The bird counts are in, and Wellington tui are taking over

Thursday, 8 November 2018

Ecologists have been counting Wellington's birds, and the results are in.

Tui numbers are soaring in Wellington according to the capital's annual bird count.

In the 1990s, there was only a small remnant population of the native bird in Wellington, now the typical person would see one on the way to work.

But, unlike the summer of 2009 when Zealandia fielded calls from residents concerned about tui noise, this year Wellingtonians aren't complaining.

In Wellington reserves you're twice as likely to see a tui compared to 2011.

Conservation manager Dr Danielle Shanahan said the city was 're-learning how to live with nature'.

**READ MORE:

Kākā increased at least 250 per cent since 2011, from a 0.10 average number of Kākā observed in 2011 to 0.22 in 2017.

* Garden Bird Survey key research for recording species

* Bird of the Year win follows nationwide census of [kererū

Kererū are found in Otari-Wilton Bush and Khandallah Park, but they are also frequently observed in adjacent suburban areas.

](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107849009/Bird-of-the-Year-win-follows-nationwide-census-of-kerer)* Native bird spotted in South Canterbury after long absence

* Quiz: New Zealand native birds**

Kākāriki sightings increased 700 per cent since 2011. An average of 0.02 kākāriki were observed at the stations in 2011, and in 2017, ecologists spotted 0.06.

In Wellington reserves you're twice as likely to see a tui compared to 2011.

The bird count also noted a number of threatened bird species moving in to the city.

Shanahan said the Wellington bird community saw 'amazing changes' in the last decade.

'I hope that we will be able to see even more species in Wellington suburbs, such as tītipounamu (rifleman) and even more whitehead.

'All of these species will contribute to a fabulous dawn chorus and a richer song in our city forests during the day. There is definitely a lot to look forward to.'

Many new birds in or around the city such as kākā and tīeke were because of the establishment of Zealandia and were 'spreading beyond the fence', she said.

'These birds were translocated into the sanctuary, they established a stronghold, and are now dispersing out.'

Wellington City Councillor Peter Gilberd, who holds the Natural Environment portfolio, said fewer predators meant safer habitats for native birds.

Trapping efforts were intensifying, both in reserves and in community-led trapping from backyards, he said.

Under the council's Urban Ecology programme, ecologists count birds for five minutes at 100 stations in Wellington city reserves which provides an indication of how birds are faring.

Kākā increased at least 250 per cent since 2011, from a 0.10 average number of kākā observed in 2011 to 0.22 in 2017.

Tui jumped 200 per cent since 2011, from 1.35 average number of sightings in 2011 to 2.07 in 2017.

Kākāriki, or red-crowned parakeets, were now established at Wright's Hill Reserve, Otari-Wilton Bush and Khandallah Park, Huntleigh Park and possibly also the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

The count reported that kākāriki increased 700 per cent since 2011. An average of 0.02 kākāriki were observed at the stations in 2011, and in 2017 ecologists spotted 0.06.

The ecologists' count showed kererū increased 350 per cent, from 0.07 sighted in 2011 to 0.13 in 2017.

The sightings of the North Island robin decreased, and Morepork, Hihi, and the Long-tailed cuckoo had no sightings recorded in the 2017 count.