One thousand pests are outwitted in the Centre of New Zealand area per year.
That’s the message from a member of a set of trappers who besiege a 40-hectare area within the landmark to flourish the local birdlife.
Around 300 contraptions across 12 different traplines in the danger zone for rats, possums, hedgehogs, mice and stoats, encompass Denny’s Hole, Botanical Reserve and a chunk of the Maitai Valley.
Birdlife Centre of New Zealand community trapping group member, Steven Gray, says in the eight years of eradication, rats had “gradually decreased” during the past six, and it was clear that overall visits by predator species bumped up in winter.
“We catch about 1000 pests a year… because we don’t have a fence around our reserve, unlike the Brook Sanctuary, we are subject to reinvasion every year and we’ve noticed a typical annual pattern to our catches,” he says.
“The reality is that our trapping over the last eight years has probably assisted introduced birds, since they tend to be at the lower elevation.
“We’re seeing a lot more blackbirds, thrushes and chaffinch, and that kind of birdlife really benefits from the trapping. But we’re also seeing an increase in bellbirds, tūī, kererū and pīwakawaka (fantails).”
Steven says silvereyes and grey warblers were also included in the list of bird species it wants to be safeguarded.
Like a trap bait, the group is endeavouring to lure in more volunteers, which Steven says is a multifaceted role.
“This is an activity that can take you around one to two hours every other week, and you maintain a trapping network that is successful and has made a difference in terms of birdlife in the Centre of New Zealand,” he says.
“They can also be involved in helping habitat restoration, and helping us remove some exotics and weeds, there’s a whole lot of old man’s beard, honeysuckle and other invasive weeds in the reserve.
“We also have people who are involved in helping monitor bird species, and whether we’re making a good effort at catching all of the pests that are out there.”
Contact 021 266 3867 if you’re interested.
