Shakespear
Shakespear Open Sanctuary
The vision for the Shakespear Open Sanctuary is to create an open and accessible wildlife sanctuary that integrates public recreation, conservation and farming and which provides a source and a linkage for native bird species to repopulate the Whangaparaoa peninsula.
The Shakespear Open Sanctuary encompasses 500 hectares of land at the eastern end of the Whangaparaoa peninsula including Shakespear Regional Park (Auckland Council), the ‘Tamaki Leadership Centre’ owned by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the Watercare Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. A 1.7 kilometre pest-proof fence has been erected across the peninsula neck from Army Bay to Okoromai Bay. This fence has both vehicle and pedestrian gates to enable public access.
The Shakespear Open Sanctuary is significant because it extends the safe habitat of Tiritiri Matangi Island to the mainland. The importance of this relationship is reflected in the continuous movement of native species such as tui, bellbirds and kakariki between Tiritiri Matangi and Shakespear Regional Park. The Shakespear Open Sanctuary is likely to benefit from the pest eradication recently undertaken by the Department of Conservation on nearby Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands. Resident endangered species such as moko skink will thrive in the pest free environment.
Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society Inc (SOSSI)
The Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society Inc (SOSSI) was created to help the Open Sanctuary become a reality through fundraising and volunteer work. SOSSI is working closely with the Auckland Council on this project. They have already raised approximately $475,000 towards the construction of the pest-proof fence.
You can help by joining SOSSI or making a donation by visiting http://www.sossi.org.nz/
Why do we need open sanctuaries?
- Natural, healthy coastal environments are in short supply in New Zealand. In the Rodney area, where Shakespear Regional Park is located, more than 80% of remaining forests are less than 10 hectares in size, and just 1% of the original wetlands remain.
- The Shakespear Open Sanctuary includes a pest proof fence which runs coast to coast, enclosing 500 hectares of land at the end of the peninsula.
- Pest animals are causing our native animal and plant numbers to decline. By removing them we can reverse this movement and create a pest free retreat. Doing this in a regional park with public access means everyone can witness native species prospering in the wild.
Timeline for the pest eradication:
- The Auckland Regional Council was granted resource consent for the pest proof fence in 2009, and the fence was constructed between March 2010 and March 2011.
- The pest eradication programme commenced on 1 July and has included three aerial applications of the toxin brodifacoum along with ground based methods.
- The Auckland Council was granted resource consent for the aerial discharge of bait in January 2011.
- The three separate aerial bait applications were undertaken between 1 July and 2 August; these were weather dependent and ideally occurred approximately a fortnight apart. The park will be closed to the public for 120 days after the last bait application or until testing has shown the bait has broken down to a degree that meets the condition of the resource consent.
- Between mid August and November a range of ground based pest control, including use of dogs, firearms and traps will occur while the park remains closed. Park closure manages Health and Safety risk to any potential visitor and gives greater scope for staff to undertake these activities safely.
- It is anticipated that the park will be open to the public by 1 December. This closure coincides with the traditional low-use period for day visitors, camping and site bookings.
What animal pests are present at Shakespear Regional Park?
- Shakespear Regional Park has ten species that are considered pests: mice, ship rats, norway rats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, cats, possums, rabbits, hedgehogs.
Why eradicate these pests?
- Because they are a deadly threat to the native species and plants that remain at Shakespear Regional Park. They are also a threat to Tiritiri Matangi Island species, because many birds journey between the island and Shakespear Regional Park.
- Possums and rodents eat the fruit, leaves and new growth of native plants at Shakespear. This reduces the availability of food for native animals. They are also predators of chicks and the eggs of many native species.
- Mustelids are very aggressive mammalian predators. They feed on native birds, insects and lizards. Mustelids are responsible for the death of 80% of kiwi chicks in the wild.
How will the eradication be undertaken?
- The project is very similar to that undertaken at the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, where a pest proof fence was constructed, and aerial bait applications were undertaken.
- At Shakespear Regional Park, a 1.7 kilometre pest proof fence has been constructed around a 500 hectare section at the end of the peninsula.
- Aerial applications of brodifacoum, along with ground based methods, such as bait traps, will be used to eradicate pests from inside the Shakespear Open Sanctuary area.
- Ground based pest eradication methods will also be used to target pest species in the park's buffer zone outside the pest-proof fence.
What is brodifacoum and how was it applied?
- Brodifacoum is a common anticoagulant poison used for rat control including household use. It can be purchased form supermarkets and hardware stores under various brand names.
- Brodifacoum poison baits are compressed cereal, approximately 10mm long and weigh around 2g, contain 0.002% brodifacoum and are dyed green.
- Based on international best practice to eradicate rodents the brodifacoum was applied by controlled aerial applications. This ensures complete coverage within necessary timeframes to ensure all pest animals are exposed to poison. Ground baiting holds greater risk of operational failure. Helicopters guided by GPS use underslung buckets to spread bait evenly, ensuring all terrain is accessed.
- A system called ‘trickle baiting' was used around the sanctuary’s fenced boundary and coast to avoid bait being applied outside of these areas. Ground crews swept the area west of the fenceline and the coastal margins to remove any bait that fell outside the boundary or below the high water mark. Lladen helicopters did not fly over residential areas.
- Three applications of bait were applied, between 1 July and 2 August 2011, each approximately two weeks apart. Bait could only be applied in good weather conditions.
Why do we need aerial bait applications?
- Rodents have very small home ranges - about 10 square metres for mice. Applying the bait by aerial application is the most cost effective solution to combating pest problems because thousands of bait stations would be needed to cover the whole Shakespear Open Sanctuary area. Installing and servicing such an intensive ground system would be unsustainable and unsafe. Trapping alone generally fails to get rid of all rodents because trap-shy animals often avoid them.
- An aerial bait application at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary was highly successful at removing many pests. The pests that have been successfully eradicated from Tawharanui include ship rats, Norway rats, cats, possums, weasels, stoats and ferrets. There are some pests that still remain inside Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, including mice, rabbits and hedgehogs. Ongoing ground based techniques are continued, to reduce the numbers of these pests.
Can I still use the park?
- Shakespear Regional Park (east of the pest proof fence) will be closed to the public from 1 July 2011 to allow the pest eradication programme to be carried out. This area of the park will remain closed for up to 120 days after the last bait application (1 December) or until testing has shown the bait has broken down to a degree that meets the condition of resource consent. When the park reopens to the public you can enjoy the same park without pests, and watch the wildlife thrive in a predator free environment.
- Now the aerial bait applications are complete areas outside of the pest proof fence will remain accessible to the public. These include the boat ramp, car park and toilets at Army Bay, Okoromai Bay and wetlands.
- Pest control activity will occur in the buffer zone west of the pest proof fence. These activities will not impact upon public use of this part of the park.
When will the park and bookings open?
- We are working toward a reopening date of Thursday 1 December 2011. Ongoing monitoring of bait breakdown may allow us to bring this date forward.
- Campground and picnic site bookings from 1 December will be available from Tuesday 6 September.
What precautions were taken to notify people of the bait application and park closure?
- The conditions of the resource consent and the council’s operational plan clearly identify all of the necessary precautions that need to be taken to ensure that the bait applications were safe for both the public and the environment.
- A range of methods have been used to inform the public of the park closure and pest eradication programme. These included media releases, advertisements in local papers, delivery of flyers to local residents, posters and information provided to customer service centres and libraries, notification to schools, tourism websites, park user groups and all local medical centres and vets.
- Signs advising of the park closure were erected in advance of 1 July and there is a requirement for the signs advising the public of the use of the poison bait to remain in place for one year after the last application; so these won’t be removed until early August 2012.
What affect will the brodifacoum applications have on non-target species?
- Some deaths of non-target species are expected from this programme, but once their predators are removed the populations of native species will recover quickly, as seen elsewhere eg. Tawharanui and Tiritiri Matangi.
- In the case of the rare pateke (brown teal), the nine birds from Shakespear have been relocated to Tawharanui for the duration of the operation.
- Following an appeal to provide temporary accommodation, homes have also been found for 13 of Shakespear’s iconic peacocks that live in the park.
- Once the operation is complete, the new predator free environment will also enable the reintroduction of rare and threatened native species, such as kiwi, to the park.
- Post operational monitoring of resident wildlife will take place now bait application is completed.
What affect will the brodifacoum applications have on marine life?
The application method reduced the potential for brodifacoum contamination of the marine area. A system called ‘trickle baiting' was used around the coastal margins and the coastline was swept by ground crews after baits were laid to remove any bait that had fallen below the high water mark.
Samples of marine life are being tested for presence of brodifacoum following the operation, with emphasis on the Okoromai Bay cockle beds.
Notices have been posted advising caution harvesting seafood from near the operational area until the all clear is given.
What about my dog or cat?
- Domestic animals are not allowed within the fenced area of the open sanctuary. The pest proof fence is designed to prevent pest animals entering the sanctuary area. Intensive ground based pest control methods will also be undertaken in the buffer zone outside the fence. It is important that pets are not allowed to roam freely in this area, however dogs which are kept under control are allowed within signed areas.
- Although unlikely poisoned animals from the open sanctuary may still venture beyond the fence and will be collected as soon as possible. Effective control of dogs is the best safeguard to ensure dogs do not scavenge a bait-affected animal.
- Symptoms of anticoagulant poisoning in domestic animals are similar to those in humans and include bruising, bleeding or coagulopathy (reduced blood clotting). Accidental poisoning can be treated with activated charcoal or Vitamin K. If concerned about suspected poisoning contact your local vet who will administer treatment if required.
What about the livestock on the park?
- All sheep and cattle were removed from the park prior to the eradication programme and will not be returned until a minimum of 120 days from the date of the last bait application, being 1 December.
What species will be reintroduced to Shakespear?
- First, we will watch and wait – allowing time for species to come back to Shakespear of their own accord. We hope to see bellbirds, kakariki and pateke making their way across the Gulf from nearby Tiritiri Matangi Island.
- Once we are satisfied that the original cause for the decline in these native species (predators) has gone or is at manageable levels, we can start thinking about reintroducing species like kiwi, robins and whiteheads.
- We hope to start planning for reintroductions around a year after the pest eradication operation is complete and could be translocating birds by spring 2013.
- The council must apply to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for a permit to source and translocate any animal species so this means DOC must be satisfied that Shakespear is free of predator threats and that there is a viable source population.
Will the Shakespear Open Sanctuary affect visitor use in the long term?
- No, the purpose of the Shakespear Open Sanctuary is to enhance visitor experience by restoring coastal lowland landscape and providing a unique opportunity for visitors to experience native plants and animals in a pest free environment.
- There will be gates along the pest proof fence for the public to enter both on foot and by vehicle.
- Visitors will be asked to exercise basic biosecurity precautions such as checking gear and packing it in pest proof containers before arrival to prevent unwanted stowaways.
What will pest eradication mean in the long run for Shakespear Regional Park and the Open Sanctuary?
- Imagine being able to camp and walk amongst native kiwi, brown teal, bellbirds and tuatara, and picnic in a puriri and nikau forest alive with bird song.
- A mainland sanctuary where existing native species can recover in the absence of pest animals but in the presence of human visitors.
- Eventually the Auckland Council envisages that a significant section of the park could be restored through natural and active reintroduction, regeneration and revegetation. This will create a representative range of natural communities that would have been present on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula originally. These natural communities will include coastal lowland forest, dunelands, cliff, rocky and sandy shore communities, and saline and freshwater wetlands.
How do I get more information?
If you would like to receive further updates about this project, please email: open.sanctuary@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
