The Lazarus effect (back from the dead)

In the 2017 summer edition of Forest and Bird, Ann Graeme wrote an article on what she called the “Lazarus Effect”. The article is based around how the New Zealand flora and fauna comes back to life where there is effective pest control. She says, “Yes, it is worth it, this work, month after month, by hundreds of local volunteers in dozens of forest restoration projects. As the pests are beaten back, seeds sprout, shoots appear, and birds, lizards and invertebrates can emerge from the shadows”. After six years of effective rat and possum control by volunteers in Mangaiti Gully we are indeed seeing the Lazarus effect. Frequent reports come to our Trust of unexpected new sightings of our indigenous fauna showing itself. The latest was a juvenile cuckoo fledging being feed by its adopted grey warbler parents. The attached video clip, taken by Tony Grey, catches it just after the fledging was fed. And stick insects are suddenly appearing and anyone that lives on the gully will know the story about the increased in the tui population. Photo: Stick insect - Murray Holt.