The recent robin release at Little Windy Hill. From left: Dean Medland, Rachel Wakefield,
Judy Gilbert, Peter Speck, and Kevin Parsons. Photo: Graham Parker

One of the recently translocated North Island robins from Mokoia Island has established in my garden and comes daily to be fed a few mealworms. It has been a long held dream of mine to hear the robin’s distinctive call from my home. Recently he spent a whole afternoon pottering round the garden after me.

At least two new pairs have formed at Windy Hill from the Mokoia robins but it will not be clear how many others have settled in the sanctuary area until breeding begins in August. Birds have been reported south in Waterfall Bay and towards Tryphena.

All the birds from Mokoia are banded with a white and metal band on their right leg with other combinations of colours on their left leg. If you hear or see what you think is a robin they can be encouraged to come in close with clapping or calling. Tossing very small twigs out which mimic worms can sometimes bring them in close enough to read the bands. These are read from the top of the left leg down, then top of the right leg down.