Hectors’s Dolphins are endangered and we need your help!


Warrington Reserve Group is keen to tap into local knowledge so that we build up a resource of sightings of our rare Hector’s Dolphins. Not enough is known about the Hector’s Dolphins along the South Island East Coast, which is why we are asking for your help. You can participate in protecting these dolphins by helping us understand more about them.

We want to get an idea of population numbers, and their movements up and down the East Coast. We don’t want anyone to change their regular behaviour, but if you are on the beach most days, walking or surfing, or out in boats regularly, fishing or kayaking, we want to give you an opportunity to record what you see. The survey forms are an easy way for your information to be collected. A couple of minutes of your time would help us build up a better picture of our dolphin population.

Warrington Reserve Group has teamed up with Associate Professor Liz Slooten, from the University of Otago, and Jennie Upton, who is a long-time Blueskin Bay resident, (previously from Waitati and now living on the Kilmog). Jennie is currently an environmental education head teacher at Port Chalmers School, and she has been awarded a Teaching Fellowship for 2008. She will work with Liz who has been researching Hector’s Dolphins since 1984. They will be observing and photographing the population of Hector’s Dolphins between Oamaru and Dunedin.

Liz and Jennie gave a very informative talk about the dolphins, their planned research, and threats to the population. Submissions for the draft Hector’s Dolphins Threat Management Plan close on 24 October 2007. Both DOC and Ministry of Fisheries acknowledge the need for more research on Hector’s Dolphins.

Warrington Reserve Group wishes to support any research that can contribute to our understanding about these dolphins and keep them visiting our beaches.

We are hoping people in other coastal areas will also be keen to record what they see, so if you know anyone between Oamaru and Dunedin, who is on a boat or at the beach regularly, and is interested in being involved, please contact Jennie 4658318 or Karen 822762.


Please remember to fill out each section of the survey, so that the information you collect is scientifically valid.

Liz and Jennie are equally interested to know when the dolphins are and are not sighted, so please record when you don’t see them also.

If you walk on the bay side of the spit, do not include that as ‘time on the beach’, just record the time spent on the beach side, where dolphins would be visible to you.

Please include your name and phone number, so that we can contact you.

Survey forms will be collected on a monthly basis, and you can drop the forms off at Blueskin General Store, or the return key slot at the Warrington Post Office.

Forms are available from Jennie 465 8318 and Karen 482 2762

For more info see DolphinsDownSouth.wikispaces.com

by Karen Hobday

ENDS

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