Kia ora!

As we enter the second half of 2023, we're pleased to say that despite the inclement weather a significant amount has been achieved out on the islands. Including planting, weeding, commencing the 2023 Floating Classroom programme and the release of more wētāpunga.

On the mainland we've been part of the Russell Birdman Festival 2023 and we've refreshed our website…not a small task!

To find out more about what's happened and what's coming up, keep reading!

Thank you for your continued support of Project Island Song.

It took a few attempts to beat the poor weather, but it was third time lucky for our volunteer planters this year. And what a spectacular day it was on Urupukapuka. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky!

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped plant over 500 plants – what an achievement.

Project Island Song Committee Member and planting expert Tom Lindesay has been the lead in sourcing and growing the plants for Project Island Song over the last couple of years.

A tough job especially when our source nursery discovered plague skinks last year making planting an absolute no-no on the islands due to the biosecurity risk. Thankfully we were able to plant this year.  

Tom has kindly provided an update on the revegetation of the islands.

I have been a member of Project Island Song for the last ten years (or more).  I have always had a passion for native plants, so when I first joined the committee I worked alongside Rod Brown, helping to co-ordinate the replanting projects on both Urupukapuka and Moturua.  Since Rod retired from the project I have taken on the planting of the islands.

To continue reading click here.

This year saw the tenth anniversary of Tim and Helen Armitage spending a month on Moturua as part of their control of wattle, pine and other invasive weed species.

Enormous thanks and gratitude go out to both Tim & Helen and the many others who have supported their efforts across the decade, without them this incredible effort could not have been achieved. 

We'd particularly like to acknowledge the Goodfellow family whose support over the last decade has enabled Tim and Helen to achieve such a huge outcome.

To read Tim's full report click here.

We're pleased to officially launch the new Project Island Song website; we hope you like it!

Developing the site has been a huge undertaking over the last year to create a fresh, vibrant and user-friendly site packed full of information about Project Island Song and how to get involved.

Thanks to Amy and the team at the aptly named Weka Web Design for their hard work in creating it.

The giants return! On Wednesday 14th June 2023 even more wētāpunga were welcomed back to the Bay of Islands as part of Project Island Song's joint reintroduction programme with Auckland Zoo.

164 almost fully grown wētāpunga (the heavyweight of the insect world!) were released onto the pest-free islands of Ipipiri. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and made it such a special day for us all.

To read more about the release click here.

On 8 July the famous Russell Birdman Festival returned after a couple of years hiatus. An incredible day of fun filled activities for the whole family culminated in the Russell Birdman Jump from Kororāreka wharf.

This year a team of legends completed the famous jump for Project Island Song – thank you.

Dressed as a team of Project Island Song 'releasers' and two kororā to be 'released', the team gave it their all during the parade and the jump, even winning 'The Best Birdman Belly Flop' award. Ka pai!

We can't wait for next year. For more information about the Russell Birdman Festival visit the website. 

For a while now we have been working towards the reintroduction of the stunning but inconspicuous Northland green gecko to Ipipiri.

Sadly, this local taonga species is now listed in the most recent threat classification as 'At Risk - Declining', due to a mix of land development/clearance of habitat, and predation by mammalian predators.

This makes the establishment of a healthy population on these pest-free islands even more urgent.

However, there is almost always more to a reintroduction than meets the eye, and the work starts a long time before the release day.

In our latest blog post, Richard shares an insight into the progress of this exciting translocation. Click here to read the story so far and find out when you can expect these wonderful geckos on the islands!

In May we kicked off our 2023 Floating Classroom programme for primary school students in the Bay of Islands.

This year saw a couple of changes in the programme, the first being for the students to complete some fun learning modules prior to the Project Island Song team visiting the school for a pre-visit session. We've found this a valuable addition to the programme; the students are more engaged at the pre-visit and thoroughly immersed in the Project when they reach the islands.

The second, was changing the island we take the students to. Since the programme began, we have been taking students to Urupukapuka. This year we have changed it up and are instead taking them to Moturua. Going to Moturua has meant we have been able to incorporate a longer walk through the bush, enabling students to see and hear the rare and endangered bird life that calls these islands home. It's been wonderful to see the students in awe and (for the teachers and parent helpers it's been a shock) to witness the students being silent, happily taking in the environment and wildlife around them...even if it is only for a few minutes.

On almost every trip the students have been lucky enough to see kororā swimming happily in the water, tīeke chatting around them and toutouwai watching them as they walk through the bush. They have heard kākāriki flying above them and seen the release site for the wētāpunga; they don't see that every day in school.

The Floating Classroom programme is fully funded for the schools, thanks to the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust.

We'd also like to acknowledge the following in helping to make the programme happen:

And of course, our team of educators Shane, Fletcher & William for inspiring the minds of our future generations.

National volunteer week took place between the 18 – 24 June. We'd like to acknowledge once again the incredible volunteers that give up their time to come out and support Project Island Song, whether that be weeding, planting, species monitoring or advocacy at events. Without volunteers we wouldn't have been able to maintain these beautiful islands to ensure they are around for generations to come.

THANK YOU!

August

Conservation week, Monday 14 – Sunday 20 August

Get involved in conservation week, whether it's planting a native tree in your garden, donating, or volunteering your time to a conservation project...like Project Island Song.

Find out more about conservation week here.

Project Island Song at the Packhouse Market, Kerikeri, Saturday 19 August

Project Island Song will be having a stand at the Packhouse Market in Kerikeri to celebrate & acknowledge Conservation Week. There will be free children's activities and opportunities to find out more about Project Island Song. Come and say hi, or volunteer your time to help at the stand.

Birds of the Bay of Islands calendar, 2024 edition available mid-late August

This year we're bringing you the calendar a month earlier so you're able to get ahead of the Christmas and overseas posting rush. Keep an eye out in your inbox as we'll be emailing you as soon as they are available to purchase.

Thanks once again to Darren Markin for his photography and for leading this incredible fundraiser for Project Island Song.

September

Spring weedbusting, every Wednesday

As spring approaches, and hopefully the weather improves, we'll be looking for more weedbusters to help us out on the islands. If this is something you're interested in head over to the website to sign up.

October

Bay of Islands Walking weekend, Thursday 12 – Sunday 15 October

The 2023 Bay of Islands Walking weekend has so many walks it covers four days. Visit the website for full details of walks available and bookings.

This year the Russell Top 10 Holiday Park are offering 30% off to walkers for the long weekend of Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 October 2023. Email them directly to receive this great deal. To see what accommodation options are available by visit their website.

Guardians of the Bay of Islands AGM, Sunday 29 October

Save the date!

Full details will be confirmed and sent nearer the time.