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Around 150 people made their way in convoy onto an area of NZ Defence Force land normally closed to the public last weekend to see 40 little birds released into the bush.
The release of the 40 whiteheads was momentous for Shakespear Open Sanctuary (SOSSI) and was accompanied by a karakia by Rangi Brown of Ngati Manuhire and watched by dignitaries, including representatives of Auckland Council and YMCA Shakespear Lodge, NZ Navy Commander Stephen Lenik as well as close to100 past and present SOSSI volunteers.
Although several species have self-introduced since the pest free fence was built four years ago, this is the first active translocation of a species previously lost to the area.
SOSSI chair Peter Jackson said it has been rewarding to see wildlife returning on their own, but some species need a helping hand.
The birds were captured on Tiritiri Matangi Island and brought across to the peninsula by ferry on the morning of the release.
Open sanctuary coordinator Matt Maitland says everyone involved has worked long and hard in the lead up to the birds’ release. “It’s been decades since popokotea have been in this area. To replace something that was missing is a real coming of age for the open sanctuary,” he said.
That first release, on July 11, will be followed by a further one of 20 birds, this weekend.
The site at the end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula was chosen because it provides the best possible habitat for the whiteheads. Matt hopes that once the birds are established they may spread beyond the pest free fence. They also mix into large flocks with other species, including bellbirds, which aids their hunt for insects.
Their noisy chattering and small size means they are often heard before they are seen. However, sharp-eyed visitors may spot the birds, notable for their distinctive white heads, in the canopy. Each of the birds is banded and Matt says it would be helpful to hear of any sightings by the public.
Whiteheads have been successfully reintroduced to a number of sites, including Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, which has similar topography, habitat and site management.
Robust monitoring will take place to observe and describe what happens to the birds.
