Patuone Planting

And it wasn't raining! which was a real bonus this morning for a small group of volunteers helping to plant the new upgraded walkway through the Patuone Reserve. This was organised by Dan Marrow from Auckland Parks and Tabitha from the Pupuke birdsong project.

Some of the grasses planted will help filter the rainwater from the nearby Barrys point road and business area helping to keep the water clean that flows into Shoal estuary before flowing on to the Hauraki Gulf.

One of the children spotted a skink so that was exciting but by the look of the single cell on its head it appears that this is the invasive rainbow skink that is regarded as a pest because it breeds so fast and risks taking over habits of our native species. I have often seen rainbow skinks in this reserve on sunny summer days when they enjoy basking in the warmth at the edge of pathways.

A small group of volunteers have been helping with predator control in this reserve to protect banded rail and other bird species in the mangroves. We were pleased to hear recently that during regular monitoring by Council their contractors found no signs of rats our target species. 

However, we know that it's only a matter of time before the rats will reinvade, so this has to be an ongoing project.  

HIGHPOINT

 The Highpoint of todays visit to Tawharanui was meeting up with Joel & Nichole who's company Highpoint Conservation Services are now in pursuit of Batwing passionfruit flower.

I first met Joel in 2016 when his company Highpoint was contracted by Auckland Council to set up a pest control line around Shoal and Ngataringa estuaries. This is the bait line that eight years later we are still monitoring and bait pulsing four times a year.

Joel was very helpful to our new group of keen local people at the time who planned to regularly keep these lines going.

Joel & Nichole are experienced rope access operators that means they can take on challenging projects on the Hauraki Islands removing pest plants from cliff top sites.

More to follow.