Executive Summary
Key results
Possum control – vegetation response
Possum numbers were again maintained at low levels in the treatment area. Vegetation condition is good with increased canopy density for most species and no observed browse.
Rodent control – bird response
The number of territories held by robins in part of the area was similar to previous years, indicating rodent control was effective in protecting these birds.
Mustelid control – bird response
Stoat captures showed a different pattern to previous years with captures peaking earlier than usual. This is probably due to a lack of significant stoat breeding in the spring of 2001 (following a lack of beech seeding the previous year) resulting in no January influx of young animals into traps. Ferret and weasel captures were relatively low compared with previous years. Kaka nesting success in the old core area was down from 80% in previous years to 40% this year, indicating stoat control was not as effective. 5-minute bird counts were also down, especially in the case of bellbirds, and this may also indicate less effective mustelid control. In Big Bush mustelid trapping was not instigated early enough to protect nesting kaka.
Wasp control – invertebrate response
An expanded area of wasp control was successfully treated. Wasp numbers were reduced and held below the Ecological Damage Threshold for the whole season for the first time. The response of native invertebrates is still difficult to determine.
Advocacy and education
The Friends of Rotoiti was formed in August 2001 as a result of repeated requests from the community for opportunities to help with the project. The group decided that it would undertake rat trapping in St Arnaud, on Black Hill and Brunner Peninsula and mustelid trapping in the Wairau Valley up to Rainbow ski Area. The membership grew from 12 to 30 over the year.
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