It’s Conservation Week. Our Threatened Species Ambassador Nicola Toki is taking part by showing her backyard some love, and other New Zealanders are celebrating too.
Nicola Toki, DOC Threatened Species Ambassador
Hilary Barry is a keen backyard trapper, often tweeting about her family’s successes.
Hilary is continuing to check her trap to protect her backyard this Conservation Week.
Hilary Barry with her own backyard trap
Jesse Mulligan is also pro-trapping, which might or might not be because of his regular chats with Nic in her Critter of the Week segment on Radio NZ. She can be pretty convincing.
Now completely converted to pest control, here’s Jesse with his backyard Goodnature A24 rat and stoat trap that he is maintaining for Conservation Week.
Jesse Mulligan and his Goodnature trap
Nic says that Christchurch Helicopters Director and pilot Richie McCaw is celebrating Conservation Week with DOC too.
The Christchurch Helicopters team spend a lot of time flying rangers with traps and supplies into the valleys of Arthur’s Pass National Park, to support DOC’s work on protecting the kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet. They realised they wanted to do something to protect this local critically endangered species right in their backyard, so they gave the DOC team a call and have set up a new partnership to promote and support the recovery of orange-fronted parakeets.
Richie McCaw with his orange-fronted parakeet helicopter
Richie and Nic spoke at a Conservation Week event last night about saving Canterbury’s kākāriki, and Richie will continue to support these birds, he even has them painted on his chopper!
Richie says:
“We are so lucky to live in a country which has such a beautiful big back yard, which I am privileged enough to experience every day. I am passionate about maintaining this special resource, so future generations can enjoy it just as much. I am passionate about doing whatever we can to ensure this happens, and creating a partnership with DOC to help the orange-fronted parakeet in its battle for survival is an important part of that.”
Meanwhile in Whakatane…
Always on patrol – Whakatane Police Constable Spike Dickey picks up a stoat trap for his backyard from the Whakatane Halo pop-up shop.
Many Wellingtonians enjoyed tasty treats made from our invasive pests over the weekend. Offerings included wallaby in a blanket, wild pork pizza, banana passionfruit and chocolate crowns and wild venison croquettes. There will be more pests on the menu this weekend too!
Olive and her family have been looking after native lizards in their garden this Conservation Week. They have built a lizard lounge and bug house, as well as planting bee/butterfly-friendly plants and providing water for the skinks and geckos to enjoy.
Senior Ranger Stacey and her son set their new backyard trap following Predator Free Ranger Dan’s visit to National Park Primary school for Conservation Week. During his visit students learned about trapping and each received a trap to take home.
Coen helped dad plant natives in their garden to attract native birds and insects for Conservation Week.
Oscar and Stanley collected a bucket full of rubbish during their beach trip, enlisting Mum, Dad, Granny and Poppa to help as well.
How are you taking part in Conservation Week? Show us how and go in the draw to win a conservation experience on Ulva Island.
