Russell Sanctuary Now Includes Weka

Forest and Bird, Issue 306, 1 November 2002, Page 42

Russell Sanctuary Now Includes Weka

weka recovery

project.

— ANN GRAEME,

I iwi and weka are calling again in the valleys of the Russell Peninsula while brown teal paddle in the harbour. This Bay of Islands community is in the process of creating a sanctuary over 2500 hectares of the peninsula. A

predator fence has been built across the isthmus which, combined with heavy densities of traps beside the road and beach, helps minimise the infiltration of predators from the rest of the mainland.. The predator control project

is the brainchild of Laurence Gordon, (noted for his success in restoring kokako at Rangitoto Station). Over the past 18 months he has successfully exterminated the vast majority of possums, rats, stoats, feral cats and goats inside the fenced part of the peninsula. The Russell Kiwi Landcare group was formed to take advantage of Laurence’s conservation work and recently applied for the return of North Island weka to the peninsula. Forest and Bird was delighted to be asked to supply North Island weka for release. This bird is a threatened species, and young weka are bred for release by a few dedicated Forest and Bird members. We arranged for 17 young weka to be sent to a holding aviary on the peninsula and, in August, they scampered free.

Eleven of these birds were captive-reared and six were captured from Pakatoa Island, a weka population we established from captive-reared birds six years ago. The Russell Peninsula offers a grand opportunity for the weka to establish a thriving population and delight local people and visitors to Russell alike. These birds are joining other endangered birds on the peninsula including breeding populations of at least 100 kiwi, as well as New Zealand dotterel and brown teal. The Landcare group isn’t stopping at weka. They are now applying to bring back another bird, the North Island robin, and hope in the future to have whitehead, kakariki parakeets and other rare birds gracing the peninsula again.