More Okarito visitors?

Press, 25 October 1986, Page 6

More Okarito visitors?

By

TESSA WARD

More people may be allowed to visit the white heron nesting colony at Okarito’s Waitangiroto Nature Reserve if this can be done without harming the reserve’s birdlife, according to the Westland' National Park’s chief ranger, Mr Murray Reedy. “So far we allow fewer than 100 people, mainly ornithologists, near the colony each year,” he said. “They are landed by boat about 200 metres downstream from the colony and view the herons from hides. “It is not generally the white herons that are bothered by the presence of people. The spoonbills — which nest in the tree tops above them — are much more flighty. When the spoonbills leave the nests their chicks are vulnerable to harrier hawk attacks.” During the last few breeding s.easons, the spoonbills had nested about 60 metres further upstream from the herons where they were less easily disturbed, Mr Reedy said. “We have been taking in one or two larger than

usual groups of people to try to gauge their effect on the white herons, spoonbills, and shags that nest near the water’s edge. If we were to allow more people to view the birds each year, perhaps even on a commercial basis, we would first have to consult the appropriate wildlife and Maori groups and make sure that all necessary safeguards were in place. “It may be that the numbers of people we would be prepared to allow into the area would not be sufficient to make any commercial sightseeing venture viable. So far three applications for such a venture have been lodged with the Lands and Survey Department,” Mr Reedy said. The white herons, an uncommon native species not endemic to New Zealand, would be in danger of population decline if their nesting was disturbed too much, he said. “Other natural factors already pose a threat to the breeding success each year. These include strong south-westerly winds that can cause the chicks to die of cold, predation by stoats, and flooding of the Okarito Lagoon making it too deep for the herons to wade in and find food. “On average, about 45 pairs of white herons breed each year in the

reserve, the only breeding site in New Zealand. They disperse throughout New Zealand during the rest of the year and are in much greater danger then, mainly from human hazards,”, Mr Reedy said. Greater public access to view the white heron colony is one of the topics discussed in a new draft management plan for the reserve. Mr Reedy said that the plan would probably be released for public comment early next year and, after subsequent changes, in use in about 12 months. “There is nothing in the draft plan that is really not being applied currently as a management principle. It is a statutory requirement for reserve and national park management plans to be reviewed every 10 years. “Another issue the plan addresses is future fencing of the reserve since there have been one or two difficulties with stock getting in. The reserve has been substantially fenced over the last five years but if it is extended more fencing will be required,” he said. Mr Reedy said the Okarito lagoon with its large variety of bird life provided the potential for future commercial scenic tours. A few of the bird

species had recently arrived from Australia, just as the white heron did about 1000 years ago. “The spur-wing plover is a newcomer of about 10 years, and the welcome swallow and silver eye are also from Australia. Visitors wanting to see plenty of forest birdlife need to home in on the parts of the native forest that are flowering and keep a patient watch-out for the less vociferous species that flit about in the foliage.”