Predator-free islands new habitat for native birds

DISTINCTIVE: The black-and-orange feathered tieke (saddleback) is being reintroduced to the Bay of Islands. PHOTO/JIM EAGLES

Three of the seven pest-free islands in the Bay of Islands will soon provide new havens for tieke (saddleback) and popokotea (whitehead), part of a long-term project to restore the area's native wildlife.

The birds - 40 tieke and 40 popokotea - will be caught on Tiritiri-Matangi Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, and taken to the Bay of Islands for Saturday's release.

The translocations are part of Project Island Song, a partnership between community group Guardians of the Bay of Islands, local hapu Ngati Kuta and Patukeha, and the Department of Conservation.

The tieke will be divided between Urupukapuka and Moturua islands to bolster a similar release earlier this year, while the popokotea release will be a first for Motuarohia (Roberton Island). The birds will be accompanied to their new homes by mana whenua from Tiritiri-Matangi and welcomed by Te Rawhiti hapu at each release site.

Also attending the release will be "bug man" Ruud Kleinpaste, a member of the Air New Zealand Environment Trust.

Bay of Islands DoC manager Rolien Elliot said the release was a significant milestone in the project which began in 2003.

All pest mammals were eradicated on the islands in 2009 and pest control by the Guardians, hapu and local landowners on the mainland had significantly reduced the risk of reinvasion. Guardians of the Bay spokesman Richard Robbins said it was "immensely satisfying" to see vulnerable species such as the tieke and popokotea reintroduced.

The restoration of the islands' biodiversity was made possible by the efforts of volunteers, landowners, organisations and sponsors.

Pateke (brown teal) were returned to the islands in 2012 and toutouwai (North Island robins) were released in 2014. Sightings of young, unbanded birds suggested they were starting to breed.

Visitors to the islands were urged to check boats and equipment for pests to avoid accidentally reintroducing rats, cats and other species.