Friends in need for Paihia's birds

Backyards in Paihia, Waitangi and Opua are ringing with bird song, thanks to the efforts of the Bay Bush Action Trust.

The trust was established a year ago, specifically to control pests in the Opua State Forest, something that was needed and proving effective, says co-founder and trustee Brad Windust.

"Paihia is one of the few lucky towns in this country that has a bush backdrop," Mr Windust said.

"It's a phenomenal forest with ancient rata, puriri and kauri.

" It's one of the Bay's gems, but introduced pests have taken a huge toll.

"Possums have been here for a little more than 50 years, and there has been no real pest control in the forest for over two decades.

"You can see big totara and kohekohe trees that have died due to possums chomping their way through the leaves. Kiwi and kukupa are in danger of becoming extinct here if we don't keep these pests under control."

Research by Ngati Hine and Landcare Research at Motatau had shown that the vast majority of kukupa chicks were eaten by rats or possums before they emerged from their nests, the common perception of possums as vegetarians being badly mistaken.

Bay Bush Action had set up a comprehensive trap network after consulting the Department of Conservation and Hama Apiata, using the Oromahoe walking track as its backbone. Locals were encouraged to donate traps (see www.baybushaction.org.nz), donors receiving certificates and regular updates when their traps caught something. All donated money was a spent on pest control.

Last year the group trapped 340 possums, 462 rats and five stoats on just 50 hectares of conservation land. This year it has more than doubled the size of the protected area, trapping 112 hectares of conservation and private land not far from Paihia central.

"We all need to be vigilant and constantly work for the survival of this amazing forest, and we can all play our part," Mr Windust added.

Fellow trustee and volunteer Craig Salmon said he would run along the Oromahoe track, noting that the forest was silent until he reached the pest-controlled area, which was loud with the songs of all sorts of native birds.

"There's a noticeable increase of tui because they can have four chicks over a summer, doubling their population," he said.

The group, which claims that other species such as tomtits, and native trees, were flourishing, has a 10-year goal of trapping 1000 hectares of the forest.

"We will soon be further extending the network of trap lines off the Oromahoe track so volunteers can have their own line of traps that they check every few weeks.

"It's a fun and rewarding way to exercise, saving two birds with one stone," Mr Windust said.