Native birds flock to NZ islands after poison drops clear out rats

[depakid]

Native birds are finding their way back to Rangitoto and Motutapu islands after a controversial poison drop programme all but cleared the islands of rats and mice. Department of Conservation project manager Richard Griffiths said early signs were that three aerial drops of 147 tonnes of poison-laced cereal bait - the last on August 7 - had been successful at creating a city-side sanctuary for rare birds.

Conservation officers were still rooting out hedgehogs that had survived the blitz, he said, but already native pateke, or brown teal, had been spotted on the island after being absent for years. Researchers counting skinks noticed the birds, which are rare on the mainland, sitting on a farm dam on Motutapu.

Mr Griffiths said they could have flown from Port Charles in the Coromandel, Tawharanui Regional Park or Great Barrier Island. Kakariki have already returned and started breeding, and residents have reported seeing more tui.

Mr Griffiths said rare New Zealand dotterel had risen from between six and eight to about a dozen on the islands. Two dotterels were missing after the poison drop. Staff did not know if they had succumbed to the poison or simply moved on to nearby Browns Island.

A big increase in native birds is expected by this time next year, once birds have had their first breeding season without predators to eat chicks and eggs. There should be more skinks and geckos - and tree weta are expected to thrive. Immediately after the drops, DoC found 300 pukeko and 250 paradise ducks had been killed.

More: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10629964

[depakid]

1. Some of the critters from the article:

New Zealand dotterel


-----

Kakariki


------

Tree Weta (like a giant cricket)

[jpak]

2. I've visited some of those islands - and saw some of the most endangered species and the planet

NZ DOC rules

:thumbsup:

: