Among the new members welcomed by MEG this month was Barry Brickell, of ‘Driving Creek Railway’. Barry has done a lot for the local environment and species protection in Coromandel and has recently completed, with the help of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and others, a predator proof fence around a wetland on the DCR property. The predator proof fence will allow endangered species to find a safe haven and allow the breeding of Pateke (Brown Teal). The fence – the first of its kind on the Peninsula – is a significant improvement for local species protection and MEG is looking forward to cooperating with Barry on his project. Barry has offered MEG the use of this secure environment as a refuge and recovery space for native creatures needing care.

There is a long standing connection between MEGs work and Barry’s caring involvement for the environment. Barry once owned the land which is now MEG’s wetland project at Waikawau Bay. Turns out, Barry negotiated many years ago to purchase from his neighbour a piece of land which is now the heart of the wetlands project. He did this deliberately to protect this important ecosystem.
The good news is that MEG can report a four fold increase in Fern Bird numbers in this wetland. The count has just been completed in cooperation with Bay of Plenty Polytech Environmental Management students working with Wayne Todd. In early 2006 there were approximately 30 birds; there are now at least 120. This comes after an intensive predator trapping and control program.