No predator campaign effective

Whakaupoko Landcare’s latest bird surveys in Patumahoe indicates that the Predator Free Patumahoe campaign has had an immediate effect, with lots of chicks successfully reared over the spring and summer.

There are 11 bird survey sites that have been established in the area and last weekend’s tally was 55 birds counted. This was well over double any previous counts.

Whakaupoko Landcare’s Andrew Sinclair said that while one round of results was not conclusive it was encouraging to see what might be achievable by a community collectively getting involved in a project. Local land owners with bush, Patumahoe School and even households, had really supported the pest control initiative, with rats especially being the target, Sinclair said.

Auckland Council also upped its game, he said, with pest control in the likes of high biodiversity public sites such as the iconic Henry’s Bush Reserve.

‘‘Tui are a key indicator for rat control as they are very sensitive to rat predation,’’ Sinclair said.

‘‘One research study in New Zealand showed that out of 20 tui nests surveyed 16 were predated by rats, two by possums and one by a harrier hawk.

‘‘This left only one nest where the chicks successfully fledged. It does not appear that this is the case in Patumahoe.’’