Tiritiri Matangi Island in Auckland is helping to repopulate other sanctuaries after fledging 277 hihi/stitchbirds in a record-breaking breeding season.
Earlier in the month, 40 of the birds were relocated to Shakespear Open Sanctuary in the Whangaparāoa Peninsula to boost the small but thriving population of birds.
DOC Tiritiri Matangi Ranger Nick Fisentzidis said the translocation from the island to the mainland showed great outcomes for nature were possible when iwi, DOC, council and the community band together.
“They are one of Aotearoa’s rarest and quirkiest birds. There is a total population of only around 2000 nationwide, and they require a lot of special attention, so it takes a village.”
Hihi were nationally threatened, with Te Hauturu-o-toi Little Barrier Island holding the only naturally surviving population since the 1880s.
Environmental champion Auckland councillor Mike Lee first saw the hihi introduced to Tiritiri Matangi 30 years ago.
“To be able to help release their descendants on the mainland is a conservation dream come true.”
Recovery efforts have led to small managed populations of hihi on Tiritiri Matangi and Kapiti islands, Zealandia in Wellington, Bushy Park Tarapuruhi near Wanganui, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Rotokare Scenic Reserve and Shakespear Open Sanctuary.
An initial translocation to Shakespear Regional Park in May 2024 succeeded, with at least 60 checks fledging through summer.
The council’s Open Sanctuary senior ranger, Matt Maitland, said that the work of Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society volunteers had helped the population flourish.
“A second release to Shakespear brings genetic diversity to the hihi already present, and greater security and resilience for the species against any challenges they may face in the future.”
The main threats hihi faced was habitat loss and the introduction of predators. SOSSI volunteers would provide nest boxes, ongoing monitoring, and supplementary food to help the birds settle into their new home.
Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust spokesperson Delma O’Kane said: “As kaitiaki, we acknowledge the dedication of all involved in this kaupapa, from rangers and conservationists to the local community”.
“It is through their unwavering commitment to pest control, monitoring, and habitat restoration that both Tiritiri Matangi and Shakespear Regional Park continue to thrive as a sanctuary for our native flora and fauna.”
