Jane
Taumanu Reserve is a recreational area of about 7 hectares of reclaimed land which has been constructed over the last three years or so. To be enjoyed by people, by the birdlife, and if unlucky, by rats and stoats and other unwanted creatures. To prevent the latter, there is a good number of traps spread over the grounds.
The other day when I was visiting the reserve, I found Jane busy at work, inspecting the traps, supplying fresh bait and performing general maintenance. She is a volunteer, Operations Director with the Wildlife Conservation Trust of New Zealand. And she is an ambassador for the place, responding to questions from the public, explaining her work, pointing out the roosting birds: oystercatchers, pied stilts, dotterels. On my visit, the traps were empty, which I assume to be a good sign, meaning that the rodents stay out. And the presence of pied stilt chicks would confirm this.
Thanks Jane, great work!
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Danger!