We’ve been catching weka for 12 years and moving them to a mainland release site in order to help burrow-nesting seabirds establish. Is this sustainable? Has it made a difference? This video looks at the pros and cons.
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Thanks Barry for a very informative clip. I dont envy you having to make such a decision. But thank you for all your efforts in any direction. We can but try.
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Thanks Barry, the latest news is zero chick survival on Kapiti this year but something like 47% chick survival on Tahoramaurea. The variation between all of the sites, including Mana and Titi Island make this a complex issue. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.
Grant
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Thanks Grant- given the size those chicks must be now, then you would have to assume they will go on to fledge. What a good result. Kapiti should now be considered an unsuccessful outpost of the successful Tahoramaurea colony I guess. Given that weka have had decades to colonise Tahoramaurea, yet they are still there in only very small numbers, then does that feed in to my assertion that weka numbers are governed by the season of least food abundance?
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So well described Barry. And refreshing to have such a conservation dilemma put out for public comment. It will be interesting to see endorsements for this pragmatic approach and whether there may be alternatives suggested
Peter
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