Environment – Songs of spring

On the Shakespear Park farm, lambing has been massive, with 270 sets of twins, 70 sets of triplets, and the rest singles. 

A group of senior volunteers have been trained by Ranger Rae to complete a daily “lamb beat”, checking each paddock, identifying any issues, and providing support. This can include reuniting newborns with their mums, or caring for newborns that need extra assistance, including orphans. This year has been our busiest so far, with around 40 orphans coming into the programme. We have trained “lamb nannies” who can come to the park within half an hour of getting a phone-call. They will warm and feed an orphaned lamb individually for the first 48 hours and do regular health checks. After that, if the lamb is doing well enough, it will be entered into a bigger group. Our four pens contain lambs in progressing stages, from newborn to weaning, and they are moved along as they gain weight. This is a truly busy time, with volunteers working seven days a week until weaning.

Meanwhile, birdlife has been thriving at the Okoromai Bay wetlands. Recent observations include hearing some of the more cryptic wetland birds, such as pūweto/spotless crake and mātātā/fernbird. Korimako/bellbirds entertained bird watchers, and even some kōtuku ngutupapa /royal spoonbills were spotted last month.

In a happy ending, a young tūturiwhatu/NZ dotterel named Okorowai, was released back at Shakespear at the end of July, after a period of rehabilitation at the zoo (HM July 29). On the beach in Te Haruhi Bay some of the regular pairs that have bred here for several years have reconfirmed their presence. It is reassuring to have at least four known pairs happily feeding on the low tide flats. 

In the bush, the recently released hihi are doing very well. Thirty were identified at the last count. Nest box checks have seen a little “refurbishing” with sticks, but it is still a bit too early for actual nesting. Likewise, while a number of toutouwai/North Island robins have started courtship feeding, no nests have yet been found. Hopefully it won’t be too long before this happens. 

Within our predator-proof fence, native birds live in a true sanctuary, but they need our protection much more widely. In our own backyards at home, breeding of tūī, pīwakawaka/fantail, riroriro/grey warblers and other native birds will start very soon. That makes now a perfect time to join a local backyard trapping project such as our neighbouring Forest & Bird community-based Pest Free Hibiscus Coast Project. If we all work together, there will be even more birdsong to enjoy everywhere.