Bird numbers are soaring

No native birds are seriously at risk in the capital anymore, and regionally bird numbers are soaring sky high, a recent survey shows.

The titipounamu/rifleman has moved out of the high concern category defined as tiny or declining populations, and joined their feathered friends in the moderate and low concern sections.

The survey, which has occurred annually since 2011, involves five-minute bird counts carried out at 100 bird count stations in forest habitat throughout Wellington City’s parks and reserves network.

They monitor trends in the diversity, abundance and distribution of native forest birds in the capital to assess how local conservation management activities are impacting the city’s native bird fauna.

Nikki McArthur, Ian Flux and Annette Harvey conducted the survey for Greater Wellington Regional Council.

These results are reward for decades of teamwork, predator control and of course Zealandia Te M a a T ne sanctuary, Wellington City Council’s Biosecurity Specialist Henk Louw says.

“This is the first time we’ve measured titipounamu in our annual monitoring outside of citizen spottings, so it’s very exciting to be adding a new species to the mix.

“The large-scale acquisition and protection provided by Zealandia Te M a T ne sanctuary has had the most significant impact on the preservation and restoration of wildlife in

Wellington – with a measurable ‘halo’ effect on native forest bird communities throughout the city.

“But we couldn’t have done it without the tens of thousands of volunteers who have been protecting Wellington’s native manu by trapping pests and doing community planting and weeding for years,” Henk says.

Jo Ledington, General Manager Conservation and Restoration, Zealandia Te ra a ne says they’re proud to have been a world-leading catalyst for change in Wellington.

“It’s one of the only cities in the world where native biodiversity is increasing,” Jo says.

“With the support and hard work of communities across Wellington, it’s so exciting to see species such as titipounamu establishing outside the fence.”

Since 2011, the average number of native bird species being counted each year has risen by 41%.

Average annual counts of have increased by 260%, kerer by 200%, by 85% and wak-