Kaipupu Point Sanctuary celebrates the arrival of South Island Robins

Around 100 Kaipupu Point Sounds Wildlife Sanctuary volunteers, local iwi representatives, sponsors, invited guests and local school children will be celebrating the long awaited release of South Island Robin onto the Sanctuary this Tuesday 1 March.

Established 11 years ago, the community group has plenty to be happy about. Wind back the clock to 2008, when, after three years of planning and fundraising, the purpose built ‘predator free fence’ was raised. It literally cut the land off to create a mainland island sanctuary. Since then, intensive predator trapping; removal of pest plants and restoration of native plants; along with cutting walking tracks and installing a pontoon and jetty have all culminated in the society’s dream to ‘create a safe haven for native wildlife which can be enjoyed by all, for ever”.

The robins will be relocating from Long Island, not far from Ship’s Cove at the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound. The capture team will be led by DOC, along with experts engaged by Kaipupu Point Committee member Peter Hamill. They include Bill Cash, Peter Gaze and Dr Katrina Hale.

They will be accompanied by an enthusiastic and skilled team of volunteers. It is expected around 30 – 40 birds will be released onto the Sanctuary.

South Island Robin are small song birds who inhabit all levels of the forest but predominantly forage on the forest floor. This means that they are particularly vulnerable to predation and the success of the translocation will be dependent on constant vigilance by the Kaipupu Point pest monitoring team. The new arrivals are one of New Zealand’s friendliest native birds; they are expected to enhance the visitor experience with their bird song and familiarity with people.

Kaipupu Point Chairman, Barry Maister, is excited about what the translocation means. “The arrival of the South Island Robin is the result of years of hard work, tireless commitment to the cause and a coming together of community to create something really special that Picton can be proud of. We can now start planning for more translocations such as rifleman, saddleback and most exciting of all, kiwi”.

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