The Beautiful Tiritiri Matangi

Room 14 were so lucky to have a lovely, sunny day to explore the nature reserve, Tiritiri Matangi. Tiritiri Matangi is a protected island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. It has been planted in native trees and many endangered bird species have been translocated there to help them survive. 

 Tiritiri Matangi is now 60% native trees and 40% grassland. It is predator free with all stoats, possums and rats eradicated from the island. In this safe environment, the bird species all flourish and multiply. 

We arrived at the island and were greeted by the knowledgeable volunteers who were going to escort us around the island. These wonderful people give up their own free time to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the environment with others. Vicky was our groups guide. 

 As we first entered the bush it was hard work before we were lucky enough to see any birds. This area was the kiwi nesting sites. Being nocturnal, the kiwis were nowhere to be seen, of course. 

 We had not ventured too far, before we were surrounded by the beautiful calls of many different birds in the treetops above. They seemed to be trying to outdo each other with the beauty and majesty of their song. The sound was exquisite. 

 The Kowhai tree was just beginning to flower. The Hihi bird was fluttering from flower to flower, its tongue, a third of the size of its body, flicking in and out, collecting nectar. 

 Around the feeding trays filled with sugar and water, dozens of nectar feeders were gorging themselves. Humans have to supplement food for these birds because this new forest does not have enough trees with flowers yet. Thank you to Chelsea Sugar Company for giving the island free sugar. 

The government wants to make predator free by 2050. Barbara, our guide, explained that this is not accurate. New Zealand has some bird species like the Morepork and the Falcon, that are themselves predators. Our real goal is to make our country NZ introduced predator free by 2050. 

 Hopefully, we can eradicate all the weasels, stoats, possums, rats and mice from our forests on the mainland. If we can return our forests back to a safe, bird friendly environment like Tiritiri Matangi, and our native birds can flourish and repopulate these areas, we will once again be blessed with the sights and sounds that only a few people can experience now in remote, protected environments like these beautiful islands.

A blue penguin inside its nesting box.