Forest Gecko seen in Gahnia Grove
The location has been generalised in our iNaturalist observation to avoid disturbance or theft, so it won't appear in the data for the restoration trial or the area generally, but it was thrilling to see a gecko in the outer manuka margin, a couple of metres away from where I was handweeding an area of dense Bulbil Watsonia, and only about 10m from the mown recreational grass much enjoyed by dogs and their owners.
Be safe, little gecko. Climb back down into your man-made hole and find a bottle or something too small for rats, to hide in at night. (Note to self: don't remove any more isolated bottles and cans from the forest).
UPDATE: DOC was advised, as requested on heir website, and an appreciative reply was received, with more information to follow. DOC collect data to build knowledge of the remaining population of these endemic reptiles. Currently they are considered At Risk of extinction, after being common in manuka scrub throughout Auckland until the housing boom of the 70s.
Fortunately Reserve visitors generally keep themselves and their dogs to the recreational mown grass area and the forest tracks. However, responsible dog owners ensure their pets have energetic and interesting exercise, and many if not most dogs are off-leash as their owners accompany them through the winding forest tracks.
Protection of the remaining endemic lizards in both the DOC-owned upper forest and estuarine areas, and the Council-owned forest in-between and surrounding them, would require definition of boundaries for recreational and conservation.
Due to the presence of both domestic and feral cats, which, as I observed 30 years ago in the case of my own beloved pet, can effectively eliminate lizards from the forest, areas of cat-proof vegetation are essential to maintain as habitat. Weeds such as dense Eleagnus, blackberry, honeysuckle, jasmine and ivy, and the extensive and widespread inorganic refuse, need to be replaced by equally effective protection for lizards, invertebrates and birds before the complete removal of refuse or weeds.
Ground litter and dead vegetation is especially important as part of their habitat. Welll-intentioned clearing and tidying of vegetation leaves reptiles, invertebrates and young birds without refuge from predators and human disturbance.
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