Club Night October 2020
12 October 2020
A full room of members at the SAR rooms in Severn Street listened to Zac Robinson, Health, Safety and Environment Manager for Port Blakley, give an informative address about their programme to protect critically endangered long tailed bats in South Canterbury.
They are quite small with a wingspan of about 120mm and live in clusters of about 20. They cling to the tree rather than hang upside down like an Australian fruit bat. 
There are only about 300 left due to predation and loss of habitat. They roost in trees such as willows, sequoia’s and oaks, tending to move around according to the weather as they like to keep warm. They go into a state of semi hibernation during the winter.
Zac and his team use automatic bat monitors which tune in to their transmitting frequency to follow them round. They also put transmitters on some, to make tracking easier. When a roosting tree is identified, adjustable metal bands are placed around the tree to prevent possums and other predators from attacking them.
Other environmental work the Port Blackley team are involved in include looking at falcons nesting patterns and water monitoring, using a DNA test called Wilderlab. This test analyses the DNA of plants and animals found floating in the river or stream. They can see if there are any possums left in the area after eradication measures have been used, and identify what fish, birds or farm animals are present in the catchment.
Trip Reports:
A Trotters Gorge farm walk over a cutover forestry block revealed interesting rock overhangs and caves including a stalactite.
10 bikers rode from Duntroon to Kurow and back on a track covered in branches from the recent strong winds.
The Herbert Forest tracks received a repaired bridge and several new steps during a maintenance day.
The Wednesday walkers had walks to on Dave’s track to South Peak in Trotters Gorge, The Wainono Lagoon track with lots of birdlife and inland views, a new walk along the escarpment above the Mill House, and the Seacliff Split Rock circuit.
Coming trips are a bike ride on the A2O to Duntroon, Arthurs Pass at Labour weekend and Ohau Peak in the Quailburn area. Details can be found in this website in “what’s on”.
The club gratefully received a donation from the Waitaki District Council to replace their out of date Locator Beacon.
Harvesting around the tracks in the Herbert Forest is nearly finished and normal access will be available shortly.
The Club has talked to the Waitaki District Council about reinstating parts of the Oamaru Walkways and upgrading the signage.