SIRCET is a strongly committed community group with a number of projects to protect and enhance the biodiversity of a remnant patch of coastal forest between Golden Bay and Ackers Point, Stewart Island, by managing the threats posed by possums, rats, cats and weeds.
SIRCET controls and monitors these pests, monitors native species (including kiwi) and re-vegetates the 210 hectare area as part of our Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project. Kiwi are naturally occurring within our Project area and an additional eleven adults were translocated in 2013. Presently we have twenty cat traps in the area. As they are live capture traps they require daily checks during months when kiwi, titi and little blue penguins are especially at risk.
A large part of our work is communication; educating the community about threats to our ecosystems and increasing their local conservation knowledge and skills. This includes encouraging volunteers, publishing conservation stories, holding community events and hosting Kiwi Avoidance Training days for local and bach owner’s dogs.
Objectives
- To provide enhanced protection for juvenile kiwi by trapping feral cats
- To undertake call count monitoring within and outside the Project area
- To provide two Kiwi Avoidance Training workshops per year
- To engage the community and visitors in Kiwi Conservation
Check out our plans for Stewart Island tokoeka in more detail.
