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FALCONS RETURN TO WAIRAU PLAIN

Posted by: NickFox on 01/30/2008 06:46 PM

For the first time in over 150 years the endemic New Zealand Falcon has returned to breed on the Wairau Plain.

The unique New Zealand Falcon, which is classified as threatened to endangered, is rarer than the kiwi and, like so many endemic birds, has retreated from lowland areas of New Zealand when its native habitat was destroyed. Persecution and introduced mammalian predators were the final nails in the coffin for this trusting ground-nesting native. It is the only surviving endemic bird of prey we have left.

But now the Falcons for Grapes Project in Marlborough is turning its fortunes around.

The project translocated four falcons from nests in the hills two years ago. Last year a further 15 young falcons were released from artificial nest barrels in the vineyards. This year three pairs of these falcons have nested in the vineyards for the first time since the Plain was cleared for farming.

All three pairs laid their eggs on the ground and one pair lost two eggs and another lost three eggs to marauding hedgehogs at night. So the Falcons for Grapes team placed some of the eggs in an incubator while keeping the parents incubating dummy eggs. Then they have moved the dummy eggs into nest barrels, first on the ground and then raised up off the ground in trees. Now one pair has three strong chicks two weeks old, and another pair has two chicks a week old. The third pair having lost three of their eggs, deserted their final egg. But the team rescued the egg and it has now hatched successfully. The orphaned chick is being hand-reared until it is strong enough to be mothered on to foster parents.

Wild falcons are present on the Wairau Plain but so far have not been able to nest. This year a wild female paired up with a released male but sadly, just as she was about to lay, she disappeared. The male, who has a transmitter, is still present.

Nor has it been plain sailing for the released falcons. Five were electrocuted last year in their first few months of flying. Project Leader Dr Nick Fox said “There are 3,500 transformers on the Wairau Plains and most of the poles are unsafe for wildlife. As more poles go up and more trees are cut down, the chances of a falcon landing on a pole increase. We have transmitters on each falcon, so for the first time we have been able to document the hazards posed by uninsulated equipment. Other countries design their installations to make them safe, but New Zealand has some catching up to do.”

Apart from this, one falcon has been killed by a cat, one by a harrier hawk, and one was injured by the road. Overall their survival has been better than that of the wild falcons in the surrounding hills. Colin Wynn, General Manager, said “We have been delighted that the falcons have done so well in the vineyards. Two of our pairs are only 12 months old and yet have produced young. First year breeding has never been recorded in the wild and we did not expect youngsters this year”.

Peter Gaze and Phil Bradfield from the Department of Conservation are responsible for the permits for the project. Phil reported “This is fabulous news, I’m looking forward to seeing the new arrivals.”

Dr Val Saxton from the University of Lincoln, who has been monitoring bird damage in the vineyards, said “It is too early to quantify the benefit of falcons statistically, but anecdotally we have recorded reduced damage in the falcon vineyards. Overall, bird damage is costing the New Zealand Wine Industry about $70 million per year. It is a huge problem.”

Dr Nick Pyke, CEO of the Foundation for Arable Research, Lincoln, said “Bird damage to cereals is about 5-10% and to brassicas, up to 50%. Bird damage to oilseed crops makes them uneconomical to grow in some areas, and the pest birds are increasing.” Dr Fox visited FAR last week to discuss pest bird control on arable crops. He has had enquiries from vineyard owners and orchardists all over New Zealand to provide falcons.

He said “If we can continue steadily with the falcon programme in Marlborough, then in a while we could be producing a net surplus of falcons that could be used in other areas either for re-introductions or pest control. The project is funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund (43%), my own company, International Wildlife Consultants (UK) Ltd (37%) and by the New Zealand Wine Growers (14%). Now we need to develop funding from other sources for the longer term.”

The project is of benefit to the wine industry, not just for pest control, but for marketing and wine tourism. Dr Fox is in discussions with Destination Marlborough to see how the falcons can benefit tourism in Marlborough, and he would like to develop one or more ‘focus vineyards’ to provide information about the project and enable the public to learn more about this iconic species.

NOTES

A selection of photos of the baby falcons is available from Colin Wynn on 027223115 (wynncoli@snap.net.nz ).

Vineyard visits and interviews can be arranged by contacting Colin Wynn or Dr Nick Fox on 03 572 4766 (office@falcons.co.uk) or 0210 2241547. Please note that the vineyards are private and also are multi-hazard areas. The exact locations of the nests are not disclosed for obvious reasons.

Full details of the project and a wide selection of photos are on the website www.falconsforgrapes.org

wow ! I thought it was an owl

Posted by: anonymous on 09/30/2007 10:07 PM

Out of the corner of my eye I caught movement... something flying... silent... very close no more than a few feet away.

I was working clearing strings off the vineyard we own in the lower Waihopi. A beautifull still morning with rain trying to happen on the Richmond ranges.

I quickly realised it was the wrong colour for an owl and anyway at was almost morning smoko. There was a flash of blue. Something on it's back. Was it radio controlled ? No I think it must be one of the local Falcons with it's radio pack.
I had seen one a few weeks ago fly over. I recognised it only because it's flight is so different from the Harrier. Days later my brother and I had discussed the differnt bird call comming from the Pine plantation nereby and had both decided that as it wasn't anything we recognised it must be the Falcon.

Todays falcon came to within a few feet of me in it's flight and after circling me a few times landed on a vineyard post about 10 meters away and STARED at me. We had a delightfull discussion ( a bit one sided I will admit) and then it decided to ignore me and do a bit of preening. I decided it was a special event and I would just watch what happened but after about 10 minutes decided I had better get on with my work. In any case I didn't have my glasses and couldn't see it as well as I wanted to.
I looked back a number of times and eventually saw it flutter off into the neighbours paddock.

After Smoko I made sure I had my glasses with me dut it was busy elsewhere.

I am so glad you are re-introducing the birds to my area. I have done my share of destruction of birds as a child but have a real love now for NZ native birds and consider it a real privelage to have our vineyard selected by the falcon.

Thank you.
Lester Hope.
Guernsey Road

Camera traps for predators at falcon nests

Posted by: NickFox on 12/31/2006 06:30 AM

This year we have been using five camera traps to detect predators at falcon nests. These cameras can take 300 or more digital photos and are triggered when an infra-red beam is broken. Even when the nest is not actually predated, disturbance can upset the incubating falcon so that the eggs chill. We photographed a hedgehog visiting a nest and the female was off her eggs for about three hours during the night. See photo above.

New Falcon depot in Renwick

Posted by: NickFox on 12/29/2006 10:45 AM

As the project expands in the vineyards, IWC has established a new depot at 19 Uxbridge Street, Renwick. This is in the heart of the vineyard area and handy to the main routes through Marlborough. It can sleep up to 6 people, is in a broadband area, and is based on a 1780 m2 section. It has a large store room for equipment and is adjacent to all amenities. Resourcing volunteers and field assistants is a key element in the success of the project.

Erecting predator-proof nests

Posted by: NickFox on 12/28/2006 01:06 PM

Colin, Noel and Peter Gaze from DOC succeeded in placing a nest barrel on the bluffs in Sweets Stream where falcons have nested in the past but have been predated in recent years. Using a portable generator they drilled into the rock face and secured the nest site. Subsequent checks have found falcons present and using the bluffs.

Additional nest barrels have been placed in the vineyards.

Vineyard falcon killed by cat.

Posted by: NickFox on 12/28/2006 06:55 AM

In July we had a setback when one of the females disappeared and the transmitter switched to ‘mortality’ signal. Colin Wynn radiotracked the body to a pile of irrigation pipes in the vineyard and the bitten off feathers and footprints showed that a feral cat was the culprit.

Colin and Leslie deployed more traps in the vineyards and killed several cats, but they are a constant risk from neighbouring areas, such as the river beds, where they also predate the terns. When the female disappeared the male started travelling widely – up to 12 km across the Wairau river into the ranges. Colin tracked him throughout and the only interpretation can be is that the male was searching for his mate. After about a week the male appeared to give up and resumed normal life in the vineyard.

The other three falcons successfully survived the winter and stayed within 2 km of their nest sites, being fed daily. They are chasing and catching their own prey and sometimes bring food with them at feeding time and cache it. Considering that perhaps 25% of young falcons survive their first year, our survival rate of 75% is most encouraging.

A wild falcon was also shot in nearby vineyards. Sadly, human persecution is one of the main factors endangering wild falcons and we are initiating more efforts to make the plight of this indigenous species more widely known.

Minister visits project

Posted by: NickFox on 04/07/2006 07:05 AM (Read: 755)

In March the Minister for Conservation, Chris Carter, visited the project, together with Dave Gray who is DOC Manager for the Nelson/Marlborough Region. The delegation was able to see the falcons in the vineyards (see Gallery) and asked a number of relevant questions. Also on the same day the project featured on Radio NZ Country Life programme and we have had a great response from people interested in taking part in the project.
The falcons too have been busy! One female joined up with the males, and then one of the males left and joined up with the single female. So now we have two unrelated pairs 3.8 km apart. Colin has also seen a wild juvenile female at one of the sites.

Press Release 23 February 2006 : FALCON PROJECT TAKES OFF

Posted by: NickFox on 02/20/2006 05:38 PM

FALCON PROJECT TAKES OFF

The Falcons for Grapes Project has now successfully completed its first season in Marlborough. The four man team, with the assistance of volunteers, surveyed old and new falcon sites in the Wairau, Waihopai and Awatere catchments. They have followed the fortunes of some of these sites since 1974. Signs of falcons were seen at 40 sites and of these 18 sites had pairs attempting to breed. But only 10 of these pairs successfully raised young and productivity was low.

Dr Nick Fox, Project Leader, said “Ground predators, such as cats, ferrets and possums, are still a major issue for our native falcon. To some extent they are managing to adapt by nesting in hollows on the bluffs and 46% of falcons did this. Of the 54% that nested on the ground, only 43% successfully reared young and averaged 0.7 chicks, whereas 100% of the cliff nesters succeeded and averaged 2.0 chicks. A noticeable exception was a successful ground-nesting pair on an island in the Sounds where all ground predators had been removed. Another problem this year has been the hot dry spring which seemed to knock back the first broods of the small birds such as yellow-hammers and chaffinches which the falcons prey on. As a result, many falcon pairs only succeeded in rearing one or two chicks. Very few had three chicks and none raised four. Of the chicks that survived, females (which are larger) outnumbered males 4.3 to one”

Now that predated occupied sites have been identified, the project is moving onto its winter schedule: erecting predator-proof nest barrels on bluffs or trees so that the falcons have a chance to nest off the ground. Land-owners or volunteers interested in supporting falcons in this way are welcome to contact the team.

Four young falcons have been reared in artificial nests in the vineyards in the western end of the Wairau wine region. These have been flying now since early December and are monitored by radio-tracking.

Colin Wynn, Project Manager, said “We feed the young falcons daily and they stay within about 2km of their release sites. They can fly flat out across the rows below the vines and are very playful. We are not encouraging them to hunt this year because our first priority is their survival and welfare. We have also seen wild falcons here with our youngsters. We tagged one wild youngster near Tuamarina but we have not had contact with him now since the end of December. About two thirds of the young falcons die in their first year, mainly through starvation, so we want to ensure that our birds have everything they need.”

The project team would like to thank the many land-owners who have shown interest in the project and allowed their land to be surveyed. The vineyard owners too have been very supportive, one even providing a smoko room on wheels for the team doing 24/7 radio monitoring. Talks are now underway to enable local conservation volunteers and bird-enthusiasts to participate in the programme. A 25 minute film is being made of the project and should be available in a few months time.

For further information:
Dr Nick Fox email: office@falcons.co.uk
Mr Colin Wynn email: wynncoli@snap.net.nz
A selection of photos can be viewed in the site's gallery and we can supply high resolution copies.

Update from November

Posted by: NickFox on 12/21/2005 07:20 AM

November has been a busy month. We have got the Falcon Base up and running and built a new workshop building with staff annex. This included sorting out a new water supply and drains as well as the appropriate resource consents and inspections.

We also had to expand our vehicles and purchased two Toyota off road vehicles, 2 quad bikes, a trailer and a horse trailer. These, together with a further vehicle and bike, enable us to put up to three teams into the field at a time.

By December, though checking some of our old sites, and with new information, we located 18 pairs of falcons in the catchments of the Wairau, Waihopai and Awatere rivers. Because of the early spring, some of these had already fledged young. Others still had eggs or chicks. About half appeared to be re-cycling to produce a second clutch. These pairs had presumably failed in their first attempts, probably due to predation. It was remarkable in some cases to visit sites for the first time in 30 years and find them still occupied by falcons. What is it that makes certain spots so tenaciously attractive for the falcons? We also found, for the first time in Marlborough, a nest in cut-over exotic forestry plantation, very similar to those found in Kaingaroa Forest and in Otago.

We established our first release site at the edge of the Wairau Plain. In this region the local pairs disappeared about 40 years ago because the habitat was gradually cleaned up and the resulting re-seeded, top-dressed country provided no safe nest sites any more. Non-nesting falcons come here every winter and we hope they will join up with our translocated birds and accept the artificial nests.

We put out our first nest barrel on the edge of a pine plantation over-looking new vineyards. After 5 days in the artificial nest the first two chicks were allowed out and soon learnt to flutter and later fly around the area, coming back for food on a specially marked food tray. At least 5 feral cats are in the area which meant that we had to maintain a day and night vigil. We shot one of the cats and put out live traps for the others.

The two young female falcons have back pack transmitters that transmit 2-4 km. The batteries last for 16 months. Male falcons, being so much smaller, have smaller tags that last about 6 months.

Now we are preparing for the next release which will be about 2 km from the first release. This will mean that the two groups of falcons will be able to interact and we hope in time some will survive and form new pairs and territories of their own. Of course we will be putting up several more nest barrels in the area so that they have a choice of sites when the time comes.

Socially it has also been a busy time. We hosted the 30th Anniversary of the Raptor Association of New Zealand, with a strong contingent coming down from North Island. In the evening we had a BBQ for 100 down in the riverbed at the Falcon Base. Nick also made a presentation to Blenheim Rotary Club and to the Australasian Ornithological Congress Conference held in Blenheim in December.