The
Biodiversity team at the National Wildlife Centre consists
of three rangers, Raelene and Rose, with a third position
currently being filled. The team is led by Programme Manager
Geoff Underwood who has joined us from the ACT in Australia.
We’re currently assisted by contractors Kate and Wendy.
The team undertakes the captive breeding work and also the
Pukaha forest restoration project. In captive breeding,
we work a roster as the birds need to be looked after 7
days a week. Sometimes we work 7 days straight, then have
2 days off, then work 3 days then have the weekend off.
Or, we work 10 days straight, then have 4 days off including
the weekend. During the winter months, there’s just
1 birdstaff person working the weekend and during the breeding
season, there’s two.
The birdstaff
team carry out a number of duties during the course of a
day. Sometimes, it seems as if no 2 days are the same! Currently,
we’re doing a lot of predator proofing. This enormous
job involves looking at every single centimetre of every
aviary and enclosure to ensure that there aren’t any
holes through which a predator could gain access and harm
our birds. If a hole is found it’s patched up with
a wire patch and stapled on. We have to check the roofs
as well, so a bit of lightfooted climbing is necessary!!
We also rake the roofs removing any fallen branches or twigs.
It’s a big job. |
