Bellbirds in Kennedys Bush

Port Hill Bush - a great place for bellbirds

Have you noticed bellbirds increasing in number around Halswell over the last few years? If so, this is because of a successful project being run in Ohinetahi Reserve up around the back of Governors Bay and in Kennedys Bush to increase bellbird numbers. A joint project between CCC rangers and a group of volunteers headed by Steve Muir regularly replenishes bait stations placed at intervals throughout the area. The poison in these bait stations is aimed at killing rats and possums – animals that have been photographed raiding the nests of native birds such as bellbirds and taking both eggs and young. Bellbird numbers have been increasing steadily in these areas over the last few years and it is now common to hear many bellbirds around Ohinetahi and Kennedys Bush. As the bellbirds increase in number, more of them are coming down into the city, and in particular to the Halswell and TaiTapu areas during the winter months.

Check out some great photos of a bellbird on a red hot polka flower in Christchurch