Why, you may ask are nesting boxes not as common in New Zealand as they are in countries in like England and the United States. The answer is simple. Most nesting boxes put out by backyard enthusiasts attract exotic birds such as Sparrows and Starlings. It is not surprising therefore, that people do not want to attract these birds to their gardens, especially if they are in bushy areas such as Wellington. There is a growing belief that some natives will use traditional nest boxes if they are specifically modified to suit their needs. The Grey Warbler and Silvereye may like open fronted boxes, Tui have been known to investigate nest boxes and boxes with larger openings may attract Little Owls or even Moreporks. Kakariki and Kaka may be attracted to some nest boxes with the correct sized openings but so too will the Eastern Rosella, which is more common in Wellington. The jury is still out however. Bird houses are probably not an advantage to the native populations except when placed by experts in specific locations. Ducks Unlimited for example have had some success with the Grey Teal and Mallards. But there is an artistry to bird houses and even if not used for any purpose can be fun to build. The important point however, is if you don’t want exotic birds using them – don’t create on opening.
CAUTION: Park on Washington Avenue and walk to the end of footpath: it goes around the corner onto Brooklyn Road for a few metres.
Do not access from Washington Road side but off Brooklyn Road. Be careful with children on this busy road.
There is a trick to opening this cache. It does not require any tools and should be treated with reasonable care. There is surprisingly little room inside.
THERE HAS BEEN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE CACHE IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME - YOU DO NOT NEED TO FORCE ANYTHING - PLEASE TAKE CARE SO IT WILL LAST A WHILE - Please retrieve and replace with care.