Bringing back a rare little resident

Fernbird. Photo / Duncan Watson

A rarely-seen bird is making a return to the Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve in Porirua.

Up to 25 fernbird, or matata, a small secretive bird found in wetlands across New Zealand, are being relocated into the reserve.

The species are at risk of extinction and have largely been absent from the lower North Island for many decades.

This re-introduction, which started on Thursday, is thanks to volunteers from the Forest & Bird Pauatahanui Reserve Committee, who have spent the past 30 years restoring this important saltmarsh estuary, partly owned by the Department of Conservation.

"We've gone to all this trouble to create an estuarine environment which is a known habitat for fernbirds, and it validates what we've achieved here if we can get fernbirds back," said Wanda Tate, member of the Pauatahanui Reserve Committee and translocation leader.

If you do see them, it's particularly important not to distract or attract them until after the first breeding season, which will be around this time next year.

"That's the most pleasing thing."

This will be the first mainland to mainland translocation of fernbirds in New Zealand, and it's an experiment to see if the birds will adapt to a new environment. The volunteer group are appealing for the public's help to make the relocation a success.

"So many of the fernbird populations are small and isolated," Wanda said.

"The first problem was finding a population that was strong enough to contemplate taking this number of birds from.

"The only population we could find was Rotokare Scenic Reserve in Taranaki, which is a bush and freshwater swamp location, not an estuarine population.

"Whether we can take from that kind of habitat and get them to recognise Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve in Porirua as an equally valid habitat, we can't be a hundred percent certain. It is a fairly scientific trial, rather than a given."

The committee wants help in tracking the birds' dispersal around the reserve and even out into neighbouring gardens.

"If people do see them, try to note where and when.

"If people can pick up any of the banding colours that would be useful to know.

"Report sightings to the reserve email address pauatahanuireservecommittee@outlook.com

"We have restored the habitat for the birds, and will be looking after them when they arrive through our pest trapping and monitoring programme, but we need people to be aware that they'll need time and space to settle in.

"They're not shy but they're very cryptic.

"People may not see them - they are weak fliers and very small - smaller than a sparrow, but with a long ragged tail.

"If you do see them, it's particularly important not to distract or attract them until after the first breeding season, which will be around this time next year."

Fernbirds were originally present in Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve.

Wanda said Captain Cook noted the fernbird was the most ubiquitous bird they saw in New Zealand so they should be here.

"But by the 1980s the area had lost its mauri."

Drainage for farming, weeds, a fire which destroyed habitat and plans to fill in the estuary for an industrial estate all contributed to decline of these and other birds in the inlet.

Since 1984, the Pauatahanui Reserve Committee has turned things around by planting thousands of natives, restoring natural drainage and ponds, and building tracks, boardwalks and bird hides with DOC support.

"That's probably had the most impact as far as the Porirua community goes, and rather than just a wildlife reserve, the reserve has become very much a community amenity."