Recovering Populations: Birds | Ark in the Park

Popokotea, or whitehead

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:22:49 +1200

August 2004 and 2005 whiteheads (popokotea) from Tiritiri Matangi Island were released into the Ark in the Park, and have been seen regularly, but infrequently, since. So far observations in the Waitakeres have been of single birds or pairs, but in established areas they often congregate in small flocks. They favour small trees on the edges of the forest.

A pair bred over 2004/05 season in a predator controlled area near Karekare

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz

Miromiro, or tomtit

Sun, 10 May 2009 15:15:33 +1200

The highly territorial male can often be seen flitting along trees on the edge of walking tracks. The female will be nearby, but keeps further away; she has much less prominent markings, and is often mistaken for a robin. However, tomtits are only half the size of a robin, and are a little smaller than a sparrow. Their stance on a branch is with the tail held high, and flicking rapidly, in contrast to the erect and poised stance of a robin.

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz. Photograph: Glen Jennings

Hihi, or stitchbird

Sun, 10 May 2009 14:46:26 +1200

A spectacular and very active bird. The more colourful male is shown here. Hihi have been absent from the Waitakeres for over 100 years, until the translocation of populations from Tirititiri Matangi island in 2007 and 2008. The song heard here is the male's territorial call. There is a second type of call, the short/sharp alarm call, which has been likened to the sound of two marbles being struck together, and has lead to the name of 'stitch' bird. Click [here] to hear this call.

Photograph: Eric Wilson

Toutouwai, or North Island robin

Sun, 10 May 2009 14:26:43 +1200

These birds often approach very close to walkers if they pause for a minute or two in a damp area. Characteristic features are their pale breast, upright stance. They are approximately the size of a thrush - considerably larger than the tomtit, which is often mistakenly identified as a robin.

Note the leg bands. These are read from top to bottom, left leg first. So the above bird is: 'green-metal-red'

Audio file: www.whatbird.co.nz. Photograph: Maurice Colgan