Key Takeaways
- A large feral tomcat that had been attacking a black-fronted tern colony in the Waiau Toa/Clarence River was finally caught after a three-day tracking effort.
- The cat had been evading traps and bait for several days, but was eventually caught using whole rabbits as decoys, wing traps, and buried leg-hold traps.
- The removal of the cat is a significant win for the black-fronted terns, which will be safer during the breeding season.
- Predator control efforts, including trapping and monitoring, have been ongoing in the area for about a decade, and have been successful in reducing the impact of introduced predators on the tern colonies.
- The public can help protect the tern colonies by giving the birds space and keeping out of the nesting colonies, and by reporting any sightings of feral cats to the Department of Conservation.
Introduction to the Problem
The black-fronted tern is a vulnerable species that breeds in the Waiau Toa/Clarence River, and its colonies are under threat from introduced predators such as feral cats, ferrets, and stoats. In the past, a single feral cat had been responsible for devastating a entire colony of these birds, highlighting the need for effective predator control measures. The Department of Conservation (DoC) and its partners have been working to protect the tern colonies through a combination of trapping, monitoring, and habitat enhancement.
The Hunting and Capture of the Feral Cat
Shannon Mears, a contractor working with the DoC, described the challenges of tracking and catching the large feral tomcat that had been identified as a threat to the tern colony. The cat had been tracked for three days, with the team using a range of techniques to try and catch it. The cat’s prints showed that it had been visiting the river to check the water level near the tern colony, and it was likely that it would have attacked the colony again if it had not been caught. The team used whole rabbits as decoys, wing traps, and buried leg-hold traps to try and catch the cat, and eventually succeeded in trapping it after it pulled a stake out of the ground and hid in a den.
The Impact of the Cat’s Removal
The removal of the feral cat is a significant win for the black-fronted terns, which will be safer during the breeding season. DoC South Marlborough principal ranger Pat Crowe said that it was gratifying to see the results of the massive trapping effort, and that controlling predators like feral cats is critical to giving species like the black-fronted tern a fighting chance. The Waiau Toa/Clarence River is an important habitat for the black-fronted tern, with at least 12 colonies nesting on islands in the braided river this year, and 206 nests recorded in the six monitored colonies.
Ongoing Conservation Efforts
The project to protect the black-fronted tern colonies is supported by Ngāti Kurī and funded by Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury), DoC, and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (Linz). Much of the work is carried out by J & S Mears Contracting and Wildlife Management International Limited, which monitors the birds. The team has been undertaking predator control, island enhancement for nesting, and bird monitoring in the area for about a decade, and the efforts have been successful in reducing the impact of introduced predators on the tern colonies. Apart from a flooding event in late October, which disrupted early nesting, it has been a successful breeding season with no signs of predation by introduced predators within the trapping area.
The Role of the Public in Conservation
The public can play an important role in helping to protect the tern colonies by giving the birds space and keeping out of the nesting colonies. People who spot a feral cat while out driving or walking in the area are encouraged to contact the DoC Renwick office at [email protected]. By reporting sightings of feral cats and other introduced predators, the public can help the DoC and its partners to target their conservation efforts and protect the black-fronted tern and other vulnerable species. Additionally, the public can support conservation efforts by respecting the boundaries of the nesting colonies and not disturbing the birds or their habitats. By working together, we can help to protect the black-fronted tern and other species that are under threat from introduced predators.