In a bid to improve biodiversity and boost kererū numbers in the Waitakere Ranges, a group of local volunteers are gaining ground on a significant restoration project on the Oratia Sunnyvale floodplain.
The Oratia Native Wildlife Project has been underway since 2018. With volunteers having already planted 2,000 seedlings, their goal is to restore 1.5 hectares of the Oratia Sunnyvale floodplain and three streams by removing exotic trees and planting over 10,000 native trees.
Thanks to a recently secured six-figure planting fund, the project - which was initially expected to span 20 years - is now on track for completion in just five.
“We undertook a bird count in the area on 29 June, which found just 1 kererū. That’s concerning because kererū play a major role in keeping our forests alive and thriving,” says project coordinator, Simon Oosterman.
“By planting native kererū-friendly trees on either side of the streams, we create huge landing pads for them, which is important for connecting existing planting.”
Simon goes on to explain that kererū are among the few native birds left in New Zealand capable of consuming large fruits whole, a critical process for seed dispersal and forest regeneration.
“If it weren’t for kererū, lots of our precious native trees, like miro, matai, taraire, tawa and pūriri, would be in serious trouble or extinct. This would upset our forest’s ecosystem balance and impact other species that rely on these trees for food, shelter, and habitat.”
Alongside boosting kererū numbers, Simon says the planting will result in host of other benefits including minimising flood risks to downstream properties in the area by removing invasive willows, enhancing the habitat for a significant population of kākahi - a nationally threatened and declining rare freshwater mussel, and providing space for a future public cycle and walk path.
“We know that the stronger people’s connection with the environment is, the more climate and environmental action we’ll see and the better the results for our ecosystem’s balance. Through this project we are aiming to create deeper connections between locals, nature, and mana whenua by paving the way for a climate-friendly community that honours Te Tiriti.”
How you can help protect kererū
- Keep your cat indoors at night as they love to snack on kererū eggs and can kill chicks and grown birds.
- Plant a native tree or shrub in your backyard. Miro, pūriri, kahikatea, taraire, kohekohe and tawa are great kererū-friendly habitats.
- Choose natural pest control. Chemicals like insecticides and herbicides on plants can be harmful to their food sources.
- Apply window decals or other visual markers to glass surfaces to keep kererū safe from colliding and getting injured.
Make a donation to help re-establish flocks of kererū in the Waitākere Ranges.