600kgs of 'hardcore weeding' done to save rare Aussie bird from invasive plant
Rangers have been on their hands and knees in Boondelbah Nature Reserve pulling out prickly pear plants along the Port Stephens coast in NSW, with the "pesky" grower impacting nesting sites of the seabird Gould's petrel, of which there are only 1,000 breeding pairs left in the wild.
The nature reserve is only one of two breeding sites, and with such limited numbers of the birds left, rangers from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) made a trip to the island for some "hardcore weeding", with the plant bagged and removed for compost elsewhere.
"If left unmanaged, prickly pear plants grow over nestbox entrances, either blocking birds from entering, or trapping them inside," a NPWS spokesperson explained to Yahoo News.
Four members of staff hauled 600 kilograms of the plant out of the nature reserve, and authorities will continue to monitor the plant for spread, as it is well-adapted to harsh environments. Prickly pear has been declared a weed of national significance by authorities.
The nature reserve has been identified as critical for the survival of the Gould's petrel, with 95 per cent of the species breeding there, so rangers have installed artificial nesting boxes on the island to support breeding of the birds.
"The Gould's petrel is Australia's rarest endemic seabird," the spokesperson said. "Every bit of accessible breeding habitat is key to ensuring their survival."
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The impact of prickly pear is infamous, with it first introduced to Australia on the First Fleet and quickly popularised in gardens. However, it spread so quickly and extensively that the Pricky-Pear Destruction Act in 1886 was introduced, with an advisory board, legislation and preventative measures implemented to try to stop its spread.
Having such a prolific weed in the seabird's habitat has been problematic, and authorities have vowed to do all they can to prevent the weed from impacting their attempts to boost the seabird's population.
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