February has been a busy month for the team, with plenty of trapping, baiting and weed control underway. A particular focus has been tackling climbing asparagus and mothplant, both of which are quick to take advantage of the warm summer conditions.
Encouragingly, all the signs suggest that pest numbers are being well controlled. One of the most noticeable changes has been the increase in birdsong around the valley. There are also some smaller but equally positive clues. In a few areas, piles of karaka fruit are now sitting undisturbed beneath the trees — something that rarely happens when rat numbers are high. Even the weed bags have been teeming with weta, another good indicator that predators are being kept in check.
We had planned to launch our German wasp control programme in February. However, after a relatively cool, wet summer, the numbers of protein-seeking wasps have been much lower than usual. Instead, we will focus on getting the control lines established so everything is in place ahead of the next wasp season.
For now, the quieter bush and the growing chorus of birdsong are encouraging signs that the work being done is making a real difference.
For the restoration of Cape Rodney and the Leigh Harbour foreshore