Birds’ paradise on West Coast
The sweet sound of birdsong is plentiful at Old Ghost Road, thanks to a lot of hard work by many people, writes Lee Slater.
here were robins all over the place,’’ reported one walker. ‘‘We saw lots of other species, too, including the New Zealand falcon. It was the best birdlife we’ve come across on a walk like this.’’
Populations along the West Coast’s 85km Old Ghost Road trail include tomtits, ka¯ ka¯ , kea, whio, kereru¯ , ka¯ rearea, rifleman, weka, and even the great spotted kiwi. The number and variety of species are partly due to a predator control programme started when the trail began construction in 2012.
‘‘We had a strong sense from the beginning that we had an important role to play looking after the local flora and fauna,’’ says Phil Rossiter, chairman of Mo¯ kihinui–Lyell Backcountry Trust that manages the trail. ‘‘The sheer numbers of stoats, rats and possums we caught provided an indication of just how many pests were out there.’’
The more pests they caught, the more the trust ramped up their efforts, and they have expanded their network of traps to about 900.
Between 2016 and January this year, more than 6050 stoats, weasels, rats and mice have been eradicated, with additional work going into controlling feral goats and possums.
Until recently, no formal counts had been made of bird populations along the trail, but simple observations have provided clues to the massive impact the pest control efforts are having.
Stern Creek, in the mid-reaches of Old Ghost Road, is a good example. As a known habitat for the endangered whio/blue duck, this area was targeted with trap lines. Trust staff and volunteers have been closely monitoring a family of whio there since 2011.
Every year, around mid-October, ducklings would appear. But sadly, over a few weeks they would be killed off. In 2018, however, the entire clutch of ducklings made it to a ‘‘safe’’ fledgling stage.
A comprehensive whio survey carried out along the trail in 2019, using a trained bird dog and handler, showed an increased presence and abundance of whio in key tributaries.
Backcountry Trust members, who have spent a lot of time in the area over the past decade, have also spotted more and more key species in areas not previously seen. In fact, in February, one of the Old Ghost Ultra volunteers spied four great spotted kiwi close to the trail.
Despite bad weather, a mega-mast year and a global pandemic, whio populations nationally are on the rise, according to the Department of Conservation. Thanks to the work of DOC, Whio Forever and pesteradication projects such as the Old Ghost Road’s, things are looking up for these magical birds.
Riders and walkers are also noticing the birdlife, with trail survey feedback full of reports of special encounters.
‘‘We saw four kiwi between Lyell car park and Lyell Saddle Hut,’’ said one. ‘‘None of them were in a hurry to run into the bush. Obviously pest control is working well. Congratulations!’’
Many visitors also appreciate the pesteradication efforts, with another survey respondent saying they were ‘‘really very happy to see traps in place. The birdlife was fantastic. We saw or heard rifleman, ka¯ ka¯ , kea, kereru¯ and more’’.
The Old Ghost Road’s birdlife has attracted international media attention, too, with British comedian Griff Rhys Jones and his crew filming kea at Ghost Lake
for the TV series
Such recognition is gratifying for Rossiter and the other people who work on the trail.
‘‘It seems that birdlife is really adding to the experience, and that our work is valued. This . . . will continue to drive us.’’
But it is a lot of work. Each month, every trap needs to be checked, cleared and rebaited, with some trapping lines maintained fortnightly during summer.
Fortunately, these efforts are supported by a team of volunteers, who undertake around a quarter of the pest control work. The rest is completed by professional contractors, specialising in pest and weed control.
Funding comes from a number of sources, including revenue from hut bookings. The majority, however, comes from eight New Zealand funding bodies that have contributing grants from $2000 to $70,000 over the past six years.
‘‘DOC’s Community Fund provides us with the lion’s share of support and DOC should take a bow for that,’’ Rossiter says.
The nature of Old Ghost Road means the money goes a relatively long way. Typically, pest control in such remote country requires hours of expensive helicopter flying, not to mention compliance with complicated health and safety regulations. For Old Ghost Road, the trail provides easy access and overnight accommodation in huts, making meaningful pest-control work much more viable and achievable.
Rossiter encourages other organisations to apply for funding. ‘‘Predator Free NZ lists regional and national organisations that can help support your predator control efforts,’’ he says.
This article first appeared on the Nga¯ Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails website.
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