Our already silent forests are dying. :-(
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/4839962/Forests-dying-as-kereru-numbers-fall
Forest & Bird » Other
Don't ban 1080. Understand 1080
(183 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Unfortunately we can't set traps for all the animals that hunt keruru, just the four-legged kinds with fur.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Sadly 1080 does kill birds. Found a couple today. So the green dyed cereal baits dont stop birds eating it
Posted 1 year ago # -
I would urge anyone questioning the positive benefits of 1080 to native wildlife to watch this amateur video footage recently posted on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1URIvtPzQ0Q It is by a tramper who has captured audio and video at various points on a four-day tramp across the Tararuas from Otaki Forks to Mt Holdsworth.
It shows the thriving bird and insect life along a cross section of the Project Kaka 'triple hit' zone, five months after the drop. The filmaker/tramper is obviously familiar with the area and makes it very clear that he sees no evidence whatsoever that 1080 has had anything other than a positive impact of the native wildlife.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey Hunter. Can you be sure it was 1080 that killed the birds? I'm not saying that it isn't possible, but there can be other reasons. What species were they?
I read an article about 1080 use to control pests in fernbird habitat. Studies showed that some fernbirds ate the 1080 pellets and died. As much as 30% of monitored fernbirds died, but the following year fernbird breeding success increased 700%! It's a risk to use 1080 with some species, but it seems in that case to have been worth it.
In Wellington, a guy was claiming that the brodifacoum the Regional Council uses for pest control was killing native birds. His "evidence" was that he had seen some dead birds a whileafter broadifacoum had been put in bait stations (which are not accessible to birds). Despite his claims, studies have shown that since the RegionalCouncil started the brodifacoum campaign in 2000/2001 the tui population has increased 800%, the kereru population by 250%; with other bird species achieving some population growth. Many people attribute this growth solely to the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. While the Sanctuary has enabled some species populations to grow, the fact that the trees in the city's extensive green belt are no longer being ravaged by possums means that there is far more food for the birds available.Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey EcoGeek,
Well they were found right on the boundary of a 1080 operation. Unsure what they were, im not up in my bird knowledge. (small blackbird sized, grey & red in colour).
Posted 1 year ago # -
We know that there is some by-kill of some native birds by 1080, but this loss becomes insignificant when we compare it to the ensuing increase in numbers of the same birds after a 1080 operation.
Unfortunately there seem to be lots and lots of "knee-jerk" reactions to naming the causes of dead birds and loss of bird--song noise which only confuses the stats even more.
Here's a recording of bird noise in the same area at different times of the year (diff. seasons and hence temps) from Ian Gill of DoC which shows the seasonal difference in birdsong which is sometimes attributed wrongly to 1080 having killed off the birds there http://soundcloud.com/thinknz/sets/winterPosted 1 year ago # -
Also, some of you will have seen this from another post on this page, but here again is about kaka population in Waitutu forest getting a (species-saving?) boost in numbers from the 1080 operation there http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10722074
Kind of hard to argue against the bigger picture of what aerial 1080 ops can achieve for the survival of a species.Posted 1 year ago # -
Graf's are still at it. This from Gisborne Herald http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/opinion/letter/?id=22956
Posted 12 months ago # -
Our Parliamentary Commissioner, Jan Wright has come out for 1080 after doing a comprehensive report - Evaluating the use of 1080: Predators, poisons and silent forests
http://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/media-releases/1080-must-not-be-banned-environment-commissioner/
To quote -
“While there may be an alternative to 1080 one day, if we want to keep our forests for future generations we simply cannot afford to stop using 1080. Time is not a luxury we have.
“So many of our native forests, birds, reptiles and insects are unlike those found anywhere else in the world and form a distinct part of our identity. It would be a travesty to allow these to disappear.”
A call for a moratorium on 1080 from some Members of Parliament was a major impetus for
this investigation. This hopefully will silence them. If you've got the time, read the report.Jan gives a great introduction, and concludes - It is seldom that I come to such a strong conclusion at the end of an investigation. But the possums, rats and stoats that have invaded our country will
not leave of their own accord.Also a good piece on National Radio featuring our passionate Nicola Vallance.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Peter Dunne has just put a 1080 Voting Poll on his page. Please show your support for the impartiality and thoroughness of the PCE's report. http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/do-you-agree-with-the-parliamentary-commissioner/poll.do
Thanks
Posted 11 months ago # -
There's also a poll on The Press website http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5111975/Drop-more-poison-to-save-birds
Posted 11 months ago # -
Here's another contribution to the environment commisioner's call for more 1080 use to save our birds and forests.
The Panel 4pm June 8th on National Radio.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Great interview with Nic Vallance on Morning Report today but what a load of cobblers from Peter Dunne. Nic did a great job clearly explaining the urgency of pest control and the wonderful work being done in this field by Forest and Bird.
Dunne hadn't read the PCE report but still rubbished it.
He still claims that 1080 has "failed" despite abundant evidence that where it is used sustainably the kaka, yellowhead, kiwi and of course the native forest themselves are dramatically recovering.
Dunne's calls for more trials and studies are just diversionary tactics that will result in a loss of momentum for all the successful 1080 based pest control programmes now underway. It also is a death sentence for all the birds alive now that will have no future unless there are effective and extensive pest control programmes right now!
The pest control task is, however, enormous and has to be sustained not just for one 1080 treatment but for a series of treatments to allow the recovery of the full range of native species. The PCE Report is welcome because once again it independently affirms the conservation and scientific wisdom of what DOC and AHB are doing for pest control..
Posted 11 months ago # -
For those of you who are interested, here is a selection of radio and TV coverage on the PCE's report.
3News - Jan Wright, Peter Dunne, Clyde Graf, Kate Wilkinson on PCE report
http://www.3news.co.nz/Report-vindicates-use-of-1080-poison/tabid/1160/articleID/214329/Default.aspx
3News (09.15am on 09 June)
Prof Dave Kelly, terrestrial ecologist at the University of Canterbury; Assoc Prof Dianne Brunton of Massey University and Prof Doug Armstrong, wildlife ecology professor, also of Massey University, support the report. MP Peter Dunne and activist Daniel Lane oppose.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Scientists-stick-up-for-1080/tabid/1160/articleID/214390/Default.aspx
3News (10.27am on 09 June)
Nic Vallance from F&B in support of report
Morning Report with Simon Mercep & Susie Ferguson
07.08 Commissioner backs use of controversial 1080 poison
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has come out in support of the use of 1080. Proponents of the controversial poison say the independent report released by the Commissioner's office will help save New Zealand's declining native wildlife. (7′16″).
08.09 Forest and Bird advocate, MP debate 1080 report - Nic Vallance and Peter Dunne (8′21″)
Nine-To-Noon with Kathryn Ryan
09.08 Professor Charles Eason is professor of Wildlife Management from Lincoln University's Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences - he's researching alternatives to 1080. We also hear from Dr Quinn Whiting-O'Keefe; retired from the University of California. (31′14″)
Checkpoint with Mary Wilson
18:39 Possum control now focused on toxins not biocontrols
Research into possum control is now focused almost entirely on poisons and virtually none is being done on shutting down the animals' reproductive system. Interview with Paul Livingstone from AHB (3′45″)NewstalkZB
10.15 Dr Jan Wright and Professor Charles Eason speak to Mike Hosking
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/podcasts/audio/08075745.mp3
Radio Live
13.06 Marcus Lush speaks with Jan Wright about how our native fauna can be saved. http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/podcasts/audio/08075745.mp3
13.48 Andrew Patterson talks to Ruth Dyson, Labour Party Spokesperson on Conservation. http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Calls-for-more-extensive-use-of-1080/tabid/506/articleID/20877/Default.aspx
A lot of these aduio and video files can also be found on www.1080facts.co.nz
Posted 11 months ago # -
I just listened to the interview by Michael Hosking, and from his interview with Graf, I think Graf came awfully close to slandering the Commissioner.
Posted 11 months ago # -
In a recent media release published on Scoop and in the Greymouth Evening Star, Dr Jo Pollard claims to have put the science used to justify the continued use of 1080 “under the microscope”.
Unfortunately, it appears that she may have forgotten to take the lens cap off, say Paul Livingstone, TB Eradication and Research Manager at the AHB and Mike Slater, DOC West Coast Conservator in this joint response, published on Scoop yesterday.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1106/S00035/response-to-articles-by-dr-jo-pollard.htm
Posted 11 months ago # -
Kiwi probing holes?? From a property that borders riparian forest and mangroves at the convergence of Ngunguru and Waiotoi Rivers and is pest-controlled.
F&B members went for a walk around there on the weekend and found these what look like kiwi probing holes.Attachments
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kiwi_probe_2.jpg (136.7 KB, 0 downloads) 11 months old - kiwi_probe.jpg (128.8 KB, 0 downloads) 11 months old
Posted 11 months ago # -
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Oops, sorry the last posting I put ion the wrong thread. Apologies.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Thanks AHB for posting those links.
I rang Radio Live and had my say, it was very scary that Michael Laws was agreeing with me on 1080 being our best option for getting rid of pests.
It realy annoys me that when NZ gets an independent environmental assessment on 1080 that proves it essential to our wild life, the media still gets the ill-informed selfish anti-1080 person to express there opinion on TV/Radio.
As for the silver tsunami, (Peter Dunne) it reminds me just what those men must have been like that let these pests into NZ. Not listening to conservationists or science.
He says it's like killing a village to save a village. I say it's more like kill a murderer, to save a village!Posted 11 months ago # -
Here's a bit more rationality from the media http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10731874
Posted 11 months ago # -
There was also a great feature on the need for increased 1080 use by Rebecca Macfie http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/1080-needed-to-save-new-zealand-native-birds/
and an editorial commentary
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/editorial/1080-poison-debate/
in today's Listener
Posted 11 months ago # -
@Kukupa re Michael Laws, yes same here! As for the antis having their say, I agree that they get more airtime than they should. Unfortunately, the media loves the lunatic fringe and a squeeky wheel always sounds loudest. I take some encouragement from the fact that most of the people speaking out against the report came across pretty poorly when standing side by side with some of the country's most eminent ecologists. Quite a few of them were trying to discredit the Commissioner on the grounds of experience or impartiality, which shows how deluded they are.
Interestingly, in her 'overview' the Commissioner made a comment about the arguments not equal as she expected.
This article from the New Scientist, examining the differences between 'skepticism' and 'denial', is very interesting reading.
"WHAT is the difference between a sceptic and a denier? When I call myself a sceptic, I mean that I take a scientific approach to the evaluation of claims. A climate sceptic, for example, examines specific claims one by one, carefully considers the evidence for each, and is willing to follow the facts wherever they lead.
A climate denier has a position staked out in advance, and sorts through the data employing "confirmation bias" - the tendency to look for and find confirmatory evidence for pre-existing beliefs and ignore or dismiss the rest.
Scepticism is integral to the scientific process, because most claims turn out to be false. Weeding out the few kernels of wheat from the large pile of chaff requires extensive observation, careful experimentation and cautious inference. Science is scepticism and good scientists are sceptical.
Denial is different. It is the automatic gainsaying of a claim regardless of ..."
You have to sign in to read the rest http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627606.000-living-in-denial-when-a-sceptic-isnt-a-sceptic.html
Posted 11 months ago # -
I thought that it might be useful for readers to see the extent of the regular DOC southern South Westland sustained pest control programme.
In total, DOC's 1080 pest control treatments here cover an area of 474,926 hectares. This is nearly half the approx 1 million hectares of land that DOC has under suatained pest control throughout New Zealand for the protection of indigenous biodiversity
In addition the Animal Health Board is running a large area of regular pest contrrol mostly using aerial 1080. However the AHB work is less about protecting large areas of natural landscape for biodiversity protection and more about killing possums and stoats that are vectors for bovine TB. The AHB work is important for protecting indigenous biodiversity but its primary goal is TB control for agriculture.
Have a look at the extraordinary map that accompanies this DOC report and you will see just how much of the lowland and western forest portion of Te Wahi Pounamu, the South West NZ World Heritage Site, is under sustained management to control pests.
DOC West Coast deserves congratulations for quietly and methodically getting stuck in to this programme and the results are stunning. DOC throughout the rest of NZ is jealous of the success of this programme. Their "species and ecosystem optimisation " review being done by DOC nationally seems targetted to reduce the funds available to continue the southern South Westland pest control programme.
Instead DOC should be using the Parliametary Commissioner for Environment's endorsement of the 1080 programmes to argue right now for more funds overall being allocated for DOC nationwide to expand its aerial 1080 programmes. This is far preferable to what seems to be a " Shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic" approach by taking funds from southern South Westland for elsewhere in NZ under the pretence of a "Prioritisation" review.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Sorry but the document by DOC outlining the southern South Westland 1080 programme is 570kb in size. This is too big for this feed.
You can obtain a copy from gscott@doc.govt.nz
Posted 11 months ago # -
Animal welfare and 1080
Posted 11 months ago # -
On the subject of animal welfare, Nine To Noon had a really interesting discussion with National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee chair, John Hellstrom ONZM, the other day.
Hellstrom thinks we should focus more on pest control and less on biosecurity if we want to save our unique ecosytems. He supports the increased use of 1080 and says bird life explodes in areas where it is used. He thinks people opposed to 1080 poison are pushing other agendas and that anyone who is seriously concerned about protecting native wildlife should support its ongoing and increased use.
(Approx 25 minutes into the interview).
Posted 11 months ago # -
TVNZ's 'Good Morning' also did a piece on 1080 and animal welfare recently, interviewing Wellington vet Kether Gati on the risk of 1080 to dogs. Gati does a really good job of putting the risks into perspective before going on to highlight the benefits. He says if dog owners follow a few very simple steps such as observing warning signs, the risk of 1080 poisoning is extremely low.
http://tvnz.co.nz/good-morning/s2011-kether-gati-video-4228643
Posted 11 months ago # -
Finally, Bob Brockie's World of Science is always good for a read. The piece published yesterday was one of the best-written pieces on 1080 I've seen since the PCE's report came out. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5167234/Theres-1080-in-our-tea-so-whats-all-the-fuss-about Brilliant!
Posted 11 months ago # -
And a lot of comments (now 29 in total) on the Bob Brockie piece.
Posted 11 months ago #
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