North Island Robins Re-established in Lower Northland

Forest and Bird, Issue 296, 1 May 2000, Page 12

North Island Robins Re-established in Lower Northland

fter being locally extinct for 100 years, a mainland colony of North Island robins is now well established just north of Auckland, at Wenderholm Regional Park. Twenty-one birds were transferred there from the open sanctuary on Tiritiri Matangi Island just over a year ago; this summer they produced 23 young. The Wenderholm reserve consists of a river-mouth beach and a high bluff covered in coastal rainforest, with State Highway One on its inland boundary. The beach is a popular place for picnicking and swimming, but the forest is managed by the Auckland Regional Council using similar techniques to those

used on ‘mainland islands’ managed by the Department of Conservation. Regional parks staff poisoned and trapped pests in the 60 hectares of forest from 1992, to recover native plants and animals, before the robins were introduced. Insect life and new plant growth proliferated. Populations of native pigeons have also burgeoned with flocks of 40 and more recorded. At the start of summer, six pairs of robins established territories and all six pairs bred. Some of the pairs produced three broods during the season. Visitors to Wenderholm are encouraged to take a walk in the forest and see the birds.