Native bush robins, or toutouwai.
Photo: Ruth Bollongino / Project Janzoon
Native bush robins, or toutouwai, are rebounding in the lower reaches of the Abel Tasman National Park.
Conservation trust Project Janszoon utilizes acoustic tracking innovation to track the circulation of forest bird populations in the park.
Director Bruce Vander Lee said the 2022 outcomes reveal considerable boosts in robins’ call rates – the little forest birds were identified at double the variety of websites compared to 2019.
“When we began Project Janszoon, we understood that robins were restricted to a few of the upper elevation locations where we understand that rat densities are lower.
“We are truly happy to see them going back to a few of the lowland locations, it lets us understand that the tough mahi that everybody is taking into insect control is permitting these robins to go back to the locations they would have traditionally been.”
He said the landscape scale shift in the birds’ circulation revealed that the predator control efforts were having a concrete effect.
Robins are frequently curious about human beings.
Photo: Robyn Janes / Supplied
Vander Lee said robins were popular birds and excellent ambassadors for New Zealand.
“Anytime you remain in the existence of robins, when you stop along the track while you’re tramping and among them shows up, they’ll frequently come right up near to you.
“They’re really noticeable, really curious about what you’re doing, it makes a terrific experience for individuals checking out New Zealand and checking out the Abel Tasman.”
He said Project Janszoon’s vision was for individuals to be able to walk along the Abel Tasman shoreline and see the entire variety of native types that traditionally existed there.
Project Janszoon is eager to speak with individuals who have actually spotted robins along the coast – which can be done through the Abel Tasman Virtual Visitor Centre app.
