The New Zealand Robin on Kapiti Island

Welcome to the Midnight Collective Broadsheet 114

Actively supporting NZ’s endangered wetland birds

Our local robins, like their cousins around the world, are delicate creatures and critically endangered on the mainland islands. The populations of these native birds declined until a famous last ditch attempt was made to rescue the Black Robin on the Chathams. They were down to their last female -Old Blue- but this species has now been pulled back from the brink, thanks largely to the efforts of Don Merton.

Old Blue - photogrpahed by Don Merton

The North Island robin thrives in pest controlled areas and when Kapiti was cleared of rats  in the mid 1980’s they began to flourish. They are  endearing and fearless, incautiously so, often straying within a metre of visitors making their way along the Island’s tracks.

Amy and Stan Wilkinson who began custodial duties on Kapiti in 1924, noted in their  book Kapiti -Bird Sanctuary how, as the bush cover began to regenerate after the devastating fires of the 19th Century, the Island’s robin populations began to rise.  The chief predator was the ship rat, an immigrant from whaling days, though eggs could also be taken by the long tailed cuckoo.

Regenerating bush Kapiti Island. Mahoe, kohekohe and other broadleaf trees  taking over  the kanuka

In building their nests they sometimes used the abandoned nests of thrush, blackbird or tui,  reducing the size by heaping new material inside. This was then lined with soft tree fern fronds. Like the kakariki and pipit, who are similarly endangered, they often build close to the ground. The female constructs the nest while her mate is occupied with feeding her through this time.  Stan and Amy pick up the story of one nest building they monitored…

 Amy and Stan Wilkinson Kapiti Island

In the latter end of September 1931, we had a pair of robins under constant observation. The nest had two eggs, five feet up in an old hollow mahoe. The hen was sitting while the cock bird worked diligently, keeping her supplied with insects. His beautiful song could often be heard long before we reached the nest. One day the singing had stopped and our worst fears were realised. The nest had been raided during the night. The two birds were in the vicinity and looked very dejected.

Regenerating nikau thicket

However a week later they must have made another start because a nest was discovered on October 13, containing three eggs. This time it was placed in the crutch of a frond. The situation was ideal except from a rats point of view.  The fern was growing at the foot of a bank that was about 10 feet high. The bush was thick and the sun rarely got through. On October 25 tiny young ones were there, having hatched the day or night before. They left home on November 16. They were large and strong but still being fed by their parents on December 25. We suspected the parents of breeding again but it was not till Christmas Day that we discovered they were using the same nest. Two eggs hatched on December 27 though only one of the chicks survived, leaving the nest on February 22. 

A pair of robins lived close to their home (now Red House)  and the female would often come inside to raid the kitchen. These days feeding the birds is discouraged though of course, the birds can't read the signs and never give up trying it on.  

An ever hopeful kaka on the Red House balconey

Susie Niews has gone awol this week so we're sticking with   Patsy Kline and  Half as Much

If you loved me half as much as I love you

You wouldn't worry me half as much as you do

You're nice to me when there's no one else around

You only build me up to let me down

An imperiling rendition of Hank Williams'  wonderfully melancholic lyric.

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