PEST CONTROL PROGRAM

The Reserve is in the midst of an urban environment and, as in all cities, rats are plentiful. One of the most beneficial tasks that we can do for the native birds is pest control. Our community group is carrying out a volunteer pest control program with Auckland City Council Parks to control rats and possums which decimate the birdlife and new tree growth. As well as rats and possums eating the eggs and plant food supply of birds they also scour the forest floor and eat insects which are part also part of the birds supply of food. Our thanks to the Auckland City Council for providing assistance for this program and to the Eastern Bays Community Board for providing funding for this program.

• Check and bait traps
• Record possum and rat catches
• Monitor animal pest numbers

This is a worthwhile way to contribute to the environment and our community. No experience is needed and training and equipment is provided. Pest control programs in other areas have had huge success. We have been told of programs where after a year large increases in birds have been recorded. After about a year the insect population recovers from the rat decimation, and the birds flourish. We are inspired by tales of flocks of 10 or more fantails in other areas where pest control has been carried out.

If you would like further information or to take part in the program send us your details - Waiatarua.Reserve@gmail.com

Help save our native birds with pest control

Pest Control Project Objectives May 2007

The Waiatarua Reserve Protection Society is committed on a volunteer basis to carrying out pest control in the Waiatarua Reserve with the aim of making the Reserve an area where native birds can live and flourish. It forms part of our vision to create an ecological jewel within Auckland City as well as providing a recreation sanctuary within the urban Auckland.

Our immediate aims are as follows:

1. Carry out a baseline survey to determine the presence and concentration of animal pests in the Reserve (coinciding with a bird survey as well if possible).
2. Recruit volunteers from the community to assist in pest control.
3. Promote the project to the wider community with the additional aims of encouraging residents in the neighbourhood to carry out pest control within their properties, and keep domestic cats in at night.
4. Carry out rat and possum trapping within the reserve. Our target for 2007 will be to reduce the rat population to 20% and for 2008 to reduce the population to 5%.
5. Report success to the group on a three monthly intervals.
6. Carry out monitoring of pest on an annual basis.

Long term goals:

1. Expand the pest control to other pests such as mustelids.
2. Predator free fencing around the reserve.
3. Investigate the possibility of live cat traps.
4. Investigate the possibility of rabbit trapping to protect young plants.