An initiative to help encourage people to plant trees to support Dunedin's growing kereru population is being launched today.
The "Plant Trees for Kereru" campaign aims to ensure gardens around Dunedin provide an abundance and variety of food to support more kereru (wood pigeons) year round.
Project Kereru's Nik Hurring said that after hearing of kereru dying in the North Island, due to a lack of food during drought, she decided to try to do something to ensure the same problem did not befall Dunedin's population.
"Kereru have an extensive diet of both native and exotic plants, and if we can make people aware of this, we can ensure there is food available all year round."
Red Barn Garden Centre and Ribbonwood Nurseries would be selling plants and trees labelled "This feeds kereru", she said.
"Forest and Bird are kindly providing the labels free of charge."
Department of Conservation biodiversity assets programme manager David Agnew said that during spring, kereru numbers increased around town, making use of flowering garden plants and fruit trees.
"This great initiative will help people choose native plants and non-weedy exotic plants for their garden."
Kereru were known to travel long distances for food, even as far as the Catlins from Dunedin, he said.
Mrs Hurring hoped the programme, which she would launch at the Red Barn this afternoon, could be extended to other nurseries and garden centres in the city.
