Saddlebacks riding higher

The endangered North Island saddleback returned to mainland wilderness for the first time in more than a century, thanks to its haven on Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Forty of the glossy black native birds were transferred from the island to Wellington's Karori Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday.

For more than 100 years, the saddleback, which has several distinctive calls, existed only on remote islands or in captivity.

The bird has a chestnut back saddle and orange-red wattles at the base of its bill.

- NZPA

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