Thread: Bird Predator Control

Originally Posted by Flyblown

I got up with the very first of the light this morning, it’s wet here today, a soft gentle drizzle.

The bellbirds were just magic to listen to, even the dog was impressed. I’ve owned this block for 16 years and this summer is the first we’ve had bellbirds turn up. We have more pheasants, quails, pukekos, ducks than ever, kakas and kereru in increasing numbers, heaps of passerines.

The one neighbour has been running a trapping program for a good while - 125 traps all over the valley, a mix of DOC 150 / 200 and Victor rat traps. He’s retired but fit and busy, and his Tuesday trap run is a helluva good walk for an older fella. I shoot feral cats (sssshhh), dozens of magpies and trap on our block. The main farming property is a renowned riparian regeneration block with national awards.

It’s all starting to come together. We have a couple of problem people who let their cats roam, but that problem might be solved by the SA2 traps, hopefully.

Bellbirds feels like a big win.

I met one last Sunday, scruffy old thing who let me get within 2 meters and we whistled back and forwards. No idea what we chatted about but it was a neat moment