The winter has been a busy time for the Tikitapu Forest and Bird Pest Control Project. Working bees were held to trim and check all the bait lines and stations prior to the bait being put out on the 8th and 9th August. A combination of Pindone pellets and Feratox® capsules, which have proved successful in the past, has been used this year. The bait was topped up on 24th and 25th August and any remaining bait will be removed on the 21st and 22nd September.
Monitoring of rodent and marsupial numbers was done prior to baiting and will be repeated after the stations are cleared. We hope for a better result with the rodent numbers than we achieved last year.
The caution period for the reserve will continue until the signs are taken down, approximately 4 months after the stations are cleared.
This time is required for the complete decomposition of the carcasses and degradation of the bait. Until the signs are removed please do not touch any carcasses and remember to keep dogs out of the reserve at all times.
New volunteers are always welcome and if anyone is interested in being involved in the pest control programme, or going on the roster to check the Nature and Mistletoe walks please let me know.
Frances Blakely
Phone: 362 8480 or email: blakelys@xtra.co.nz
TIKITAPU SCENIC RESERVE
PEST CONTROL PROGRAMME
Bird Counts in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve
In conjunction with the pest control programme, Forest and Bird carries out an annual survey of birds in the Tikitapu Scenic Reserve. The number of birds seen and/or heard are recorded at 20 pre-defined locations throughout the reserve using the 5-minute bird count methodology.
Tui has been the most frequently recorded bird in the last three years. The report for the 2013 count is available at http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/ branches/rotorua.
Another count will be carried out in November this year. New volunteers are welcome. If you are interested in helping please email Forest and Bird at: rotorua.branch@forestandbird.org.nz. Margaret Dick ph 357 2024 is the contact for the bird count.
Monitoring of rodent and marsupial numbers was done prior to baiting and will be repeated after the stations are cleared. We hope for a better result with the rodent numbers than we achieved last year.
The caution period for the reserve will continue until the signs are taken down, approximately 4 months after the stations are cleared.
This time is required for the complete decomposition of the carcasses and degradation of the bait. Until the signs are removed please do not touch any carcasses and remember to keep dogs out of the reserve at all times.
New volunteers are always welcome and if anyone is interested in being involved in the pest control programme, or going on the roster to check the Nature and Mistletoe walks please let me know.
Frances Blakely
Phone: 362 8480 or email: blakelys@xtra.co.nz
TIKITAPU SCENIC RESERVE
PEST CONTROL PROGRAMME
Bird Counts in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve
In conjunction with the pest control programme, Forest and Bird carries out an annual survey of birds in the Tikitapu Scenic Reserve. The number of birds seen and/or heard are recorded at 20 pre-defined locations throughout the reserve using the 5-minute bird count methodology.
Tui has been the most frequently recorded bird in the last three years. The report for the 2013 count is available at http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/ branches/rotorua.
Another count will be carried out in November this year. New volunteers are welcome. If you are interested in helping please email Forest and Bird at: rotorua.branch@forestandbird.org.nz. Margaret Dick ph 357 2024 is the contact for the bird count.
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