Project Island Song vision one step closer
Date: 19 February 2008
The vision to see the islands in the eastern Bay of Islands alive with bird song is a step closer to reality. The Department of Conservation has lodged its resource consent application with Northland Regional Council, to carry out a pest eradication operation on the islands of the eastern Bay of Islands.
Project Island Song, a plan to restore native wildlife to the islands, is a shared vision with DOC working in partnership with the Guardians of the Bay of Islands (community conservation group), and Ngati Kuta and Patukeha (tangata whenua) with support from island landowners.
Two years after the eradication it's planned to reintroduce birds such as bellbirds, kakariki, kaka and saddleback. It is hoped visitors will have a similar experience to that of visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island. It's also likely that over time birdlife will spill over to the mainland as seen at Bream Head, with kaka and kakariki arriving from the Hen and Chickens.
The plan is to drop brodifacoum, a commercial rat poison, from helicopters using GPS. An aerial drop is required to ensure every rodent is exposed e.g., ship rats can live on cliffs of up to 70 degrees. This is too steep to access for trapping. The Department is confident benefits far outweigh the risks.
The best time to kill rodents is when they are at their hungriest, during winter months when populations are at low levels. Weather permitting, the operation is planned to take place between June and September 2008. A follow up poison drop will take place 7 - 10 days later to eliminate any survivors. Stoat eradication will also follow. Some stoats will die by eating poisoned rats but ground trapping and use of trained dogs will be necessary to make sure all stoats have been removed.
All the islands in the chain from Motuarohia (Roberton) eastwards, including Moturua, Motukiekie, Okahu, Waewaetoria, Urupukapuka, Poroporo and all their associated islets will be treated. As Norway rats and stoats can swim, it's important to treat all these islands as well as adjacent mainland properties. A mainland pest control area is being set up, funded by the Northland Regional Council and coordinated by the Guardians of the Bay of Islands, to prevent reinvasion from the mainland.
If you'd like further information about the operation phone Adrian Walker (Project Manager) at