Ark in the Park

Summary of North Island Robin Breeding Season 2006 - 2007

·      6 breeding pairs were monitored in the core of the project area (one more pair than last season).

·      One pair was likely to have had its first clutch before it was detected hence the additional figures in brackets.

·      12 (13) nests, 23 (25) chicks, 17 chicks banded (all banded in the nest)

·      2 (1) pair/s had 2 clutches and 3 (4) pairs had 3 clutches.

·      Average chicks per female = 4.6 (5)

·      Single birds still in the core: unbanded (male) at beginning of Whatitiri Track.

·      Two of the three single birds from last season (male YM- and female B-M) moved into new territories this year. The remaining single bird Y - GM male has not been seen this season.

·      WW-RM (juvenile from last season) was seen in R12 area by a contractor in August 2006 and heard again in October and mid November but not seen since.

 

Photographer: Karen Colgan

         

·      8 breeding pairs were monitored in the core of the project area (three more pairs than last season).

·      A male bird not seen since the translocation in April 2005 was one of a new breeding pair.

·      Successful breeding by an unbanded female was observed for the first time.

·      15 nests, 24 chicks, 11 chicks banded (all banded in the nest)

·      1 pair was not seen again after their first clutch and 1 male disappeared after the first clutch.

·      1 pair of unbanded birds had 5 infertile eggs in 2 nests.

·      3 pairs had 2 clutches and 1 pair had 3 clutches.

·      1 male had 11 chicks with 2 females in nearby territories.

·      Average chicks per female = 3.4 (compared with 4.5 in the past but this average was mainly due to young females not being as successful as their older counterparts … yet).

·      Birds still in the core of the intensive predator control: bird/s heard on R12/R13 line for 2 seasons now but not yet found. Trampers identified Y-GM (an original transfer bird), early in the season on Robinson Ridge track but no sighting since. It was not seen during the 2006-2007 season.

·      3 pairings stayed the same, 1 female GM-R paired with G-GM a single bird from last year. Her original mate GM-Y was seen early in the season.

·      The pair at Ld were in a 2005-6 territory where no pair was found last year, although a single unbanded bird was sighted which is likely to be the unbanded female currently breeding in that territory.

·      New territories were formed at TA/3, and L5.5.

·      The breeding season was shorter than previous years - the bush became very dry in late January/February.

There were less robin monitoring hours than previous years (less resources available ie. overseas student volunteers were concentrating on hihi montoring).