He said the rivers\u2019 \u201cconstantly evolving landscape\u201d were home to vulnerable populations of ground-nesting birds, like the banded dotterel.<\/p>\n
Pests found in these areas range from animals like rabbits, feral cats and mustelids to plants like climbing spindleberry, Chilean needle grass and woolly nightshade.<\/p>\n
Telford said with limited habitat left for the dotterel, there\u2019s substantial pressure on the birds from predators and weeds changing the habitat.<\/p>\n
But Telford said there are pests in Hawke\u2019s Bay that can be eradicated, like the rook \u2013 a large, crow-like bird.<\/p>\n
He said the rook arrived in Hawke\u2019s Bay from other regions and had a \u201csignificant economic impact\u201d on growers by turning over the ground looking for grubs and pulling out plants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe population size is such that we deem eradication a strong possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Telford said the region\u2019s rabbits had an \u201canecdotal\u201d spike this summer and the council was keen to see landowners \u201cget on top of them\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially when they\u2019re in small to medium populations before they get really bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Telford warned wallabies in Hawke\u2019s Bay \u201cwould be like having rabbits on steroids\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to change the nature of the ground directly through burrowing and very close cropping of the grass to the point that it can become bare.\u201d<\/p>\n
Telford said the wallabies\u2019 arrival would add pressure on pastoral land and ecosystems while deforesting areas and preventing the reestablishment of trees.<\/p>\n
Telford said wallabies would most likely cross into Hawke\u2019s Bay from the north and northeast, near the Rangit\u0101iki Plains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want them here. We don\u2019t want them establishing here. And as soon as they step toes on our border, we want to know where it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thus far, there had been several reported sightings of wallabies in Hawke\u2019s Bay, but nothing confirmed.<\/p>\n
Telford said currently, the likelihood of wallabies populating Hawke\u2019s Bay was low.<\/p>\n