Tītipounamu, New Zealand's smallest bird hatching miniatures

Friday, 25 October 2019

The Tītipounamu, known as the rifleman bird, has been captured in Wainuiomata and released in Wellington's Zealandia.

Clutches of tītipounamu chicks, commonly known as the rifleman, have been spotted by Zealandia rangers this week.

The minute and very cute offspring were discovered in seven nests – two in provided nest boxes and the rest in natural nests.

Fully grown, New Zealand's smallest birds weigh in at about 6 grams each – less than a $1 coin. Their chicks grow inside an egg roughly 16 by 12 millimetres in size – about the size of a large pinky-fingernail.

Tītipounamu (rifleman) are breeding in Wellington's ecosanctuary, Zealandia.

The ity-bity birds will spend about 19 to 20 days incubating and a further 24 days inside the nest before they emerge to live within the pest-proof walls of Wellington's ecosanctuary.

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The name tītipounamu loosely translates to a mirage of greenstone, referring to the bird's green plumage and fast-moving nature.

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Sixty tītipounamu were captured from Wainuiomata Mainland Island and released into the Zealandia ecosanctuary earlier this year.

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Rangers believe some of the early breeders could raise two nests in one season.

Sixty tītipounamu were released into the enclosure in March this year and an early start to the breeding season was 'very exciting' for the population, Zealandia tītipounamu ranger Kari Beaven said.

That meant some birds may nest twice in one season.

'They went through winter they would have selected their territory, determined who their mates were going to be … and then both the males and females will build the nests.'

The female can lay one egg a day for up to five days, meaning some nests could have five chicks. Once they're hatched the family will come in and help to feed the hungry chicks.

'They're small and their metabolisms are fast.'

Rangers have watched the birds build nests and parents fly back and forth with food.

'By the time they're out of the nest they will be the same size as Mum and Dad.' Their legs grow especially fast, Beaven said.

That's when they start to learn how to fly and look for food.

Zealandia director Danielle Shanahan said the tītipounamu were making themselves at home.

'We are especially excited that some birds are building their nests in the boxes we have provided as it will allow us to monitor them very closely.

'Our follow-up surveys suggest at least half the tītipounamu are settling in well in the valley. There are also a few birds that have flown just outside the sanctuary, with some seen in Birdwood Reserve.'