The Bellbirds' Return
B ELLBIRD SONG was heard from trees in Forest and Bird’s Onetangi Reserve on Waiheke Island for the first time in more than 100 years when 10 of the birds were recently released by member Mike Lee. The birds were caught in mist nets near Rotorua from a remnant of native forest soon to be clearfelled. It is the second group of bellbirds to be released on Waiheke. In May 1988, 11 were released at Te Matuku Bay. Bellbirds have been extinct on Waiheke and mainland New Zealand north of the Waikato since about 1862. It is thought they were wiped out by a disease imported by mynahs and sparrows. Mike Lee now has plans to recolonise bellbirds into the Auckland area. In another restoration success story, 40 whiteheads were released on to Tiritiri Matangi in September to join the tuis, bellbirds, saddlebacks and red-crowned parakeets already reclaiming the island for themselves. The next ambitious project for that island is the relocation of little spotted kiwis. &
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/FORBI19891101.2.8.3
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Forest and Bird, Volume 20, Issue 4, 1 November 1989, Page 2
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169The Bellbirds' Return Forest and Bird, Volume 20, Issue 4, 1 November 1989, Page 2
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