Great Barrier Island - home to about 700 facinating, friendly, fulltime residents - is positioned about 100k's off Auckland's eastern coast.
We were told that about 70% of the island is owned by DoC (tax payers), and apart from keeping the campsites in good order, DoC are also charged with managing the rodent population. (Along with the locals, not to forget.)
The island doesn't have possums, but they do have rats, and it's the method of controlling these rats that is the cause of much debate.
Brodificoum is used in baits stations on the island, and although bait stations are a more responsible way of delivering the killer food to the rats (as apposed to aerial distribution), Brodificoum is an accumulative poison, and causes secondary poisoning in non-target species scavenging on dead, and dying rats. So this was the main issue raised at the screening.
Steve and I were invited over, by island dweller Tony Storey, to introduce the second run of Poisoning Paradise.
One head count put the number of attendies at over 80, which is over 10% of the homo-sapien population - but one thing's for sure, the joint was packed!
The after film debate went really well. John Ogden, a trustee of Great Barrier Island Charitable Trust, was probably the most outspoken of the opposition, in attendance.
We met with John, just prior to leaving the island, to further discuss our points of view. As is often the case with opposition, we agree on most things.
But more importantly, we discussed the new rat poison being developed by Landcare Research, which is designed to kill only rats. This is exciting because other non-target animals, birds and organisms aren't in danger of unintended intoxication.
This is a perfect option for islands like Great Barrier, and one we hope to see pursued.
At the end of the day, as ugly as the content of the Poisoning Paradise documentary is, once open minded viewers get the picture of how irresponsible the aerial application of secondary causing poisons is - and that poisoning unknown numbers of birds, bats, insects, reptiles, aquatic life, deer, live stock, pets, people, and the other 50,000 multi cellular species inhabiting our forests - they often become aware that this practice must stop, and then the alternative methods of pest control can be refined, and employed.
This country has the alternatives, we have the man power and the budgets to develop them. Let's stop this aerial poisoning practice now, before the irriversable damage caused, becomes emense.
A big thanks to Tony Storey for organising the event. Thanks also to the Barrier Bulletin for their promotion, the Claris sports centre for hosting the event, to Richard Somerville-Ryan for chairing the debate, and to Nikki, from Sunbeam Sanctuary, for providing accomodation.
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Clyde,
ReplyDeleteWhat were the 3 key concerns raised by people from Great Barrier?
Were they generally in favour of aerial applications of 1080 (and brodifacoum); opposed to it; or indifferent?
MM
Howdy MM - Of all the film nights we have conducted around the country (over 35 now) 95% - 99% of attendees are opposed to the aerial dropping of any kind of poison. This percentage is consistent with national consensus, and particularly those informed about this practice. Many of those in support of aerial operations are, unfortunately, mis-informed. The ones that don't have that defense, are most often, in some way, involved with its use.
ReplyDeleteGreat Barrier -
Number one concern - The use of Brodificoum in bait sations, I would say, was number one!
Number two - The mis-information, or lack of credible information, about the dangers of using secondary causing toxins, and the effects that they have on non-target wildlife.
Number three - disaproval of DoC policy and direction. Clyde Graf.
Cheers Clyde,
ReplyDeleteYou guys must be gathering a lot of vital information from people around the country. If you eventually write a book on this whole experience, I would be very interested to read it. You are creating history right now.
Do you keep a diary of the various concerns raised at the film nights?
You must chair a host of questions about 1080 in general from the crowds!
What a great way to raise people's awareness on the issues. And what a way to network
you guys are soooo faaantastic...
ReplyDeletewhat do you mean by "secondary causing toxins"
MM
BCT, you're getting pretty desperate now; appearing as MM; making random claims on my behalf; and generally trying to throw a spanner in the works... the sort of typical crap you'd expect from propaganda spinners
ReplyDeleteAnd what the hell do YOU mean by "secondary poisoning toxins"
You know as well as anyone that 1080 is a secondary poisoning toxin.. so what's your point?
ReplyDeletei don't know about a book ...
ReplyDeletei would have thought a comic more appropriate!
why is it important for you to deliberately confuse Brodifacoum and 1080?
ReplyDeleteArtificial refuges and mark-recapture techniques were used to monitor the non-target impacts of handbroadcast application (simulating aerial application) of Wanganui No.7 cereal-based baits containing 0.15% (1500 µg g-1) 1080 on populations of weta and other invertebrates in Tararua Forest Park, North Island, New Zealand. Wellington tree weta (Hemideina crassidens) and a cave weta (Isoplectron sp.) were the only species of weta that occupied the refuges. Flatworms, slugs, spiders, harvestmen, amphipods, millipedes, centipedes, cockroaches, and beetles also occupied the refuges. Invertebrate numbers in the refuges were monitored for 12 months before and 4 months after bait application on 22 August 2000. Bait application had no significant impact on the numbers of either species of weta, or on slugs, spiders, and cockroaches, the most numerous other invertebrates occupying the refuges. Bait application also had no effect on the number of individually marked tree weta resighted in the refuges. Few weta or other invertebrates were observed on baits at night. The concentration of 1080 in a cave weta collected alive from a bait, and in a tree weta collected alive from outside an artificial refuge, was less than 10% of the average lethal dose. The results indicate that 1080-poisoning for vertebrate pest control is unlikely to have any negative impact on populations of weta or the other invertebrates monitored.
C'mon BCT, you can do better than to paste Spurr's 1994 Abstract.
ReplyDeleteNot only are we all aware that Spurr was "paid" by DOC to do a second invertebrate study right after Michael Meades conducted his (thorough and statistically more robust) research in 1994 - which showed drastic impacts on many wee critters (from which DOC controversially tried to hush under the carpet) - but Spurr's study illustrated several gross errors with methodology / design and gross mis-representation of data as critiqued by O'Keefe's report http://www.kaka1080.co.nz/aerial_monofluoroacetate.pdf
Spurr's research was purposefully designed to be UNABLE to show any effects on weta pop's from aerially applied 1080. And the study was like netting a river for mayflies using a net mesh that fits tennis balls through it. Spurr was never going to be able to detect any minute scale differences using his method!!
Look at Mead's 1994 research paper, named the (Effects of sodium monofluoroacetate on non target invertebrates of Whitecliffs Conservation Area, Taranaki)
BCT, what's your real name?
keep reading mm ...I'ts not a Spurr abstract. And this guy Okeefe is he the American guy that thinks NZ birds will have evolved to live with rats by now so the whole rat predation thing is rubbish?
ReplyDeleteI've heard of these American 'scientists" who are 'creationists' and don't believe in evolution. Will you put some of his stuff in the comic you're writing?
ha ha, you people are the ones that write the comics. Look at this http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/files/file/1080%20poster%20landscape.pdf
ReplyDeleteBrainwashing children now...
Why isn't there anything about the secondary poisoning effects of 1080 to native species???
http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/files/file/1080%20poster%20landscape.pdf
ReplyDeleteThe only cartoons I'd be drawing, are ones similar to this bct
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kaka1080.co.nz/cartoons.html
Interested in off-shore islands and Brodifacoum MM?.
ReplyDeletecheck out the latest video posted on www.waiheke.tv
also amongst the links to universities and research on 1080 you'll find a couple of interesting ones on Island Restoration. also check out the Great Barrier Charitable Trust newsletters and read about some people who are out doing hardcore conservation.
www.gbict.co.nz/newsletters.htm
Hey MM why don't you answer any of birdscantalks' questions?
ReplyDeletethis guy Okeefe is he the American guy that thinks NZ birds will have evolved to live with rats by now so the whole rat predation thing is rubbish? He seems to think 700 years is long enough..revealing a concerning depth of ignorance about:
ReplyDelete1: evolution
2: the difference between kiore, Norwegicus and ratus ratus.( a very basic difference that a NZ high school student wouldn't make)
I've heard of these American 'scientists" who are 'creationists' and don't believe in evolution. Will you put some of his stuff in the comic you're writing?
Hey speaking of comics there is a great one on F&B website called: A Bird Brains Guide, it's abut a Kiwi and a Weka discussing whether or not to eat 1080 pellets. What a flippin joke, in one of the fact captions it says 1080 can kill invertebrates but only the beetles, hoppers, mites and wetas livng really close to the baites will be at risk. Well what else is left? BCT you are clutching at straws 1080 has had it's day, start researching the alternatives, Rotorua will be the next council to ban it.
ReplyDeleteactually it seems that birdscantalk is talking about stuff alot more important than comics ... from what i can figure out you guys have a two pronged attack....ridicule Forest &Bird and DoC, and at the same time promote this American guy who doesn't understand NZ ecology.
ReplyDelete" No impacts were detected in the numbers of amphipods, ants, beetles,
collembolans, millipedes, mites, slugs, snails, spiders, or cave weta caught in
pitfall traps after two 1080-poisoning operations using Wanganui No. 7 cereal-
based baits (5 kg/ha, 0.08% 1080)"
so why don't you guys answer his question:
ReplyDeletewhy do you deliberately confuse Brodifacoum and 1080?
Sorry, fair enough, and good point. In the "Great Barrier" post I did generalise, when talking about the content of the Poisoning Paradise doco. Just to clear things up -
ReplyDeleteBrodificoum is aerially applied on offshore islands, for the purpose of pest irradication. Which is fair enough, some might argue.(if you don't mind wiping out plenty of endemics, and natives at the same time). It is very toxic, is very persistent in the environment, and accumulates in the body of an animal or bird. It is an anti-coagulant, meaning it causes animals and birds to bleed to death, once they get enough of a dose, which can take up to several weeks. According to toxicologist Dr. Charlie Eason, Brodificoum is very inhumane. It is not an insecticide, but insects like sand hoppers do eat it. Birds, and other animals that then feed on those insects, and carcasses of poisoned animals, can then receive more of a dose of brodi. The drops are usually done in 3 stages, and are at extremely high concentrations of bait. Often at over 15KG's per hectare. The reason for the 3 drops is to ensure the wildlife gets a good dose, (as it is retained in their body) until they get to that magic level. If they don't get it on the first drop, they surely must by the 3rd. But there is some good news - Brodificoum does have an antidote, Vitamin K, which can be used on humans, where as 1080 has no antidote. Of course, that's not much consolation for the native wildlife - as the guys dropping the poison don't also drop the antidote from their helicopters. 1080, on the other hand, is used on the mainland. To have an introduction to 1080, please visit www.thegrafboys.org, and watch the video clips. Thanks. Clyde Graf.
the ussual Graff media release full of rubbish. A typical operation would be using Brodifacoum at less than ONE GRAM PER HECTARE. For example the Rangitoto Motutapu drop was 147 tonnes of cereal bait containing 2.9 kilograms of toxin.
ReplyDeleteThe podcast interview with Phil Brown Biodiversity Auckland is available at www.waiheke.tv and covers the issue of Brodifacoum very well.
Also on www.waiheke.tv are links to scientific research re: Brodifacoum and 1080. In addition some cool vid's ..the last one showing Mauimua, an offshore island that was cleaned using Brod. in the mid '90's.
Sorry, BCT, I should have said...at least 15KG per hectare - of bait! I know it is disturbing, but the DoC presentation on Brodificoum and 1080 are actually the one's that are rubbish, and mis-leading. What's mentioned in the "Graff media release" is all fact, Mr/Mrs Bird. And just to summarise a little further, these are some of the species that have tested positive for Brodificoum residues, after DoC poisoning operations, released under the Oficial Information Act....
ReplyDeleteAll found dead, after DoC drops, killed by Brodificoum....
Black Backed Gull
Black Robin
Grey Duck
Harrier Hawk
Kaka
Kea
Kiwi
North Island Robin
Morepork
Paradise Duck
Pukeko
Red Bill Gull
Saddle Back
Shag
Silver Eye
Spotless Crake
South Island Robin
Takahe
Weka
......What a disgrace! Clyde Graf.
the disgrace is your lies and mis-information.
ReplyDeleteIt is known that the beneficiaries of rodent eradications on
islands in the last 20 years include 15 species of invertebrates,
northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), seven species of
geckos, 16 species of skinks, 26 species of terrestrial birds
and 14 species of seabirds . On the 71 islands from
which mammals have been eradicated, research has shown potential benefits for 16 species
of flightless invertebrates, including critically endangered
species such the Mercury Island tusked weta (Motuweta
isolata). Among the vertebrates, at least 76 species now have
improved prospects, including two of the four species of native
frogs; all three taxa of tuatara, 23 of the estimated 80 species
of lizards (29%); 32 of the 73 taxa of terrestrial birds (44%),
and 16 of the 84 taxa of seabirds (19%).
" What's mentioned in the "Graff media release" is all fact",
ReplyDeleteapart from :
your 15 kg's of toxin per hectare
your claim that it wipes out native bird populations
in actual 'fact' there are very few 'facts' in your media release and those that are their are false.
please explain.
is it true that the old American guy doesn't now the differance between Pacific rat and rattus rattus and Norway rat? what is this about him saying that 700 years is enough time for native birds to evolve into living with rats?
ReplyDeletewhere can i read this stuff for myself?
Of most concern was the primary poisoning risk from the brodifacoum bait.
ReplyDeleteThe results indicated that all the 17 bird species assessed are more susceptible to primary poisoning than
secondary poisoning and access to brodifacoum bait by non-target bird species needs to be minimised.
As it is by the use of bait stations, or when used aerially only in one-off operations.
Please explain, anonymous, which parts aren't fact? I didn't say it wipes out populations, I said..."if you don't mind wiping out plenty of endemics, and natives". Perhaps I could have said...If you don't mind killing plenty of endemics and natives", which means the same thing. However, entire populations are, in fact, wiped out - For example - the entire Western Weka (endemic) population of Tawhitinui Island was killed by eating dead and dying rats". Also, entire populations of Pukeko (native) have been killed in aerial island irradication drops, using Brodificoum. And then there's the ones we don't know about. So it's not unreasonable to make that statement. As I have said - as far as offshore islands go, some may agree that irradication is acceptable, at the expense of killing many natives, and endemics. Personally, I do not. The mainland, of course, is another story. No aerial poisoning operations, into our forests, should ever take place on the mainland. Clyde Graf.
ReplyDelete" What's mentioned in the "Graff media release" is all fact",
ReplyDeleteapart from :
your 15 kg's of toxin per hectare
your claim that it wipes out native bird populations
in actual 'fact' there are very few 'facts' in your media release and those that are their are false.
please explain.
It is known that the beneficiaries of rodent eradications on
ReplyDeleteislands in the last 20 years include 15 species of invertebrates,
northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), seven species of
geckos, 16 species of skinks, 26 species of terrestrial birds
and 14 species of seabirds . On the 71 islands from
which mammals have been eradicated, research has shown potential benefits for 16 species
of flightless invertebrates, including critically endangered
species such the Mercury Island tusked weta (Motuweta
isolata). Among the vertebrates, at least 76 species now have
improved prospects, including two of the four species of native
frogs; all three taxa of tuatara, 23 of the estimated 80 species
of lizards (29%); 32 of the 73 taxa of terrestrial birds (44%),
and 16 of the 84 taxa of seabirds (19%).
Just so there's no confusion, all of the species of birds list above, have been found dead, and tested positive for Brodificoum residues.
ReplyDeleteMany of them, multiple times.
Some of the native and endemic birds that have been found dead, and tested positive for Brodificoum poisoning are...
Endemic = found no-where else in the world.
Black Backed Gull (Native)
Black Robin (Rare endemic)
Grey Duck (Native)
Harrier Hawk (Native)
Kaka (Endemic)
Kea (Endemic)
Kiwi (Endemic)
North Island Robin (Endemic)
Morepork (Native)
Paradise Duck (Endemic)
Pukeko (Native)
Red Bill Gull (Native)
Saddle Back (Rare endemic)
Shag (Native)
Silver Eye (Native)
Spotless Crake (Native)
South Island Robin (Endemic)
Takahe (Rare endemic)
Weka (Endemic)
Please watch Poisoning Paradise to view the Oficial Information Act request. Thanks. Clyde Graf.
It is known that the beneficiaries of rodent eradications on
ReplyDeleteislands in the last 20 years include 15 species of invertebrates,
northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), seven species of
geckos, 16 species of skinks, 26 species of terrestrial birds
and 14 species of seabirds . On the 71 islands from
which mammals have been eradicated, research has shown potential benefits for 16 species
of flightless invertebrates, including critically endangered
species such the Mercury Island tusked weta (Motuweta
isolata). Among the vertebrates, at least 76 species now have
improved prospects, including two of the four species of native
frogs; all three taxa of tuatara, 23 of the estimated 80 species
of lizards (29%); 32 of the 73 taxa of terrestrial birds (44%),
and 16 of the 84 taxa of seabirds (19%).
including:
brown kiwi
little spotted kiwi
brown teal
NortIsland weka
dotterel
fernbird
yellow crowned parakeet
robin
saddleback
petrel (4 species)
shearwater(5 species)
sooty tern
check out www.waiheke.tv for heaps of links to research and university blogs, also really cool bird conservation vids by people on the front line of species recovery.
yeah i checked out that vid on www.waiheke.tv that was on an off-shore island (Mauimua) very f%^$#ing cool!! good shots of tuatara, tomtits, kakariki,morepork, a tui chick in the nest?. and off course the shearwater chick being weighed and banded....
ReplyDeletethese people on the front line are really walking the walk .....
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletewhat kinda strikes me is that the Poisoning Paradise dvd is anti 1080....but they don't talk about what happens if you take 1080 away. It seems obvious that our birds are almost gone apart from small areas and these guys want to take away the last defense ...
ReplyDeletemy grandfathers and uncles all died in varius wars to protect/ save NZ and these Graff guys are trying to undermine that history.
I wonder if your grandfather was in vietnam where they dropped agent orange.....paying for it now eh!!
ReplyDeleteOffshore islands are quite simple, it's a bit like ethnic cleansing, you wipe eveything out that has existed on the island predating human existence including natives. You do this by generously applying an extremely toxic chemical 2-3 times, then you introduce whatever natives you like so they live happily ever after. And all of the late' sipping volunteers and F&B tree huggers form the tweet and squeak brigade feel like they have done biodiversity a great justice. You then put this so called success on your website feeling pretty good about yourselves purposely forgetting that you have just changed an ecological environment that has existed predating you, poisioned marine life then advocate the rest of the country follow your purist gestapo views. BCT it's too simple for you......poisioning the environment is not the right solution!
ReplyDeletePest control on islands is a closed ecosystem compared with an open ecosystem on the mainland. They are two entirely different environments, so to talk about island benefits of aerial dumps does not translate into how good the stuff is for the mainland BCT.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in opposition to aerial blanket dumps; more controlled ground measures MUST be adopted for our mainland!!!
As mentioned above, if aerial broadcasting of toxins such as brodifacoum or 1080 are dumped on offshore islands to wipe out rats etc, and it is successful in doing so (along with high risk native birds and reptiles from either primary or secondary poisoning), then perhaps you can argue the cost of losing native species is offset by the benefits of being able to create a habitat refuge island to re-establish native fauna. At least on an island you can perhaps account for / understand all the high risk impacts due to it being a closed environment compared with the mainland. The mainland on the other hand is an entirely different kettle of fish - simply because the impacts are far greater and there are far greater unknowns. What we do know though, is that 1080 kills native fauna, many species of which are endemic to NZ..
And with the island model there's the need to be STRICTLY quarantined (for incomings) otherwise any introduction of rat, mustelid whatever (via boats etc) would put the whole operation back to square one.... Yeah cool, we know that.
But to try argue that applying this method to mainland NZ and aerial dumping vast quantities of 1080 throughout millions of hectares of forests (which are not controlled ecosystems in the sense that vectors can move almost anywhere within that system), does not gaurantee you the same results!!!
The fact is, while we're wiping out non-native pests, we're also very effective at killing off significant proportions of our native bird populations
Areas that have been ground laid with poisons and methodically trapped along transects are a better, healtheir option for our environment than indescrimant aerial dumps of toxin.
I think I've got you worked out BCT, your ultimate objective is to load up as many island habitat refuges with as many native fauna that you could possibly relocate from the mainland, and then nuclear the mainland with aerial assualts of 1080 in the billions of tonnes in an attempt to completely rid pests from the mainland. And then spend the rest of your career re-introducing native fauna back to the mainland...
It is known that the beneficiaries of rodent eradications on
ReplyDeleteislands in the last 20 years include 15 species of invertebrates,
northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), seven species of
geckos, 16 species of skinks, 26 species of terrestrial birds
and 14 species of seabirds . On the 71 islands from
which mammals have been eradicated, research has shown potential benefits for 16 species
of flightless invertebrates, including critically endangered
species such the Mercury Island tusked weta (Motuweta
isolata). Among the vertebrates, at least 76 species now have
improved prospects, including two of the four species of native
frogs; all three taxa of tuatara, 23 of the estimated 80 species
of lizards (29%); 32 of the 73 taxa of terrestrial birds (44%),
and 16 of the 84 taxa of seabirds (19%).
including:
brown kiwi
little spotted kiwi
brown teal
NortIsland weka
dotterel
fernbird
yellow crowned parakeet
robin
saddleback
petrel (4 species)
shearwater(5 species)
sooty tern
check out www.waiheke.tv for heaps of links to research and university blogs, also really cool bird conservation vids by people on the front line of species recovery.
Hey you will have to take rodent eradication off your list they just found a rat on one of you so called islands sanctuaries, I think another good dose of brodificoum is needed, wipe everything out and start again. Reinfestation of rodents is inevitable, you are fighting a rodent vietnam......you need to rethink your strategies!!
ReplyDeleteyou need to rethink your strategies!!
ReplyDeletewat do you suggest Clyde? leaving our native ecology in the hands of a bunch of deer and pig hunters ?
anyway according to W OKeefe 700 years is long enough for our birds to learn how to co-exist with rats. Showing a profound (yet strangely American ) ignorance of evolution.
ReplyDeleteAlso an ignorance of which rats are causing the damage. Kiore the Pacific rat are not the big evil,... the Norway rat and the ship rat which arrived with the European 200 years ago, are the ones doing the extinctions...as any High School ecology student would know.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDeer hunters, and pig hunters do a better job of managing wild animals, than DoC ever has. Before DoC came along with their poisonous contaminates, private enterprize reduced deer and possum numbers in New Zealand to very low levels. We have never said - don't control pest animals - we simply say...employ man on the ground methods, which have been proven by AHB - and history - to work.
ReplyDeleteyou hunters just don't get it eh?
ReplyDeleteon the front line of species conservation we don't give a rats arse about deer and pigs.
saving birds and forests from being eaten alive is about RATS AND STOATS AND POSSUMS!!!
if you guys want to 'farm' pigs and deer ...go ahead but don't call it conservation, call it farming. and I'm really sorry if every 4 years you can't farm 10% of DoC estate for a couple of months cause it's had 1080 spread over it.
And no you never reduced possum numbers to a level that was compatible with native bird recovery because that would mean eliminating your farm stock.
Landcare research shows that the forests in NZ can sustain 48,000,000 opossums, their research also shows there are currently 30,000,000 opussums. So the forests are currently having a net positive benefit of growth. We know you don't give a rats arse about deer & pigs and because of this attitude hunters do not care about you or your purist views. The anti 1080 group are really starting to win this battle, you really need to study the alternatives, ground control being the most obvious chemical free and labour intensive. In the current environment where 177,000 people are out of work a great alternative for them. Rightly or wrongly deer & pigs were introduced to this country as a source of game & food for the pioneers, Maori also introduced pigs, they are here to stay and can be managed in a sustainable environment along with native species.
ReplyDelete