http://www.odt.co.nz/news/farming/78551/1080-use-threatened-organised-opposition
The above article from today's Otago Daily Times is the argument in a nutshell. This issue needs huge amounts of support...
Forest & Bird » Threats & Impacts
Birds benefitting from pest control
(100 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Hawdon Rat Control Operation a stunning success:
On 8-9 September an aerial 1080 operation was carried out for DOC over 3,800 hectares of Arthur's Pass National Park's Hawdon and Waimakariri Valleys. The objective was to save the critically endangered orange fronted parakeet in the valley as well as Great Spotted Kiwi, yellowhead, robin and the plants that they are dependent on. All these species were threatened by an explosion of rats resulting from a beech mast year over the 08/09 summer leading to a measured big increase in mice, rats and stoats predating on these.
As part of the operation 13 kea were fitted with radio transmitters to monitor to see if there was any impact on them from the operation.
Nearly 2 months later the "Hawdon 1080 Operation" has been found to be a total success.
*KEA All the monitored kea are happily still flying around
*PEST KILL Tracking tunnels show almost the complete elimination of rats from the valley. Only on one small bluff area where it was difficult to spread the bait were any tracks located. This extraordinarily effective kill of pests has been helped by a pre-feed of non toxic bait 2 weeks before the 180 operation. This accustoms the rats to eating the bait and enormously reduces problems caused by bait shy rats.It increases the kill rate into the high 90% range.
*NATIVE BIRD BREEDING The timing of the operation has been perfect for bird breeding. Parakeets are now nesting as are kiwi and all the more common bush birds. We are likely to get a window of about 6 months or longer before there is an increase in pests. This is long enough for many of the species to reach adulthood and be less vulnerable to predation.
*SHOULDN'T A BIGGER AREA BE TREATED IN FUTURE? The only question I would ask is if such an effective operation can be mounted over 3,800 hectares of 118,000ha Arthur's Pass National Park (3%), shouldn't the area of the pest treatment operation should be expanded in the near future?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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This is what possum damaged bush looks like on peoples farms. Lots of trees dead or just hanging on to life. I took this photo just a few days ago on The Northern Gateway Toll Road, near Waiwera.
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Posted 2 years ago # -
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Wow, that is very compelling when you see pictures like that.
Posted 2 years ago # -
1080 has been used in New Zealand since the mid 1950s to control rabbits on farmland without a single human fatality. It's been only since 1080 has been to control possums and killing deer, that there has been any opposition to it. Perhaps a bit of honesty on the part of the opponents would be welcomed. I know that 1080 is cruel but no more so than when a animal is shot and wounded and takes days to die.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Its brainwashing - huge numbers of birdlife existed beyond our belief in NZ and parts of the bush still had great numbers in the 70's - poisoning isn't going to bring them back.
Indeed widespread use of poison for the possum trade had a huge effect to begin with. Removing many of the ground dwelling birds weka robins ducks through poisoning would have changed the whole balance of predators - continued indiscriminant use of poisons puts the whole forest at risk from microorganisms to the bird and fishlife.
How long do you think this can go on before some serious sideeffects show - forever according to DOC - lunatics.Posted 2 years ago # -
When you get huge numbers of birds - think about what they eat. My kowhai ( pronounced kowhy by many maori - for you pc's) has been stripped bare by a few woodpigeon regulary visting it.
Most of you have no idea what you are talking about. For possums to cause that damage there mustr have been quite a few hundred choosing to eat bark and not to move on to greener pastures - they eat grass too - shame on the farmer for letting them get out of control.Posted 2 years ago # -
With about 2% of the conservation estate getting any 1080 at all, it is high time to up it! Biodegradable 1080 saves lives......The native NZ forest and birds within it.
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Posted 1 year ago # -
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Hi Chris. Sounds like you've been inhaling something, and I don't think it's 1080 fumes! Relax Max.
Posted 1 year ago #
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