First step towards NZ’s largest pest-free island

Cardinal

Member
Jul 1, 2014
506
12
India
Parrots
Currently I have none, but I have the capacity to adopt a minimum and maximum of two budgies - preferably a bonded pair or two males.
First step towards NZ?s largest pest-free island | Scoop News

May be of interest to some :)

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has announced funding for the first step in New Zealand’s most ambitious island pest eradication.
Introduced pigs and cats have devastated Auckland Island’s native wildlife and plants. Mice are also a problem by competing for food with native birds, and attacking seabird chicks.

Most of the native birds that were once abundant on Auckland Island have disappeared from the main island and now exist only on the surrounding pest-free islands. These include the Auckland Islands snipe, Auckland Island rail and Auckland Island teal.

“Eradicating these pests from New Zealand’s fifth-largest island would see Auckland Island become the country’s largest pest-free island. It would complete the removal of introduced predators from all of New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands, cementing our reputation as a world leader in predator control,” Eugenie Sage said.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Interesting attempts to clean-up a man-caused pest-introduction. It will be interesting to follow the efforts. Thanks for providing this information.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
A daunting and expensive task, but worth the effort if done humanely.

Nice story, thanks for posting!!
 

Kentuckienne

Supporting Vendor
Oct 9, 2016
2,742
1,631
Middle of nowhere (kentuckianna)
Parrots
Roommates include Gus, Blue and gold macaw rescue and Coco, secondhand amazon
It’s a tough fight. I keep up with the kakapo recovery project and throw them a few bucks when I can. One of the pioneers of the fight managed to kill all predators on an island, then he brought kakapos to it, and they were making it. Then someone saw a stoat swimming to the island. Soon there were lots of stoats and no kakapo. It must be a constant battle not only to eradicate the existing pests but to catch new arrivals before they do much damage.
 
OP
Cardinal

Cardinal

Member
Jul 1, 2014
506
12
India
Parrots
Currently I have none, but I have the capacity to adopt a minimum and maximum of two budgies - preferably a bonded pair or two males.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
It’s a tough fight. I keep up with the kakapo recovery project and throw them a few bucks when I can. One of the pioneers of the fight managed to kill all predators on an island, then he brought kakapos to it, and they were making it. Then someone saw a stoat swimming to the island. Soon there were lots of stoats and no kakapo. It must be a constant battle not only to eradicate the existing pests but to catch new arrivals before they do much damage.

Yes! Richard Henry was that guy! He struggled hard but lost after a very hard battle. Then more than half a century later Dr.Don Merton took off where Henry left. by then there were only 10 or so Kakapo left on mainland New Zealand-all males, but luckily there were about 50 or so males and females in Stewart island from which the species could be recovered. But feral cats learnt how to hunt kakapo on Stewart island and they can now be returned to Stewart island only if the cats can be eradicated. All this is captured beautifully in Rat Island by William Stolzenburg. :yellow1::yellow1::yellow1:
 

itchyfeet

New member
Nov 1, 2014
1,013
7
Middle Earth
Parrots
Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
A very long, intense and complicated project that has to fight for it's value in an economy where nurses are currently severely underpaid, in dangerous working conditions...
Funded projects like this don't often receive much recognition in NZ mainstream media and in our current economic/political climate, that may well be it's saving grace.
 
Last edited:

Kentuckienne

Supporting Vendor
Oct 9, 2016
2,742
1,631
Middle of nowhere (kentuckianna)
Parrots
Roommates include Gus, Blue and gold macaw rescue and Coco, secondhand amazon
It’s a tough fight. I keep up with the kakapo recovery project and throw them a few bucks when I can. One of the pioneers of the fight managed to kill all predators on an island, then he brought kakapos to it, and they were making it. Then someone saw a stoat swimming to the island. Soon there were lots of stoats and no kakapo. It must be a constant battle not only to eradicate the existing pests but to catch new arrivals before they do much damage.

Yes! Richard Henry was that guy! He struggled hard but lost after a very hard battle. Then more than half a century later Dr.Don Merton took off where Henry left. by then there were only 10 or so Kakapo left on mainland New Zealand-all males, but luckily there were about 50 or so males and females in Stewart island from which the species could be recovered. But feral cats learnt how to hunt kakapo on Stewart island and they can now be returned to Stewart island only if the cats can be eradicated. All this is captured beautifully in Rat Island by William Stolzenburg. :yellow1::yellow1::yellow1:

I just ordered a copy after reading the google books preview. Thanks for the tip.

I’ll be in NZ in October/November of this year. You’re local, right? Is there anything I could bring from here that could be helpful to NZ or AU parrot orgs?
 

itchyfeet

New member
Nov 1, 2014
1,013
7
Middle Earth
Parrots
Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
That's exciting! Where are you visiting?

The advantage of such a small country and such strict biodiversity laws is that in terms of companion parrot rescues, the need isn't as great as we read about in the US or UK. You really do pay for parrots from breeders, and rehome's are generally quickly snapped up by knowledgeable people off sites like craigslist. The rescues are small in size and generally run by coordinating fosters.

Wild bird rescue have the following on their website: Our Wish List - New Zealand Bird Rescue Charitable Trust

NZ conservation trust tend to just run off financial donations: NZ Conservation Trust

It could be worth contacting both organisations though, if you're coming from overseas †hey may have special requests, or be willing to meet/visit if your trip crosses paths with one of their centres.
 
Last edited:

Kentuckienne

Supporting Vendor
Oct 9, 2016
2,742
1,631
Middle of nowhere (kentuckianna)
Parrots
Roommates include Gus, Blue and gold macaw rescue and Coco, secondhand amazon
I don’t have much of a plan other than fly into Auckland first part of November and go home around Dec.7th.. dates are flexible as the airline reservations desk. I should be making more reservations but I wanted to leave NZ space to point me in the right direction. Got any suggestions? Think I can learn to drive on the opposite side of the road? It’s just every picture of your country takes my breath away, and I don’t want to leave earth without seeing as much if it as I can.

Will check with those orgs, but you are right, they probably need money more than anything. Still, would be fun to do some volunteer work, help the local critters.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
Media
2
43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
From my limited time in New Zealand, I'd have to recommend Milford Sound, Kiwi Birdlife Park and some place to see glow worms! ;) I saw some in Dunedin. The Dunedin Botanic Gardens are also worth checking out for bird lovers. They have various aviaries with several different species of birds, including parrots.


I can't imagine that getting rid of all the pests is "humane", but I'm glad that New Zealand is working to fix the errors of their ancestors.
 

itchyfeet

New member
Nov 1, 2014
1,013
7
Middle Earth
Parrots
Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
Driving is absolutely the way to go - it gives you the freedom to get away from the crowds and go and find the serenity. You may be expected to have had a full 24hrs rest before hiring, a few fatigued rental drivers have been involved in fatal accidents lately and put providers on edge. It seems its not only which side of the road to drive on, but apparently the type of roads we have. I guess it's a matter of giving it a go, doing what you are comfortable with, and not what you aren't. If you're okay with shingle and unmarked roads then that'll get you around a fair chunk of the back country.

In terms of conservation, if you start in Auckland then Goat Island is a pretty special place for marine life. It's glassed bottom boat ride rivals what I've experienced in the pacific islands, and by memory could be done in a day if based in Auckland. In terms of parrots, I've always wanted to go here: Online savings on pet supplies - The Parrot Place but I'm much lower down the country!

I think you've got the best approach - Definitely just follow your nose. Mackenzie Country is stunning, but Tekapo became so popular it's overun. The area around Fairlie and especially lake Opuha is pristine. If you're coming all this way, don't skip the south island. You'll find beauty, but also the realities of just how our clean green image is marketed, and then also how we are losing it to our dairy industry - the backbone of the economy.

Will talk to husband to get the website - sometimes car rentals need vehicles moved from one city to another and so rates are ridiculously cheap. You could always fly to Auckland for your connection at the other end.
 
OP
Cardinal

Cardinal

Member
Jul 1, 2014
506
12
India
Parrots
Currently I have none, but I have the capacity to adopt a minimum and maximum of two budgies - preferably a bonded pair or two males.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
It’s a tough fight. I keep up with the kakapo recovery project and throw them a few bucks when I can. One of the pioneers of the fight managed to kill all predators on an island, then he brought kakapos to it, and they were making it. Then someone saw a stoat swimming to the island. Soon there were lots of stoats and no kakapo. It must be a constant battle not only to eradicate the existing pests but to catch new arrivals before they do much damage.

Yes! Richard Henry was that guy! He struggled hard but lost after a very hard battle. Then more than half a century later Dr.Don Merton took off where Henry left. by then there were only 10 or so Kakapo left on mainland New Zealand-all males, but luckily there were about 50 or so males and females in Stewart island from which the species could be recovered. But feral cats learnt how to hunt kakapo on Stewart island and they can now be returned to Stewart island only if the cats can be eradicated. All this is captured beautifully in Rat Island by William Stolzenburg. :yellow1::yellow1::yellow1:

I just ordered a copy after reading the google books preview. Thanks for the tip.

I’ll be in NZ in October/November of this year. You’re local, right? Is there anything I could bring from here that could be helpful to NZ or AU parrot orgs?

I am not from New Zealand! But the Kakapo conservation story and Don Merton's efforts are truly inspirational. I hope some of it can be replicated in our own Andaman and Nicobar islands, especially for the rare and endemic Nicobar Parakeet.

Glad you got Rat Island. I hope you like it . It is one of my all time favourite bird books and possibly the best conservation book I have read :)
 
OP
Cardinal

Cardinal

Member
Jul 1, 2014
506
12
India
Parrots
Currently I have none, but I have the capacity to adopt a minimum and maximum of two budgies - preferably a bonded pair or two males.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
I can't imagine that getting rid of all the pests is "humane", but I'm glad that New Zealand is working to fix the errors of their ancestors.

I agree!

We do not and cannot live in a perfectly humane world. Sometimes , we have to give more weightage to pragmatism than to being "humane" .
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top