1080 drops lead to better nesting for tiny South Island robins

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-08-03 03:00

New Zealand

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Aerial drops of 1080 poison pellets in the Marlborough sounds have led to a significant drop in rat populations, allowing for more South Island robins to successfully rear their chicks. The study authors say although a small number of robins may have been killed because of 1080, the effects on the rat population were large by contrast - leading them to conclude that the poison drops had an overall positive effect on the bird's population.