Help is wanted to boost Bay of Plenty native birdlife at a working bee at Otanewainuku Forest on Sunday.

Volunteers are needed to clear vegetation around bait stations in the Oropi forest to prepare for pest control season from July.

Volunteer Sheryl Pederson helps clear vegetation.

Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust member Dave Wills says the voluntary work is reducing possums and pest numbers and helping native birdlife recover.

He is hoping for 20 volunteers this Sunday after low numbers at the last two working bees.

'But it's not the actual laying of baits – I think some people thought it was, so it could have put them off helping,” says Dave.

He says all the hard work pays off when volunteers see rare native birds, like when they recently watched a kokako pair feed their chick.

'It really does make it all worthwhile when you see that.

'It is quite hard with the kiwis being nocturnal – but the kokakos are much easier to hear or see.”

Dave says the trust was encouraged by the quick success with the kokako breeding pair introduced last spring already having chicks.

He says it shows the forest is a great habitat for them. They are introducing another 10 kokako this spring.

Dave says the volunteer help had transformed the 1200 hectare forest during the last nine years, with a revival in many native birds including robins, tomtits, whitehead and grey warblers.

'The volunteers absolutely love it when they see them – it makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

Volunteers are rewarded with a barbecue at the end of the day.

For more details, visit www.kiwitrust.org