An enormous effort to save native birds from a tide of pests has delivered some promising results in the South Island, following 1080 drops across vast swathes of beech forest.
Despite rat populations reaching plague levels in some areas - on the back of a one-in-15-year beech seeding event last spring - tracking rates indicate rats and stoats were knocked down to undetectable or very low levels at most sites, giving much needed protection to vulnerable native birds and bats.
Over the past eight months, the Department of Conservation has treated more than 600,000 hectares of priority conservation areas using aerial 1080 drops to control rats, possums and stoats as part of its coordinated programme dubbed the Battle for Our Birds.