A new hihi chick to Shakepear Regional Park is carefully weighed and banded 21 days after hatching. Photo: Auckland Council / Supplied
At least 55 hihi chicks have hatched in an Auckland regional park - exceeding all expectations of conservationists trying to reintroduce the rare bird to the mainland.
The chicks were born in Shakespear Regional Park's Open Sanctuary this summer following a major translocation project last year.
Auckland Council, Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society and Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust moved 40 adult hihi to the park from predator-free Tiritiri Matangi Island in June.
Shakespear Open Sanctuary Senior Ranger Matt Maitland said the groups were thrilled to see so many new chicks emerging after just one breeding season.
He said it was a great result compared with an unsuccessful translocation attempt in 2022.
"They are the first hihi - one of New Zealand's rarest forest birds - to hatch and succeed in the area since disappearing from mainland Auckland in the 1870s," he said.
Auckland Council Parks Committee chair Councillor Ken Turner said the population growth was a significant step to secure the future of the distinctive forest songbird.
"The success of this project will give hihi the boost it needs to flourish again, and Aucklanders an opportunity to experience these little treasures in their natural environment," he said.
Nationwide, it is estimated there is about 2000 hihi.
Auckland Council said staff and volunteers would continue to closely monitor the new population.
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