DOC yet to assess success of 1080 campaign

A helicopter drops 1080 pellets in the Marlborough Sounds last year.

The Department of Conservation has completed its "Battle for our Birds" pest control at Mt Stanley, in the Marlborough Sounds, and at the Nelson Lakes National Park.

The aerial 1080 pest control carried out around Mt Stanley last month was aimed at protecting vulnerable populations of bush robins, weka, rifleman and giant snails from predator plagues caused by an exceptionally heavy beech mast.

It covered about 4000 hectares in the Tennyson Inlet Scenic Reserve, Nydia Bay Scenic Reserve and Chance, Penguin and Fairy Bay Scenic Reserve.

Monitoring showed rat tracking levels in the area climbed from 4 per cent in February to 36 per cent in May, 61 per cent in August and 94 per cent in November, just before the pest control. Mice were tracking at 82 per cent in the area in November.

In Nelson Lakes rat tracking levels in the park rose from 9 per cent in February to 36 per cent in May and 57 per cent in August.

The success of the 1080 drop is still being assessed.

A DOC spokeswoman said although rat numbers were high, the work was not done earlier because of the availability of helicopters, the need for consents and approvals, and school holidays.

Work around Mt Stanley began on October 10 with an aerial application of non-toxic baits which encouraged rats to eat the cereal baits containing biodegradable 1080 pesticide.

DOC's acting Waitohi/Picton conservation services manager Jo Gould said the work was timed to protect nesting birds so more chicks survived to increase their populations.

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DOC yet to assess success of 1080 campaign