Saddlebacks shifted to Blumine Is
BY CHERIE HOWIE
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The call of the saddleback will again echo from Blumine Island after seven of the rare native birds were transferred from nearby Motuara Island.
The birds, also known as tieke, are the first of up to 45 the Department of Conservation (DOC) hopes to move to the island, a wildlife sanctuary in Queen Charlotte Sound.
DOC staff, volunteers and iwi representatives took part in the transfer on Wednesday, with one male adult and six male and female jack-birds, all under 15 months old, farewelled from Motuara and welcomed to the larger Blumine Island with karakia.
DOC Sounds Area biodiversity programme manager Mike Aviss said the organisation was delighted with the transfer, which is expected to be repeated today.
"It's a very iconic, ancient New Zealand species and it's a lovely bird for people to see in the wild."
Mr Aviss said he did have some concerns about the effect of Blumine Island weka and falcons on the saddleback population, with several weka gathering as the saddlebacks were released.
The new arrivals do not know to fear weka and some may be killed by the bird, but he did not think the new colony would be wiped out.
Saddlebacks were once widespread throughout New Zealand's mainland and island forests but numbers fell sharply from the mid-19th century as deforestation and introduced predators took their toll.
The species was eventually rescued from the brink of extinction and now boasts a healthy population in captivity and on islands.
Ngati Toa kaumatua Rangi Joseph called the transfer "a great experience". The sentiment was shared by Ngati Kuia community development officer Raymond Smith.
"They are our taonga, they've got a long history and they were throughout the country ... this brings back our stories," he said.
He also praised the transfer for bringing together iwi and government agencies.
DOC Sounds area manager Roy Grose said: "It's been a great combined effort with volunteers, people like [Arapawa Island landowner] Alistair [Malcolm] and the work he's doing [in pest eradication] and iwi."
- The Marlborough Express
