Starting in September, The Great Matuku Muster 2024 was the first attempt to gather data nationwide on the number of male matuku-hūrepo [Australasian bittern].  Matuku are very mobile easily managing to travel several scores or hundreds of kilometres even in the breeding season so a collaborative coordinated approach over the whole country might be able to give a more accurate number of this rare and threatened bird. Three dates in September, October and November were selected according to maramatanga as being likely dates when males were  maximally booming to entice females to a site.

John Sumich, founding trustee at Matuku Link as well as at the Bittern Conservation Trust, put his hand up to organise the “West Auckland” part of the Matuku Muster, with volunteers from Matuku Link, Ark in the Park and Birds New Zealand over fourteen sites in total.

Here at Te Henga wetland we had seven sites where for one hour from sunset listeners waited to detect the booming. Seven other sites were covered by volunteers to listen from a number of locations at Whatipu wetland. Friends of Whatipu volunteers listened at Whatipu sites, “our” volunteers went to the sites at Karekare and the one in the middle was covered by three West Auckland based Auckland Council rangers who each camped one night at Ohaka Point. Thank you all!!!!

A lot of effort went in with only a few booms heard but the September date was wet, with rain at times and wind so not a great night (see the picture above). The October and November nights had calmer weather allowing three sites at te Henga to record booms while the rangers detected matuku booms on each of the 3 nights at Ohaka point. While we heard booms from 3 sites at te Henga we had also deployed automatic acoustic recorders at the same places around the wetland we have used in the past 7 years and an initial analysis of those recordings for the October evening indicated 4-5 boom sites.

When listening for booms, the time when a boom was heard, the number of booms in a row and the approximate compass bearing of the origin of the boom were all recorded. The first two items would help to determine if the same bird was being heard from more than one listening point while the compass bearing we hoped might help another aspect of the exercise. With Auckland Council having a thermal camera equipped drone they had planned to survey likely spots along the Whatipu Strand and at te Henga for matuku-hūrepo nest sites, and our listening site GPS and compass bearing data could help narrow the area to fly the drone.  There was a some initial excitement when it seemed that a matuku nest had been seen along the Whatipu Strand but on closer examination of the photographs, it was then decided that the nest with 3 chicks was that of a kahu [harrier hawk]. As a new team with new equipment it took the Auckland Council drone survey staff more time than they had  anticipated so only the Whatipu area was surveyed but hopes are high that next season both Whatipu and te Henga can be done again after active human listening as this year.

We’re also still looking for some funding for Benjamin Brooking, a professional filmer, who volunteered his time to film us at Te Henga doing our (unsuccessful) monitoring – we’d love to turn this into a short documentary about that incredible bird, the matuku-hūrepo. Interviews with experts, threats to their existence, historical stories – it would make a lovely (educational) story for a much wider audience to raise awareness. We’ll need around $6000 for editing, music, time and materials to make this happen… if you have ideas how we could raise these funds, please contact us on hello@matukulink.org.nz. 

Meanwhile we still have to wait till the results from the whole country are disseminated from DOC where all results were forwarded to be collated – stay tuned!

In other matuku-hūrepo news: several researchers are working on “Improving eDNA monitoring of Australasian Bittern: genetic sequencing of bittern and
testing methodologies in lab and field”. Download their article for BirdsNZ here.

At our upcoming World Wetland Day Festival at Matuku Link we’ll place the spotlight on this amazing wetland ninja, with talks about the matuku, unveiling of a new artwork by our very own Derek March as part of the Waitakere wide “Special Species Project”. Saturday 1st of February 2025 from 10 am till 3pm at 111 Bethells Road – all welcome. More info here.

Many of our volunteers are not just “ours” – they volunteer at other projects as well – Mototapu, Oakley Creek, Orangihina, Ark in the Park – to name just a few! And some volunteer at Birdcare Aotearoa, which is the only place in Auckland where you can drop off an injured or sick bird, or in these times: fledglings and young chicks. They do a sterling job with professional vet staff and many many volunteers – and never enough funding. Because every bird on average costs about $100 in food, time and shelter, it is in their and the bird’s benefit to get them back in nature as soon as possible. Some birds will be fine when you just open the cage and let them go. Others need a “soft release” – staying in an aviary at the site where they will be released, to find their bearings while they still get fed. After a week or so, their door will be open but food is still provided, in case they need it. Some birds just head off, others hang around the aviary for a while until they find enough food elsewhere.

Last year we had a ‘hard release’ of three banded rail (mohu pereru) see more here, which was very exciting, plus many grey ducks and even a grey teal. A trial of a ‘soft release’ was done with two matuku moana (white faced herons) which went well – they grew significantly in the week they were with us and took off confidently. Last week we’ve received another guest to our aviary, another young matuku moana which we’re feeding now. The food is a specific mix of (frozen) sprats, marinara, a mouse and a day-old chicken… which was what he received at Birdcare. After two feeds it turns out he isn’t a fan of seafood though – Marjolijn, one of our volunteers who feed him twice a day, noticed he wasn’t a seafood fan: he picked up a piece of marinara and threw it down in disgust!

Let us know if you’re interested in taking care of birds and would like to help out in one way or the other. And walk quietly near the aviary when you have a sneak peek of this very fluffy specimen…

Best, Annalily – 0212207136 or hello@matukulink.org.nz

Below some pictures of our first ‘set’ of matuku moana and some snaps of our current guest.

No wonder we received the Mayoral Conservation Award for Collaboration! A huge thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers, funders, philanthropists, staff, contractors, tenants, builders, cooks, bakers, weeders, educators, planters, guides, trappers, baiters, nursery workers, hosts, cleaners, artists and everyone I’ve forgotten…. none of this could have been achieved without your hard mahi!!!

Arohanui, Annalily

Under the expert guidance of Stephen Davies and James Russell, a number of us have been getting up really early to learn how to “band birds”. This involves catching the birds in mist nets and gently giving them a tiny metal bracelet around their leg. The bird is weighed, its wing measured and if possible, its age and gender are established. All those facts are recorded against the number on its leg band. Not only does this help to let us know how many different birds are around Matuku Link, it is also a great opportunity for budding bird banders to learn the craft – and possibly move from Level 1 (absolute beginner) to Level 3 (expert). It is actually the only way to learn, as there are no certified courses: it is learning by doing under supervision of an expert. Visitors who happen to see the process are always impressed – to see a wild native bird up close is an incredible experience, whatever the size of the bird!

We’re super lucky to have two of these experts close by, and for them to share their knowledge and experience with us, while adding yet another way to monitor our bird numbers. 

Thank you James and Stephen!

Annalily

OFF THE RAILS

And yes they were off but not as fast as you might have thought. Last week three moho peruru  [banded rails] were released at Matuku Link having been raised as day-olds by BirdCare Aotearoa. Two brought into a house by the family cat, and the other probably in similar circumstances.

Dedicated care by staff included initial half hourly feeds and finally they were heavy enough for a release. We had hoped to be able to invite lots of people to this special release, but it turns out that banded rail are very susceptible to stress – this release was the third try. First time they lost a lot of weight after being moved at BirdCare Aotearoa from their inside pen to their outside aviary, second time the weather was deemed too cold and rainy. In the best interest of the birds it was decided to just invite the people closest involved with their care, from BirdCare Aotearoa as well as from Matuku Link. And a photographer and videographer of course, to help spread the word on these beautiful and rare taonga. A high school student with her parents researching banded rail was also very fortunate to join, as part of her education project. The rest of the world just has to make do with the videos and photographs…

Banded rail were once common from Rakiura to the Three Kings in wetlands but now are mainly restricted to mangrove & coastal wetlands. These three hesitantly exited their cage allowing us all a good look before they disappeared.

Hopefully these three birds will find partners (all three are male, as DNA testing showed) and have a productive life here at Matuku Link and Habitat te Henga.

Have a look at these two cute videos here on YouTube:

• Banded rail recovery at BirdCare Aotearoa (5 minutes)
• Banded rail release at Matuku Link (2 minutes)

John Sumich – trustee

All images by our voluntary professional photographer Stefan Marks – thank you!

It’s not about the number of pests you remove from the environment, it is how well the native flora and fauna is recovering. And that can be quite hard to monitor! Apart from anecdotal reports from locals that they see more birds (which is great!) or have seen a pateke or matuku for the first time in twenty years (which is even better!), how do we know if that isn’t just a coincidence? We do surveys. Official surveys with important looking people with clipboards and binoculars who will walk a certain gridline at a certain time of the year. They will be able to tell you which bird they heard, how many responded to playback (puweto for instance). These surveys usually take place on one day once or twice a year. They are a snapshot in time. But how do you survey cryptic species with huge home ranges in the middle of a wetland, like matuku (bittern)? You do place recorders for two weeks a year, and analyze which birds they’ve recorded.

At Matuku Link and adjoining Habitat te Henga we’ve done this ‘survey-by-recording’ several four times, each one or two years apart. A company aptly called SoundCounts has the specialized recording equipment that can withstand a storm or a flood, but also picks up the quietest of birdsong. See below the results since 2016.

The absence of puweto (spotless crake) might be due to the storm and flood that hit the wetland (and most of Kumeu) on the 31st of August last year. Other bird observers in the Waitakere Valley also commented that they didn’t hear puweto in their usual spots either. Let’s hope they will come back!

If you like the full report, you can download it here.

A special thank you to the Waitakere Ranges Local Board and Auckland Council for funding this ongoing survey!

Image: puweto by Jacqui Geux

The Matuku isn’t our namesake for nothing, it is a very special bird. They are cryptic birds so we need to know more about them. Developing a database of where they were heard will increase awareness of matuku presence generally and add to knowledge of their site preference. Although bitterns/matuku can disperse to and through various wetlands throughout the year, the booming of the male matuku defines a site as a potential breeding territory. Males boom from early spring through to summer to attract mates and to deter rivals.

               Where did you hear your matuku boom this year?

This Citizen Science project will accumulates a database of annual territories to give an additional indication of population stability or decline. Add every boom you hear in our survey here and consider asking any residents close by your wetland[s] of interest to also take part- the more information the better! We can send you posters to help spread the word.

More info with John Sumich or via matukulink@gmail.com and fill out the survey here.

Beautiful bittern images by Imogen Warren Photography.

As written by Linda Ruthe:

When Liz March (local photographer), needed to take photos of Kauri, she kindly invited me to go with her to Matuku Link. There, we dutifully disinfected our shoes and walked up a track to where Kauri grow amongst companions. I spent some time alone in this lovely place, further along the track, as Liz began taking her photos.
Later, when I wanted to check on her progress, I heard, and saw, something tumble slowly from high above us, to land softly at the base of a Kauri tree, close to Liz.
Curious, I walked closer, and saw that it was a keruru that had landed, wings outstretched on the ground, as if in obeisance to Tane Mahuta. As we watched, marvelling at its beauty, it convulsed a few times, then slowly closed its eyes in death.

All images by Liz March.

Planting has never been so easy…with the ground soft and muddy, it was more akin to ladling chocolate pudding than our usual sweat-inducing exercise trying to dig a hole! In some cases this did result in mud actually flowing into shoes and sneakers, creating squishy socks for the rest of the day. A wet reminder to wear gumboots on our planting days in winter, not just tramping boots. To balance out the easy work, a couple of brave volunteers pulled out re-sprouting gorse and blackberry, triumphant when getting another of these thorny pests out.

Because we were with many, it was a sunny day and the soil was soft, we finished early and most of us went back to the barn to start on lunch with lovely home made soups, breads and salads. Our photographers Jacqui and Stefan went for a walk with John and discovered… a second pair of pateke (brown teal) in our most recently dug pond! One of the pair was wearing a yellow leg band, which means it is one birds originally translocated to Te Henga in 2015. It was the highlight of the day to hear it is still around, looking happy and healthy. And as this is a pair, let’s hope they start breeding soon as well.

Our upcoming working bees are always on the Third Sunday of the month, from 10 am to 1 pm. The next ones are:

• Sunday August 18th
• Sunday September 15th
• Sunday October 20th

A big “thank you” to all of you who have came along before, and a big “welcome” to new volunteers! We start at 10 am as (although some eager beavers are usually there from 8.30 am) and keep going until 1 pm, followed by a shared lunch (optional). There is no public transport unfortunately but ample parking spots, and the opportunity to go to the beach afterwards. Let us know if you’ve got any questions, otherwise just turn up at 111 Bethells Road, with suitable gear (sunscreen and/or rain coats) and sturdy, CLEAN, footwear. This is important because we are kauri dieback free, and like to keep it this way.

This Sunday we’re hoping to plant around our Natural Flow system and mulching around them. If the weather is horrible, we’ll work in the nursery (or just get soaked!)… if there is anything you specifically like to do, drop us a line.

Thanks to all who came and hope to see you next time! – Annalily & the trustees

All images by our voluntary professional photographer Jacqui Geux – thank you!