BATTLE FOR OUR BIRDS in Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra haka
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BATTLE FOR OUR
BIRDS
in Eyre Mountains/Taka
Ra haka
Protecting native species at risk
There is a battle for survival happening throughout New Zealand. Every
day rats, stoats and possums are raiding nests, eating eggs
and baby birds. Rats and mice also eat the seeds and berries that birds
depend on and possums are browsing on our native forests, preventing
regeneration.
Battle for our Birds, Tiakina Nga Manu, is the Department of
Conservation’s ongoing campaign to protect our native species and
ecosystems at risk.
Whilst birds are a flagship group for conservation, Battle for our Birds
will also protect our lizard fauna which is more diverse and more
endemic than our bird life. The Eyre Mountains are special, with 3
regionally endemic species of skink and gecko.
A Ship rat attacks a bird nest. Photo: DOC
Pest control – Do nothing is not an option
DOC has identified sites where rare and endangered native lizards,
bats and nesting birds are under the greatest threat and has planned
pest control operations to manage rats, stoats and possums to increase
the chance of breeding success for these native species.
2014 & 2016– Pest control works
Widespread heavy seed fall in South Island beech forests occurred in early
2014 and 2016 which led to escalating rat and mice numbers. DOC carried
Ashton Valley – Eyre Mountains. Photo: F Cox
out aerial 1080 pest control in the following winter and spring in several
forests that had escalating rodent numbers.
Pest control was undertaken over more than 600,000 hectares. Monitoring
showed that the 25 operations achieved an overall estimated average rat kill
of about 95%, reducing rodents to low or undetectable levels at most sites
and averting stoat plagues.
Early results from intensive bird and bat monitoring showed the nesting
success of rock wren, mohua, robin and rifleman was significantly higher
within pest control areas than outside. Monitoring of these and other species
is continuing across the sites.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/battle-for-our-birds/
Oligosoma repens a skink found in the Eyre mountains
Photo: J Reardon
What are we protecting?
When heavy seed fall occurs we expect predator numbers to soar. To
be ready to protect native species at risk, DOC is planning for
predator control ensure the survival of the following species in the
Eyre Mountains:
Piwauwau/Rock Wren
Only population found outside of the southern Alps.
Rock wren nest on the ground so are easy prey for stoats and Powelliphanta speedeni speedeni, an endemic land
snail distinct to the Eyre Mountains and local area.
other predators. Photo R Cole
Rock wren raised up to five times more chicks after 1080
treatment than without.
Without more widespread pest control rock wren are at risk
of dying out.
Lizard fauna
The Eyre Mountains hold a rich lizard fauna including at
least 7 species of skinks and geckos.
The Short-toed gecko, the Eyre Mountains skink and the
lake skink are regionally endemic.
Our lizard species are easy prey for stoats and other Piwauwau/ Rock wren in Cromel Stm, Eyre Mts. Photo
J More
predators.
This operation provides a unique opportunity to test aerial
1080 as a tool for sustainably and cheaply protecting our
lizard fauna.
Spedens snail
A Powelliphanta species that has a thin shell which is very
easy for predators to break into.
It has a very patchy distribution in less modified tussock
Scarlet Mistletoe in Eyre Mountains. Photo B Rance
grasslands in the Eyre, Garvie and Umbrella Mountains.
Other threatened species
Palatable flora including scarlet, red and yellow mistletoe
Avian species including karearea/falcon, kereru/wood
pigeon and kakariki/yellow-crowned parakeet and remnant
populations of mohua and long tailed bats.
What predator-control methods are we using?
A range of pest control methods will be used including traps and toxins depending on the specific locations and need.
Aerial application of 1080 baits is the most cost-effective predator control method over large areas and is the only
viable method in rugged terrain. High predator numbers can overwhelm trapping networks and additional aerial 1080
pest control helps protect native species at risk.
Aerial 1080 pest control will target possums but stoats will also be killed through eating poisoned rodent carcasses.
Operations begin with an aerial pre-feed of non-toxic baits to encourage possums to eat the 1080 baits that are applied
at a later date.
Time frame
Application of non-toxic pre-feed bait is followed by the application of 1080 bait. Toxic bait application will take place
on or after 30th April 2018. The actual date of the operation will depend on the availability of periods of suitable
weather.
Planning
Consent from the Medical Officer of Health has been obtained for this operation. Conditions within this consent are
designed to minimise the risk to the general public.
Use of 1080 requires the consent of the Environmental Protection Authority, and permission from public health.
What you need to know
The pesticides we use for aerial predator control are poisonous to humans and domestic animals. Poisoning can
occur through eating cereal baits or poisoned animals.
The 1080 cereal baits are about 2 cm long, cylinder-shaped and are dyed green.
Non-toxic pre-feed cereal pellets are about 2 cm long, cylinder-shaped but are fawn-coloured (not dyed).
Dogs in particular are highly susceptible to 1080. The risk to dogs from poisoned carcasses will remain until they have
completely rotted, perhaps for more than 6 months.
These risks can be eliminated by following these simple rules:
DO NOT touch bait
WATCH CHILDREN at all times
DO NOT EAT animals from this area
Poison baits or carcasses are DEADLY to DOGS
Observe these rules whenever you see warning signs about pesticides. Warning signs indicate pesticide residues may
still be present in baits or animals. It is recommended not to take game animals for meat from within 2km of the
operational area while the baits are toxic. When signs are removed, this means you can resume normal activities in the
area. Please report suspected vandalism or unauthorised removal of signs. If in doubt, check with your nearest DOC
office.
Do not bring dogs into the There is no risk to
area until the warning signs public drinking water.
have been official removed. Biodegradable 1080 is highly
Dogs are particularly susceptible soluble and does not persist in
to 1080. They must not be water or soil. Local health
allowed access to bait or poisoned carcasses authorities apply strict conditions
which remain toxic to dogs until they have fully to aerial operations so that drinking water
decomposed. supplies are not contaminated. Safety has
been confirmed by tests on several thousand
water samples taken after aerial 1080
operations after many years.
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