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At the age of 22, Pest Free Hibiscus Coast’s new community activator, conservationist and artist Charlie Thomas, has already dived deep into the work he is passionate about.
He has been to Antarctica, talked bugs with naturalist Ruud Kleinpaste, worked with Sea Cleaners removing rubbish from the ocean, helped with rat and stoat eradication on Waiheke Island and educated students and other visitors to Rotoroa Island.
Hibiscus Matters readers may remember stories about Charlie’s experiences as a teenager living on an isolated Hawaiian atoll with a group of environmental restoration volunteers during lockdown.
Tattoos on Charlie’s arm depict native flora and fauna that he has directly interacted with, including rarities like the Whio duck, wētāpunga and Chevron skink (the tattoo is life size – they can be up to 30cm long).
Now living in Ōrewa, Charlie (who grew up in Red Beach) recently started his role as community activator with meeting the Forest and Bird team and reconnecting with the community and local wildlife – it’s been three years since he lived in the area.
Although Charlie says he has noticed substantial residential growth, even in that short time, he has also seen species such as kereru in greater numbers, as well as reports of kākā and kākāriki in the area (see below).
His work will include encouraging residents to connect with nature, become more aware of the biodiversity in the area that needs protection, and get involved in backyard trapping or other work on the Pest Free project. It will include building relationships with local schools and working with the students.
The skinny on skinks
The Pest Free Hibiscus Coast team has been working with local herpetologist Dylan van Winkel to train volunteers in how to survey for native skinks and geckos. This is because although the area is known to be a hot spot for the at-risk ornate skink, for example, data from sites over time is very limited. Native reptiles are very vulnerable to predation by introduced mammals. However, many people, unaware of the difference between native skinks and the introduced rainbow skink common in gardens, assume they are doing well. The project team has been following strict guidelines for safe survey of native reptiles under the Wildlife Act, which included night spotting for geckos. A total of 42 skink or gecko surveys were carried out, with several new site records of native reptiles recorded.
Kākāriki colour coast
A notable increase in sightings of kākāriki/red-crowned parakeets, outside Shakespear Open Sanctuary, has excited local bird enthusiasts. The birds have been spotted making regular visits to Army Bay properties and even Manly. Found only in NZ, kākāriki used to be common, but due to predation from introduced mammals, they are now largely restricted to pest free islands and sanctuaries where they have been reintroduced. In Wellington, these birds are spreading out from the Zealandia sanctuary into pest free urban areas. Not to be confused with the Australian rosellea, kākāriki are a vivid green with a red forehead and blue edges to their wings. They nest in holes in trees and often feed on the ground, making them vulnerable to introduced wild mammals and domestic cats.
