What a Spring it’s been for conservation around Whangārei! From Bream Head, to Tutukaka, to Pukenui forest, various community groups have come together and sprung into action with their pest control efforts to protect kiwi during their nesting season.

Volunteers and trappers’ keenness to protect kiwi and conduct more scalable pest control operations have been on the rise. This upwards trend coincides with an increase of native wildlife in various pockets throughout the Whangārei district.

Without dedicated and continued pest control efforts, and good dog control, the increase of kiwi numbers would not have been possible. The pleasing results have encouraged more locals to get onboard with these conservation initiatives – a positive feedback loop!

Spring is a critical time for volunteers and professional pest controllers, as kiwi nests are vulnerable to predation by mustelids, such as stoats. To have a successful breeding season, eliminating the threats by using the most efficient tools at the right time is important.

To target these clever, hunting-minded predators, toxic baiting operations have become increasingly accepted where best practices have been used. By in large, landcare groups have been receiving positive response by their respective communities, supporting their on-the-ground efforts to protect kiwi in their backyards.

The benefits of these operations are not just for increasing kiwi populations, but for various other native species that are preyed upon by these introduced ground-dwelling mammals. A collective and organised effort means that you can have a greater impact for various taonga species, such as kauri snails, kākā, pekapeka-tou-roa, geckos, invertebrates, and uplift the overall health of the ecosystem.

This has been a part of the 60,000ha enhanced mustelid suppression network for Predator Free Whangārei, which has been a collaborative effort between the Northland Regional Council’s Partnerships and Kiwi Coast, helping deliver on-the-ground mahi carried out by community groups. This operates alongside with the Whangārei Heads possum elimination project, a large mainland area eradication initiative which covers 9,000+ hectares of the peninsula.

In some areas within this 60,000ha area, toxins are used to complement regular trapping, to reduce trap-shy predators. Moreover, it is more efficient labour-wise as it’s easier to carry; it can target multiple species; and a single bait station can catch multiple stoats. There are various types of toxic bait available too, which is also a carefully considered and selected process.

The impressive work that has been carried out this spring is a result of the decades of successful community conservation that has been carried out across the Whangārei district.

If you would like to know more about protecting native species in your backyard, talk to Northland Regional Council Partnerships team, Kiwi Coast, or your local landcare group.

Header image from Backyard Kiwi: Monitored kiwi, Murdoch, successfully hatched two chicks and they’re looking adorable and healthy!

Article image from Pukenui Trust: Volunteer helping with installation of bait stations as operations expand.

December 19, 2024