pen• Wallace Head• Waiparau Head• Long Beach• Dummys Beach• Teahimate Bay• Boat Harbour• Blue Cod Bay• Slope Point• Waipapa Point

These sites were checked in 2016Est. = 24 nest contribution

Productivity monitoring

Area Nest Egg Hatch Fledge per pair

North Otago 52 97 79 53 1.02

Peninsula 60 111 92 26 0.43

Catlins 71 135 110 91 1.33

Combined 183 170 0.93

At 27/41 sites searched annually:

1.05

1.15

1.00

1.00

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

2000s 2010s

Chicks fledged per pair

Otago Peninsula long term data

1980s 1990s

Chicks fledged per pair

Otago Peninsula

North Otago

Catlins

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Chicks fledged per pair

Chicks fledged per pair North Otago Chicks fledged per pair Otago Peninsula Chicks fledged per pair Catlins

End of season observations

• Heaviest Chick? (audience participation!)

• Marking – chicks were dual marked at Boulder Beach, microchipped at other managed sites (n=8).

• PMs by Massey Uni show a suite of issues continue to have an impact.

• A few deaths were associated with massivered blood cell breakdown – early Feb.

• Avian malaria impact on adults and chicksacross sites at the end of season

Closing summary• Nest est. = 254

• A small bounce back in nest numbers was seen in the north Catlins area last year, but did not persist into this season – productivity strongest in the south.

• Productivity monitoring at 27/40 sites

– Poor productivity for Otago Peninsula

– Diphtheria had big impact at northern sites

• Chicks condition at fledge good – injured and low weight birds brought in to Hospital and rehabilitation boosted numbers fledged

• Avian Malaria and a few cases of unexplained adult deaths.

• Four deaths attributed to Dogs in Catlins

Update on Curio Bay• To date around 4000 trees have been planted around the

development area, to create potential habitat.

• Temporary barrier screen has been placed above the underpass entry.

• Construction of New ‘elongated viewing hide’ is underway

• Educational material is distributed free to every camper when they register

• Large robust signs clearly indicate penguin only zone on rock shelf between ropes

• New updated interpretation is with designers – proofs have been sent to iwi for comment.

• Options for closing access to rock platform are being investigated.