Our intensive trapping program began in the Dansey Road Scenic Reserve in September 2013 trapping all introduced mammals in phase one of the forest namely Possums Rats Stoats Ferrets Mice Hedgehogs and Cats as these are the animals causing the most damage to the forest.

Now nine months in we have reduced the numbers of these animals down to low enough proportions that the traps are now being checked monthly and the numbers have reduced to very low proportions. Since that time we have not encountered any piles of feathers remaining from birds being predated which used to be a common sight.

These feathers were all that remained of an unfortunate Bellbird. In nine months of trap checking and bush walking I have not seen any more sign of predation which is wonderful.

Instead we have witnessed an explosion in the numbers of Wood pigeons which seem to be everywhere at the moment Tui and Bellbirds are calling throughout the course and other birds which we saw once and a while are now seen regularly such as Robins Tomtits and even a Falcon sitting above a platform watching us.