Anchor Island - Kakapo Recovery Programme

The total number of kakapo (M. night parrot) recorded since the mid-1900s is around two hundred.  With only around 140 alive at present, those surviving need all the help they can get to ensure the species continued existence.  The remaining birds exist in a variety of locations including Anchor, Codfish, Maud, Little Barrier and Pearl Islands with no known birds on the mainland.  In 1989 there were just 40 of these cute and curious flightless parrots left in the population, a population teetering on the brink of collapse.  Extensive recovery efforts have bolstered the population to the 140-odd birds we have today.

Most New Zealanders are familiar with Sirocco, the 'ambassador' kakapo, a chick hand-raised after a respiratory disease meant he had to be removed from the nest who subsequently failed to be reintegrated to the kakapo society as he identified more strongly with people!  Sirocco fits into the wedge of the population known among the rangers as 'studs and duds'.  Bird who are not suitable for breeding due to either genetic over-representation or due to poor reproductive attributes.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) have created the Kakapo Recovery Programme which has been running for the past few decades, a more formal advancement of the volunteer work done by the likes of Don Merten from the early 70s onwards.

This entry is a record of my time spent as a volunteer ('volly') on one of the remote pest and predator free islands in Dusky Sound, Anchor Island, as part of this programme.

Crooked River

Yet another stunning day out on the Crooked.

Jo, Sam, Amy and I left Christchurch in convoy with Shaun, Jacs and her dad Tim to do a bit of hiking and kayaking.  We had planned up meet up with Phil and Finn over at the Crooked.  Thinking it would only be the six of us on the water (with Amy, Jacs and Tim all tramping), we were a bit surprised to see the boys on the coast had rallied another three people - it was going to be a busy day!

Whitcombe River

Another trip over to the West Coast to have a bit of fun, this time flying into the Whitcombe River with Pat Amberger (Precision Heli), the latest in a string of pilots new to the coast.  Pat makes a great addition to the whitewater scene, clearly sharing in the stoke and more than willing to 'just pop around the corner for a look', always on time and most importantly; super relaxed which is just what you want in a heli pilot!

Hollyford 2013

An eight day road trip from Christchurch to Gunn's Camp on the Hollyford River via Queenstown, Mavora Lakes and inclusive of a visit to Milford Sound. This annual UCCC pilgrimage is a 2000 km return journey with antics, spectacular scenery and often culminates with a rather rowdy night out in Queenstown. 

2013 saw 15 kayakers get on 11 sections of 5 different rivers (Kawerau, Mararoa, Hollyford, Tutoko and Arthur Rivers) in a variety of conditions from 15 to 150 cumecs. 

Thanks to the crew for such an awesome adventure, bring on 2014!
Here is Tim Grunshaw's video edit of the Hollyford 2013 trip.

The Heaphy Track / Karamea Exploration

Amy and I traveled to Karamea over Waitangi weekend to do some caving, a bit of tramping and the Heaphy track.  While over on the West Coast, we arranged to meet up with Chris who was down from Nelson.