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Beech mast confirmed
Monitoring of beech seed has confirmed a widespread beech mast in the Abel Tasman in 2014 with evidence showing rat numbers have increased in response to the abundant food supply.
Over the last few months DOC has been monitoring beech seed fall in the Abel Tasman and counting the seeds. They have found high or very heavy seed falls and predict that rodent and stoat populations will impact on native birds.
DOC’s Chris Golding says a lot of seeds came down in the April storms and both silver and red beech seed numbers are over the trigger level to undertake aerial pest control.
“The abundant food supply means rodent numbers will increase to an extent that would overwhelm the stoat trapping network and other ground methods. Timely aerial pest control will allow native birds to nest and fledge successfully,” he says.
Project Janszoon Director Devon McLean says in response to the beech mast Project Janszoon and DOC will undertake an aerial 1080 pest control operation some time between mid July and the end of August depending on favourable weather.
“Aerial 1080 pest control enables a rapid response. It reduces pest numbers to extremely low densities and is needed to supplement other pest control like our extensive stoat trapping network and ground control operations,” he says.
The operation will aerially apply cereal baits containing biodegradable 1080 pesticide over approximately 12,359 ha of Abel Tasman National Park. The toxic bait will be sown at a rate of 2 kg/ha—the equivalent of around 5 baits across an area the size of a tennis court.
The Abel Tasman Coast Track and 100 metres either side of the track, huts and campsites are excluded from the aerial bait distribution. The aerial pest control will also not include any part of the Canaan Downs–Takaka Valley area or the Marahau Valley.
The operation will be undertaken under stringent procedures to manage public safety and environmental risk. However Devon says dog owners should be particularly vigilant. “Dogs are highly susceptible to 1080 and the risk to dogs from poisoned possum carcasses will remain until the carcasses have rotted,” he says.
Adjoining landowners and concessionaires will be notified of the 1080 bait application before it takes place. Warning signs will be erected at access points and high public-use sites. For more information click here or visit the DOC Motueka office.
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Kakariki call Wainui home
May saw a milestone for Project Janszoon with our first bird release.
12 captive raised kakariki or yellow-crowned parakeet were released from our purpose built aviary next to the Wainui Hut in the upper reaches of the Park. They are the first captive raised kakariki to ever be released onto the New Zealand mainland and join the few remaining kakariki in the Abel Tasman.
Since the release Project Janszoon’s ornithologist Pete Gaze has been back to Wainui Hut and says while he didn’t see any of the elusive birds he did hear kakariki in the area.
“We can only presume they are doing ok. It is positive that they are not relying on the feeder outside the aviary which means they have adapted quickly to the natural environment and given all the beech seed around they will have plenty to eat,” says Pete.
Project Janszoon Director Devon McLean says the release was only possible because of the stoat trapping network which has been operating in the area for 18 months now.
“We have reached a milestone where we believe the extensive stoat trapping network we have installed has suppressed predators to the point where these kakariki should flourish,” he says.
Pete will be back to the Wainui Hut in November to undertake his annual bird count. “12 birds are a small number to notice a significant difference but we are hoping to pick up greater numbers especially because the resident birds should have had a good breeding season with abundant beech seed and ongoing pest control, including the proposed aerial 1080 drop in the area,” he says.
This initial cohort of 12 birds will be followed by many more in future years with Lochmara Resort, EcoWorld Aquarium and Tui Nature Reserve all raising kakariki on behalf of Project Janszoon.
Click here to view the video we made on the bird release and see some images from the day below.
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