Assessment of pyroligneous acid as a pest bird deterrent in a New Zealand pest-exclusion fenced sanctuary
The creation of predator-free sanctuaries, sometimes enclosed by predator exclusion fences, is a common conservation and restoration tool in New Zealand. One such site, the Rotopiko wetland complex, in Waikato, is challenged with large flocks of non-native house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)—an estimated 500 000 birds—that roost within the predator exclusion fence, with the potential to alter nutrient regimes and plant community composition.