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Bring back the birds to our Auckland parks

MEDIA RELEASE 8 July 2013

Bring back the birds to our Auckland parks

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand will hold two predator control training workshops on Saturday 19 July, one at Maungawhau Reserve in Mt Eden and the other at Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve in Glen Innes. Locals are welcome to come along and be part of an initiative that’s helping to ‘bring back native birds to our Auckland parks’.

Introduced animal pests, such as rodents and possums, compete with our native birds for food, raiding their nests for chicks and eggs. They also feed on a wide range of native plants, lizards and invertebrates. Our parks need help to prevent this destruction.

In action across eleven parks Auckland-wide the ‘Auckland Parks Volunteer Predator Control Programme’, run in partnership with Auckland Council, has been going since 2004.

So far Predator Control Volunteers have gifted over 7,500 hours to reduce the impact of introduced predators on our native wildlife and plant life here in Auckland. To date possum numbers caught total 1,500 and rats almost 5,000. Without predator control 9 out of 10 native chicks will die before they reach breeding age.

“Keeping pest populations under control is essential in ensuring that our native birds, lizards and insects can thrive,” says CVNZ Auckland Programme Manager Clair Hobi. “The programme has had involvement from more than 200 local volunteers. Being part of a programme that’s increasing bird and invertebrate numbers, as well as more seedlings in our local parks and neighbourhoods, is incredibly rewarding for everyone.”

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Once trained in all aspects of predator control, volunteers ‘adopt’ their own forest track and walk for approximately one and a half hours through native bush, baiting and resetting traps and recording the catches made. Volunteers walk their line of traps or bait stations fortnightly or monthly at a time that suits them. Each volunteer is asked to commit to a minimum of 12 months.

Training sessions will be held on Saturday 19 July 2014 at Maungawhau Reserve, Mt Eden from 9.00am-11.30am and Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve in Glenn Innes from 1.30pm-4.00pm.

Anyone interested in taking part is welcome to come along and find out what’s involved. Bookings are essential. To book and to find out more information about the Auckland Volunteer Predator Control Programme please call Clair on 0800 567 686 or email info@conservationvolunteers.co.nz

Conservation Volunteers was founded in Australia in 1982, and expanded operations to New Zealand in 2006. Involving over 12,500 volunteers every year, Conservation Volunteers is a leader in delivery of practical conservation programmes, community
involvement and a range of training programmes.

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand offers volunteer opportunities every week of the year. Volunteers get involved in a range of conservation and environmental programmes including habitat regeneration, enhancing our waterways and protecting New Zealand’s special habitats and wildlife.

The Organisation has been recognised with many significant awards, including the United Nations’ Environment Program Global 500, UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organisations 2011, six Banksia Environmental Foundation Awards, and Ecotourism Australia’s Ecotourism Award 2009.
For more information visit www.conservationvolunteers.co.nz

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