They were crucial in defending some of the world's most endangered braided river birds from pests such as rats, stoats and hedgehogs. And it was a race against time, with many birds returning to Ashley River to lay their eggs in just four weeks' time. An endangered black-billed gull chick. Grant Davey, a Rivercare Group member, refreshed some of the traps that survived with fresh bait along the Ashley River. These birds needed all the help they could get after an explosion of the Norway rats that were adept at swimming out to the gravel islands the birds nested in.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 08, 2021 20:15 UTC