Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
Protecting braided river birds
Birds that make their home along Canterbury’s braided rivers include dotterels (banded and black-fronted), tōrea/South Island pied oystercatchers, poaka/pied stilts, terns (black-fronted and white-fronted) and tarāpuka/black-billed gulls. Many are endangered or under serious threat.
The trapping programme will target mammalian animals such as rats, mustelids (ferrets, weasels, and stoats), hedgehogs, and possums.
Traps will be provided and installed by us alongside free training for volunteers.
We’re looking for local volunteers who will service traps along the Hakatere/Ashburton River.
Trapping workshop in Ashburton
A workshop offering more information for those interested will be held on Thursday 16 November, 5.30pm, at the Mania-O-Roto Scout den in Ashburton.
Donna says it’s a great way for locals to give back to nature.
“It’s an opportunity for people to learn more about the biodiversity in their area and pick up life-long trapping skills.”
The trapping lines will run for about two to four kilometres along both sides of the Ashburton River/Hakatere, from the top of Lake Hood, downstream towards Wakanui School Road.
It’s hoped the programme will get underway in November.
Volunteer or find out more
For more information on the project and volunteering, or to register for the workshop email ecinfo@ecan.govt.nz
Header image (photographer Don Geddis): The project will protect precious bird species such as the tarapirohe/black-fronted tern.
Environment Canterbury © 2023
Retrieved: 4:36pm, Thu 26 Oct 2023
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/zone-news/ashburton/volunteers-sought-for-community-trapping-project/
