New Zealand's smallest bird is coming to the capital. Around 60 tīti-pounamu, or rifleman birds, are being translocated to Zealandia.
Tītipounamu Photo: Photo Credit Janice McKenna
Director of the Centre for People and Nature at Zealandia Dr Danielle Shanahan shares the news with Kathryn Ryan.
The rifleman is on the endangered list and have been in decline partly because of predation from rats.
Dr Shanahan says the birds are tiny – weighing only around six grams – so they’re hard to spot and have a very high pitch cheep.
“Hopefully they’ll become a bit more visible over time at Zealandia.”
“These are pretty distinctive little birds and there’s very few like them left in the world, really.”
She says the birds love to eat little insects and will be foraging around tree trunks.
It’s hoped that within a few years’ time, the birds will be seen flying around Wellington and become an iconic local like the kākā which was also introduced at Zealandia.
