Operational Programme

Sanctuary Operational Plan 2023

Maintaining plant and animal pests at zero to low densities and monitor outcomes.
Monitoring of chevron skink and black petrel
Seabird survey in January
Sanctuary rat tracking tunnel average of less than 10%
Continue catch up of track maintenance
Focus weed programme around dwellings
Review spacing between stations and retire extra stations
Reintroduce traps to Perimeter RB and BW
Create bait depots for each area

Rat/mice management programme – monthly perimeter station checks in LWH, BHB, BW, TR, and RB. Quarterly checks on internal tracks for all areas
Trap bait – to limit bait take from ants over summer months use macadamia nuts or licorice.
Aim to achieve rat tracking tunnel annual average of 10% or less. Record all catches of mice, kiore, or ship rat.

50% stations in 100 grams of diphacenone, 50% traps at 25m spacing on tracks. Checks -Mar, June, Sept, Dec.
Objective – Keep tracking tunnels below 10%

50% traps, 50 % x 100 grams diphacenone at 25m spacing on tracks. Checks – Feb,May,Aug,Nov.
Objective – Keep tracking tunnels below 10%

Internal tracks 100% 100 grams diphacenone at 25 m spacing checked quarterly – Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct. Perimeter track 50 % traps, 50% 100 grams diphacenone at 25 m spacing checked monthly.
Objective – Keep tracking tunnels below 10%.

Internal tracks 100% 100 grams diphacenone at 25 m spacing checked quarterly – Feb, May, Aug, Nov. Perimeter track 50 % traps, 50% 100 grams diphacenone at 25 m spacing checked monthly.
Objective – Keep tracking tunnels below 10%.

50% stations 100gram diphacenone bait and 50% Max Supervisor traps – checked three monthly – Mar, June, Sept, Dec.

50 % stations in 100 grams Diphacenone internal and perimeter plus 50% traps at 25m spacing on internal tracks, 12.5m spacing on perimeter tracks – monthly check.

Maintain pressure on pig densities by reporting pig sign to Dean and hunting as soon as possible after sighting. Tie down all stations to reduce impact of feral pigs.

February (or when clear wasps are active) – activate 420 wasp stations for period of 3 days then repeat in 1 week.
Report wasp’s nests on a sheet and treat with Carbaryl.

Familiarise field team members with weeds – put up weed chart in shed.
Follow up on weeds identified in Auck City Weed Survey. Find and remove.
Team weed blitz at Dereks – March.
Check plectranthus and aristea from (around A frame) and Mexican devilweed where seen.
Remove/spray/treat pampas with pellets as seen.
Remove Mexican daisy when seen – flowering. (Rose, Rachel)
Remove or spray aristea at Gilbert/Scrimgeour and on Benthorn driveway.
Remove agapanthus from Scrimgeour.
Remove Watsonia as seen.

December – participate in island wide bird monitoring programme.
Seabird survey with Jo Sim in Jan 2023
BP petrel – set up cameras on a nest . Kate. Clear any supplejack from nesting areas.
Replace and re-establish bird caller in spring?

Refresh Onduline Motels – clear around and reset.
Monitor 40 Lizard, and 10 Weta motels in May and November. Count and identify invertebrates in Lizard motels. Move wooden lizard boxes with ant nests to more suitable sites. GPS on BW to WH.
Report all chevron skink sightings and location, GPS if possible.

Silvereye Protection trial – evaluate reduction of silvereye mortality in traps by trialing 20 tunnels in front of trap entrance. April . Put cameras on a few. Identify best trial spot.
Keep data on trap deaths.
Feather boas placed in Cat traps

Maintain shed in orderly and efficient manner.
Maintain personal field gear – use dubbin on boots, spray jackets and pants with weather proofing.
Ensure cell phones charged every day.
Daily field team location board kept up to date.
First aid kits up to date and taken in backpacks.
Chainsaws and trimmer kept maintained.
Up to date inventory to ensure timely ordering of new equipment.
Rubbish disposed of.
Old bait in composting worm farms.
Remove compost from 2 bins to create space for new bait.