Fighting for region’s whio population
Manawatu’s whio population may be small and hard to find, but environmentalists are hoping people will turn their back yards into battlegrounds to take the fight to the endangered blue duck’s enemies.
Environmental groups, Department of Conservation rangers, a duck-sniffing dog and Scouts were out in force in Palmerston North’s Esplanade on Sunday to spread the word about whio.
Oroua Blue Duck Protection Trust co-ordinator Janet Wilson said the event was being held as part of Whio Awareness month.
A recent survey found nine whio in the wild in Manawatu, but droppings and other evidence suggested there were about 15, she said.
One especially popular activity was trap building, with plenty of children getting stuck in, hammering nails into wood and twisting wire.
Milson Scouts scout leader Andrew Mercer said the traps, made with materials provided by the Palmerston North City and Horizons Regional councils, were good for catching rats but kept out pets like cats and rabbits.
The two councils were working together to get people in urban areas trapping rats and other pests, which was essential for boosting native bird numbers, he said.
There were plenty of urban trappers in Palmerston North, but Mercer was keen to see more.
‘‘To effectively get rid of rats, we need one active trapping household for every five houses.’’
Wellington was having a lot of success with urban trappers, which were a big reason why kaka and other native birds were making a comeback in the capital, Mercer said.
‘‘Wellington has an ambition to be the first pest-free city. Why can’t that be us?’’
People should approach city or regional councils for more information on trapping in their yards.