All previous newsletters can be found here.
Work Day Reminder, July 20 2024
The next monthly work day will be from 9.00am – noon this coming Saturday.
This month we’ll probably be doing a bit of planting and releasing plants from weeds somewhere around the wetland.
If you arrive late there will be a notice on the Education Centre door explaining where we have gone and a phone number for if you need more guidance to our location.
All tools provided. Gumboots are recommended, but if you don’t have any we have pairs for loan. Please bring your own gloves if you can, but we have some of them for loan too.
If the weather on the work day is poor and we decide to cancel then an email will be sent by 8am on Saturday morning. So if you think the conditions are marginal, please check your emails.
If you’re reading this on the website and are not on the email list then you can add yourself to it through the form at the foot of the home page. If you change your mind there’s an unsubscribe link in each newsletter.
Latest News
Kay Holder
Last month we sadly lost one of our key champions of Travis Wetland. Kay Holder, Manager of the CCC Regional Parks team, passed away suddenly at her horse paddock on 23 June while tending her much loved 4-legged friends. After graduating from the Lincoln Uni Parks Diploma course Kay was the first woman ranger for DOC at Arthurs Pass. She moved to the CCC 27 years ago as the coordinator of the Coast Care Programme – a community-based project established to restore degraded coastal habitats.
She worked her way up through the ranks at the CCC and was pivotal in winning Lottery funding for the original Travis Wetland facilities and infrastructure development. Attractions that today encourage nearly 100,000 visits per year.
She was always enthusiastically supportive of Travis Wetland and our long serving resident ranger. Kay will be sorely missed by the ranger team and all of us at Travis. We offer our deepest sympathy to her wonderful whānau and the wider community and council family she nurtured.
Article: Recollections from Colin Meurk and Rodney Chambers, image: Sarah Mankelow
Report on Last Month’s Work Day, 15 June
As you’d expect for June it was cold and drippy for last month’s work day, but even so 19 keen people turned up ready to do some outdoor work. We ambled down to the Millennium Forest (by the bird hide turn off) to do some planting. Some less common species that should be present in a Canterbury low altitude wetland were chosen to enrich the area. We’d had some rain over the prior week, but under the mulch around the trackside plants it was still quite dry. This was particularly noticeable when we planted native creepers at the foot of established trees. It’s going to take quite a bit more rain to redress the soil moisture deficit due to the previous 6 months of below average rainfall.
In a wetter area there was a cabbage tree that had largely toppled over and it seemed that stalactites had formed on the underside of the trunk. Presumably the resourceful tree was sending some aerial roots down to the ground to make up for those at the base of the trunk that had been torn from the soil.
Some youngsters collected branchlets from mānuka trees that were bearing ripening seed capsules. This seed will be used to propagate mānuka seedlings for planting elsewhere around Travis. This is a great way to reproduce from plants that are well adapted to the Travis environment.
It didn’t take very long to plant the 80 specimens selected for the morning so we followed on with some releasing and general tidying up. Given the cold and damp conditions we knocked off a bit earlier than usual and went back to the Education Centre to warm up indoors with a hot drink and plenty of morning tea. Thanks to everyone who came along to help on a chilly winter morning.
Article and images: Dave Evans
Freshwater Eels | Tuna
Aotearoa New Zealand has two species of Eels | Tuna – the longfin and shortfin.
The longfin (Anguilla dieffenbachii) is endemic to New Zealand – it is not found anywhere else in the world and has a Conservation status: At Risk- Declining. The short fin (Anguilla australis) is also found in Australia and some Pacific Islands, it is not threatened.
The species can be told apart by looking at their fins. On a longfin eel, the dorsal (top) fin extends a lot further forward than the anal (bottom) fin. The dorsal fin of a shortfin eel only extends a little further forward than the anal fin.
Longfin eels are less able to cope with changes to their environment than their shorter-finned relative. They are heavily affected by human activities, such as pollution, the building of dams, loss of vegetation near their habitat, and overfishing.
Longfin eels breed only once, at the end of their life. When they are ready to breed they leave New Zealand and swim all the way to the sub-tropical Pacific Ocean to spawn, probably in very deep ocean trenches.
We are very lucky to have the longfin species at Ōruapaeroa-Travis Wetland. Many people take pleasure from seeing these animals and it is understandable that they enjoy feeding them. The Travis Wetland Trust does not encourage people to feed any animals at the wetland. Eating human food, like bread, rather than their natural diet can cause malnourishment and make them sick. Feeding also makes the animals ‘tame’ which can make them more vulnerable to human interference. Sadly we have even had reports of individuals mistreating these animals.
New Zealand’s freshwater eels are special and unique animals and it is a privilege to see them in their natural environment.
More information can be found at – https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/freshwater-fish/eels/
Article: Denise Ford and image: Grahame
Wayne’s Wonderful Wednesday Volunteers
Every Wednesday these resilient caring people arrive at Travis and brace themselves for whatever are tasks chosen. They range from weeding, clearing fallen branches, planting – even being abused by people breaking Travis rules. Usually those who insist on biking on our walking-only paths and those with dogs – some of which run wild. Other dogs are on leads accompanied by extremely rude people “just commenting!” when asked not to be there with their canine friends.
Recently Ranger John announced that they were to have a Wednesday outing to Riccarton Bush! The purpose was twofold. Firstly, a reward for Travis work and secondly, most importantly, to see the future vision of Travis Wetland. After a leisurely coffee they proceeded to enter into the predator fenced area.
Almost immediately they viewed the amazing ropey stems of native Passiflora [passion vine] snaking skywards ably assisted by Kahikatea trees, which are establishing happily at Travis. The vine at the Bush was hanging downwards like a swing. People had rubbed it so much it was smooth to the touch instead of its usual roughness. [See the picture.] The orange seed cases from it littered the ground among ferns and mosses; the results of birds feeding on the seeds.
They were impressed by the giant Tōtara, Kahikatea and many other indomitable members of our original Canterbury bushland. Many seedlings grow, ensuring ongoing life there, a few pīwakawaka fluttered overhead and fungi still showed their amazing forms. Of course, one member of the group could not resist removing ivy which was attempting to establish itself! Thanks to the foresight of the Deans who were responsible for saving the ‘treasure’ we could envisage Travis in the future!!!! Thank you, Ranger John.
Article and images: Eleanor Bissell
The Charming Invader: Silvereye (Tauhou) in New Zealand
Those of you that watch the birds in your garden will have noticed the seasonal arrival of the Silvereye over the last few weeks.
The Silvereye,or Tauhou in Māori, might be one of New Zealand’s most widespread birds, but it’s not a native in the traditional sense. This tiny, olive-green songbird with a bright white eye ring actually arrived from Australia, first recorded in 1832 it arrived in greater numbers around 1856, likely hitching a ride on a strong eastbound wind. Despite its immigrant status, the Silvereye has become a beloved resident, gracing gardens, forests, and even bustling cityscapes with its cheerful presence.
A small bird at around 12cm in length and around 10g in weight it’s one of the smaller visitors to our gardens. Its plumage is a beautiful combination of olive green above and a light cream below, with the namesake white eye ring adding a touch of personality. Don’t be fooled by its size though, this little bird is a real chatterbox! Their melodic songs and tinkling calls are a familiar sound in New Zealand’s greenery.
As an omnivore, the Silvereye enjoys a varied diet. From feasting on juicy fruits and insects to occasionally sipping on nectar, they’re valuable pollinators and play a role in keeping insect populations in check. They are known to spread seeds of native trees and shrubs, including kahikatea and coprosmas. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in various habitats, from native forests to suburban backyards. While they are a pest in orchards during the fruit ripening season they are also beneficial eating aphids and codling moth caterpillars during the winter.
In their native Australia Silvereye are a migratory bird moving north for the winter. Most of the Tasmanian flock cross Bass straight and disperse up the east coast as far as southern Queensland. Quite a feat for such a small bird. There’s some evidence to suggest this happens with a small part of the NZ population as well, but nowhere near the same extent.
Despite their success story, Silvereyes face some challenges. Introduced predators like cats and possums can take a toll on their populations. Luckily, their widespread presence and knack for finding food sources help them maintain healthy numbers.
So, the next time you hear a sweet chirp in your garden or spot a tiny flash of green flitting through the trees, remember the Silvereye. This little charmer, though not originally from these shores, has become a vital part of New Zealand’s vibrant birdlife.
Article and images: Grahame
Images from Grahame
