Mohunga Report by Brian Reed

Environmental News Issue 18 Autumn 2009

We continue to observe increased numbers of birds, lizards and insects and lower rat numbers across the peninsula this summer, but rat numbers have been high this autumn and continue to be higher than expected. Rat control has been extended by some landowners to the ridge line and bait stations have been placed into the mature native bush by the group. This area has the highest biodiversity value on the peninsular and is under threat by predatory mammals; for example, a small number of ground nesting sea birds occur here including Black and Cooks petrels, and there is suitable habitat for significantly more but it is likely that the rat and/or pig population has been preventing this. Rat control that occurs in the mature bush will enhance biodiversity work on the rest of the peninsula by providing protection to a seed source for regeneration of natives and the potential expansion of populations of existing species from this area to other parts of the peninsula (and GBI). We have also extended this network of bait stations over the ridgeline to Orama and through to the ridgeline running along the western side of Owhiti Bay. At the moment the several kilometers of bait lines are being checked every 2 weeks.