Banding together for birds
The small community of Mapua is making massive progress in its mission to restore the habitat of an at-risk bird.
Battle for the Banded Rail, a community environmental project, has started weekly treeplantings around the Waimea estuary over winter.
It’s all part of a goal to see the banded rail ( moho pereru) return in greater numbers.
Battle for the Banded Rail coordinator Kathryn Brownlie said involving the community in the restoration of the estuarine habitat has been essential to the project’s success.
‘‘The community is starting to take ownership of their estuary.’’
Banded rail were common in the area 30 years ago, but were now an at-risk and declining species.
‘‘The Waimea estuary has changed dramatically over the last 200 years and the type of habitat favoured by banded rail has been declining as agriculture, development and population pressure have impacted on the fragile rush land and estuary margins.’’
The project, which started in 2014, has been working to restore eight sites, including Hoddy Estuary Park and Research Orchard Road Reserve.
In that time, about 11,000 plants have been planted along the Waimea estuary by community volunteers.
Predator trapping is carried out year round.