Banded Rail Chicks Growing Fast

The two surviving banded rail chicks are growing fast at the Bird Rescue Centre at the Mill Creek Animal and Bird Encounters Park at Whitianga, Weighing just 18 grams at birth, they were up to about 91 grams each on the 25th January, 29 days after they hatched. (see bottom picture). Gaye Butcher, who runs the Rescue Centre, describes the chicks as very agile and extremely quick on their feet.

The orphan chicks were found by the Trail on 27th December by Gary and two Auckland conservationists, Theo and Doris van Schie. Theo and Doris very kindly took the chicks through to the Rescue Centre and they have retained an active interest in them since.

The banded rail is uncommon and difficult to spot. They feed in the mangroves and nest in the rushes that grow in the large areas of wetland that form parts of the Trail. The birds have only recently returned to the area to nest. The Trust has an ongoing predator control program that is in place for the length of the trail. It has taken many hundreds of  hours of volunteers' time and it is encouraging to think that we may have contributed to the return of these birds.

Dogs, of course, are another potential threat to birds and wildlife. Predator baits laid near the Trail may be a threat to dogs.  The Thames Coromandel District Council has recently put up more signs requiring dogs to be kept on leads. A disappointing percentage of dog owners fail to comply and we hope the extra signs will remind them of their obligations.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR DOGS ARE KEPT ON LEADS AND REMAIN ON THE TRAIL AT ALL TIMES