Bird Spotting at a Tailings Dam?

Posted by Gold FM - Source Newmont Waihi Gold Update on 12/07/2011

aerial ponds 1000 x 671

Question: What do mine tailings storage and ornithologists have in common?

Answer: Seventeen species of birds spotted at the Newmont Waihi Gold tailings storage facility on Sunday July the 3rd.

Fourteen members of the Bay of Plenty Branch of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand were invited to view the tailings dams by Newmont's Environmental Manager Pieter Fransen to have a close look at the wildlfe.

The bird species recorded on the day were: grey warbler, swamp harrier, skylark, kingfisher,Australian Shoveler,black swan, white backed magpie, spur winged plover,goldfinch, welcome swallow, common turkey, New Zealand pipit, New Zealand dabchick, pukeko,fantail and song thrush.

Many other wetland birds also visit the site – with populations of ducks increasing dramatically during the shooting season as flocks leave their usual habitat for the safety of the tailings
area where no duck shooting is allowed. Newmont’s policy of planting riparian bush around the tailings site – since 1995 50 hectares have been planted with native plants including flax and cabbage trees, manuka, pittosporum, kauri and rimu – has also encouraged non-wetland birds. Pieter spotted a kereru native wood pigeon flying over the site during the trip.
The company is a signatory to the International Cyanide Code, a voluntary industry programme to promote responsible management of cyanide used in gold mining. As part of this the Waihi site is audited every three years, and the environmental team monitors birds on andaround the tailing ponds daily. “We monitor the birds’ behaviour closely, including where they go on site, how they are behaving and any interaction with the tailing areas,” said Pieter. “We haven’t observed any birds using the area for food or drink, but we have noted that ducks like to park their bottoms in the warm tailings water.” “The society’s visit was a very useful exercise for usbecause one of the members is a taxonomist – that’s a person who classifies species – so he put together a very detailed list, not just of the bird varieties they observed but also of the many types of flora.”