Thought this may interest birding-aussers. Good on the Kiwi's they have
proven to be saviours for many isolated bird populations.
Jon Wren
E N V I R O N M E N T S T O R Y
RELATED LINKS
» Have your say
» Subscribe to Archivestuff
First hihi chicks hatch on mainland in 120 years
29 October 2005
A pair of hihi, or stitchbird, notched up a conservation milestone in
Wellington this week when they hatched the first chicks recorded on the
mainland in more than 120 years.
The endangered native bird was confined to just a few islands, until the
release of 64 at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary earlier this year marked the
hihi's return to the wild on the mainland.
Sixty hihi came from Tiritiri Matangi Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, and
four from the National Wildlife Centre at Mt Bruce in the Wairarapa.
"Seeing the hihi breed in the sanctuary, and in fact for the first time in
the wild on mainland New Zealand, is certainly a significant event for the
sanctuary and New Zealand conservation," sanctuary chief executive Nancy
McIntosh-Ward said.
"This species has done particularly well since they were released at the
sanctuary in February and May this year," she said.
The mild winter in Wellington had prompted hihi and many other species, such
as bellbird, saddleback and brown teal to produce chicks up to a month
earlier than normal.
The last time hihi were seen on the mainland was in the 1880s in the
Tararuas, in the lower North Island, she said.
The only self-sustaining population is found on Little Barrier Island, with
two introduced, managed populations on Kapiti Island and Tiritiri Matangi
Island.
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.7/159 - Release Date: 2/11/2005
|
