Funding boost for Dawn Chorus

A bold bid to make Picton pest free has been given a huge boost after organisers secured $60,000 in funding.

Picton Dawn Chorus has obtained $60,000 from the Department of Conservation (DOC) to support their crucial pest control work in and around Picton.

The project is one of 112 conservation projects nationally to be awarded more than $4.2 million in the recent funding round of the DOC Community Fund.

A total of $400,000 of this has been granted to eight conservation projects in Nelson and Marlborough.

Picton Dawn Chorus is working towards making more than 2000 hectares of land in and around Picton predator-free, supporting New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 goal.

The aim is to provide a protected halo around the Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary at the head of Picton harbour.

Picton Dawn Chorus project coordinator Siobain Browning says the group is extremely grateful for support from many stakeholders, including DOC.

‘‘We are very excited to be moving on to Phase Three of the project, which is predator trapping on Wedge Point.

‘‘Once this is achieved, we will have initiated the start of a large and effective halo around the Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary.

‘‘The halo will allow birds to spread out of the sanctuary and into the town, giving them additional safe habitat to thrive,’’ she says.

DOC sounds operations manager Dave Hayes says Picton Dawn Chorus’s work is a good fit with DOC’s Community Fund which inspires and enables community-led conservation projects.

‘‘The fund is directed at practical on-theground projects that maintain and restore the diversity of our native plants and wildlife, encourage people to get involved in conservation and take part in recreation in our natural areas.

‘‘Picton Dawn Chorus’s work of protecting wildlife in an urban area means conservation is more visible to more people. Involving residents in contributing to the project’s vision has resulted in a greater determination by the whole town to succeed,’’ he says.