Predator Free Waimairi Beach
PFWB is currently in its infancy with small membership but large aspirations. Sandwiched between the coastline, a forest and Travis wetland the potential for Waimairi Beach to be a haven for native plants, birds, invertebrates and lizards is significant.
Already we have significant populations of korimako (bellbirds), riroriro (grey warbler), piwakawaka (fantails) and tauhou (silvereye), a vast number of seabirds (gulls, gannets and terns) and sealife (hector’s dolphins and the occasional fir seal and penguin) and we are home to several species of skinks (look amongst the rocks near the beach on sunny days) and important invertebrates.
However it is clear that we could be doing better as evidenced by ongoing sightings and capture of possums, mustelids (ferrets & stoats), rats, mice and hares and a coastal environment that is dominated by invasive marram grass, broom, lupin, blackberry and pine.
Thankfully we don’t have to look too far for inspiration with what can be achieved by grassroots movements with backyard trapping on the port hills a success story and the incredible changes seen in Wellington the gold standard.
If you would like to join the ‘battle for the birds’ contact us and we can provide a boxed trap for your backyard for $15. You can then record your catches on Trap NZ and keep tabs on your successes.
Predator Free Waimairi Beach – join us on facebook.
Trap NZ – create a Trap nz log in https://www.trap.nz/ on a browser and link it to the Waimairi Beach
Project https://www.trap.nz/project/344723/info and then download the Trap NZ app on your phone, this allows you to record your catches on the project site which we can then collate.
Other info -
