We have caught our 500th rat, in fact at the time of writing we are up to 501. A big thanks to our trapping team of Dave Scott, Mike Goodwin, Rod Stace, Eli and Christian Walters, Steve and Liz Webb, Steve Harvey and Mike Vincent. As you may remember we have been trapping rats and other predators around the lakeshore margins since September 2013. Our other totals currently are 90 hedgehogs, 24 mustelids (ferrets and stoats) and two feral cats.
The Dabchicks and Scaup who are both endemic birds have been having a late summer flurry of nesting and young. In February we had a pair of Dabchicks build a nest in the tyres at the boat ramp jetty, they laid two legs but unfortunately abandoned the nest. A couple of people have pointed out that no wonder they are a threatened species if they nest in such a busy place.
DOC has asked us to conduct Dabchick counts at Okareka and the Blue Lake again this year. There will be three counts and these will take place from 9th – 17th April. If you would like to assist with counts, trapping or have any suggestions please contact Mike on 3628 376.
The Dabchicks and Scaup who are both endemic birds have been having a late summer flurry of nesting and young. In February we had a pair of Dabchicks build a nest in the tyres at the boat ramp jetty, they laid two legs but unfortunately abandoned the nest. A couple of people have pointed out that no wonder they are a threatened species if they nest in such a busy place.
DOC has asked us to conduct Dabchick counts at Okareka and the Blue Lake again this year. There will be three counts and these will take place from 9th – 17th April. If you would like to assist with counts, trapping or have any suggestions please contact Mike on 3628 376.