Goodbye rats, hello bird sanctuary

Forest and Bird, Issue 268, 1 May 1993, Page 8

Goodbye rats, hello bird sanctuary

YET ANOTHER Hauraki Gulf island has been cleared of rodents through the efforts of Forest and Bird members. Following a poison-baiting programme organised by the Hauraki Islands branch, 24hectare Pakatoa Island now has great possibilities as a sanctuary for some of Auckland’s rare birds such as saddlebacks, whiteheads, bellbirds, kakariki and fernbirds. Last month, with no sign of rats and all 140 bait stations inactive, the programme was formally declared a success. The strikingly beautiful island contains a low-impact resort, and the re-introduction of birdlife has considerable ecotourism potential. The programme involved a number of gulf communities, all veterans of previous successful rat eradication programmes: the Salvation Army members of the Rotoroa Island section . provided transport, Forest and Bird members from Waiheke

Island did most of the work and the Rakino Island Ratepayers Association paid for the bait stations. Red-crowned parakeets have been already been transferred to the island and are being held in an aviary for

breeding and future release. The resort has become a corporate member of the society and manager John Grey looks forward to working closely with Forest and Bird in restoring and enhancing Pakatoa’s natural habitat.