A North Island Robin preparing for trans-location.[/caption]A dream that was born by our community fourteen years ago. A dream that also required four and a half years of intensive control and monitoring, thousands upon thousands of volunteer and ranger hours in the reserve, in the meeting rooms, at the computer and on the phone. At 10:02 am on Friday 8 April 2016 Bream Head Conservation Trust released 20 North Island Robin (Toutouwai) into Bream Head/Te Whara Scenic reserve!!!! After an amazing week capturing, feeding, and trans-locating the birds that were gifted to us by the local hapu Ngati Rereahu from Managtutu in the King Country, we were supported by 20 wonderful volunteers and supporters who each helped carry a bird in their box up the tough climb nearly all the way to the top of Bream Rock/Te Whara. The group were ceremonially welcomed by a chorus of Bellbird and Tomtit calls all the way to the release site, and at 10:02 am our new manu were released into their new home!! Whangarei Heads is now home again to these beautiful birds after approximately 90 years of absence!! These are the only Toutouwai on the mainland from the Bay of Islands to Takatu Peninsula and we are so very proud and honored to have them in our region again!
North Island Robins on the march into Bream Head Reserve.[/caption]There will be a more formal public release of another 20 birds in May when we travel to Tiri Tiri Matangi Island to collect, return and release the last batch of birds for this trans-location. Keep an eye out on our facebook page and local media about how you can be involved. We are also seeking fit, keen volunteers to help in the important task of monitoring the distribution, health and future breeding of the birds of the next few weeks, months and years. Finally, a very sincere thank you to all those that have been involved in this process thus far, from the very first volunteers those 14 years ago, to our amazing trustees and committee members, our partners, our funders, our rangers and of course this absolutely awesome community…..kiaora koutou!! Adam Willetts – Bream Head Project Manager/Ranger.