Kereru (Wood Pidgeon) returns to Dunwold Farm, South Waikato, New Zealand

KARAPIRO, New Zealand - Sept. 28, 2016 - PRLog -- The kererū is a large bird with iridescent green and bronze feathers on its head and a smart white vest. The noisy beat of its wings is a distinctive sound in our forests.

While kererū are not threatened, parea are considered nationally vulnerable. Two other kinds of native pigeon became extinct on Raoul Island and Norfolk Island last century, probably due to hunting and predation.

Since the extinction of the moa, the kererū and parea are now the only seed dispersers with a bill big enough to swallow large fruit, such as those of karaka, miro, tawa and taraire. "The disappearance of these birds could be a disaster for the regeneration of our native forests," says the Department of Conservation at its website www.doc.govt.nz/kereru.

The birds also eats leaves, buds and flowers, the relative amounts varying seasonally and regionally; eg, in Northland they eat mostly fruit.

The most serious threat to the kererū comes from predators. Recent studies in several parts of the country have found that many nests produce no chicks at all. Rats, stoats, cats and possums eat their eggs and young.

Possums also compete with adult kererū for food (leaves, flowers, fruit) and devastate trees by consuming new shoots. Stoats and cats will attack and kill adult kererū.

Forest clearance and poaching are also threats to its survival. Research by the Department of Conservation, Landcare Research, universities and other groups has found that the species is unlikely to cope with hunting pressure.

Pete Fairclough, farm owner of 279-hectare Dunwold Farm, South Waikato, New Zealand, is keen for new property owners to have an "instinct" for species preservation while maintaining farming and landcare priorities.

Dunwold Farm comprises 156 hectares of forestry, 70 hectares Native New Zealand Kanuka stands, 12 hectares of NZ Natives and 40ha flat land grazing. With Pinus radiata trees with $1.6m harvest potential, $200k of carbon as an option and honey producing kanuka and organic grazing flat lands, the property is calling to those with an eye on the environment and an eye on productive investment. For valuations and production returns please go to www.NZRuralProperty4sale.com.


Dunwold Farm is Calling Investors:
For anyone interested in investing in Dunwold Farm, please contact:


Maree Neal, insight@nealconsulting.co.nz www.NZRuralProperty4Sale.com
+64 274 522 040