Rats targeted at Orewa Estuary

Hibiscus Coast Forest and Bird volunteers are getting started on pest control around Orewa Estuary.
The project follows the release last September of the Orewa Estuary Restoration Plan, funded by the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board.

The plan identified work that can be done by groups of volunteers around the estuary margins, including weeding, planting and pest control. Rats, mustelids and possums will be targeted, as they decimate the native bird population.

A bird count is also planned for the estuary later this year.

Forest and Bird hosted a meeting last week, which was attended by around 30 people keen to find out about getting involved.

Richard Chambers is leading the Orewa Estuary work for Forest and Bird and says although it will initially focus on the reserve land around the water’s edge, he hopes that, over time, more can be done.
“We would like to work with local residents, as we have elsewhere in our Pest Free Peninsula Project,” he says. “That will greatly improve pest control, but also could lead to more plants in gardens that provide food and habitat for birds.”

He says the first bait stations targeting rats will go down on reserve land around the estuary in the coming weeks. The bait stations will be regularly checked and refilled by volunteers.

The poison bait is contained in a locked plastic box so that dogs cannot access it. The bait stations will largely be out of sight, but residents may see tape marking the position of a bait box.

A flyer drop will go out soon to residents early this month.