New predatorfree programme for Greenhithe
Another Upper Harbour community is making efforts to try to control the pest population and bring back native birds.
Predator Free Greenhithe will soon set traps on Kereru Reserve to try rid the area of common predators such as rats, possums and stoats.
Greenhithe Community Trust eco-facillitator Priscilla Collins said the decision was made to start in the reserve as it was shown to be an important part of the North West Wildlink.
Collins dropped around 100 flyers to residents living around the reserve, asking them to assist with trapping. Baseline measurements were taken in June, using chew cards and tracking tunnels.
Two meetings with residents have been held so far, and the group has also been working with Auckland Council’s Parks and Facilities, and Biosecurity team.
Resident Cliff Solomon has been doing trapping of his own since Christmas after he noticed a decrease in the number of quail and pheasant chicks. Solomon has so far has caught 18 possums and helped out with the baseline monitoring.
‘‘Coming back into a semirural environment, I’ve always been a big believer in getting rid of the rats and mice,’’ he said.
Auckland Council volunteer coordinator for the project Anna Baine said, while it was early days for the programme, they were keen for more locals to volunteer.
‘‘This is a great opportunity for the community to learn about controlling pests - not only in local reserves but in your own backyard,’’ she said.
Baine said the long-term idea would be to expand the programme out to surrounding bush reserves.
University of Auckland postdoctoral researcher Araceli Samaniego, who carried out a baseline monitoring of Herald Island for their predator free programme, said she may also consider doing trapping at Greenhithe, if further research shows rats moving across the water.
Collins said because rats were nocturnal, people weren’t necessarily aware as to the extent of the problem. She hoped it would also to inspire other people whose properties backed onto reserves to do trapping as well.
‘‘It’s to help our gardens, to help protect our houses, to protect the birds,’’ she said.
‘‘This is a great opportunity for the community’’