Hihi / Notiomystis cincta

What are they? What is being done?

Hihi once occurred throughout the but A number of hihi transfers have been made to Kapiti, disappeared by 1885, surviving only on Little Barrier not all of them successful. Transfers have been Island. Mäori valued them for their brilliant yellow most successful when the birds have been released breast feathers which only the males have. Norway immediately into areas where there are no other hihi rats were probably the cause of their demise. They living. A feed of sugar water helps them to establish now live on three islands, including Little Barrier themselves in their new home. Island, their stronghold, Great Barrier and Kapiti. Hihi struggle to survive on Kapiti Island unassisted. Hihi nest and roost in vegetation clumps and old They rely on the Kapiti ranger to provide them with trees with holes which makes them easy targets for supplementary feed of sugar water all year round at ship rats. Hihi is the only bird known to mate face artificial feeding stations. The feeders are designed to face. Hihi bond with single or multiple mates to prevent other birds from taking the food thus depending on circumstances. They lay on average reducing competition with other nectar feeders. four eggs a year but their breeding and success rate When provided with year round supplementary food, depends on the availability of food. the birds do well and the hihi population on Kapiti Island is increasing every year. You can see feeders Hihi will feed on fruit, nectar and invertebrates. Like along the tracks. If you sit quietly near a feeder for other birds they prefer high- energy seed such about five minutes, there is a good chance that you’ll as hinau and kamahi. Unfortunately hihi are at the see a hihi. bottom of the pecking order and don’t compete well with other birds. Other resources

Restoring Kapiti A bird in the Hand (Secondary kit only) Geographic magazine #53 Sep–Oct 2001 Hihi (Secondary kit only) DOC fact sheet www.doc.govt.nz > Conservation > Plants and Animals www.nzbirds.com

Female top and male below. Illustration by Tim Galloway.

Published by Department of Conservation Kapiti Area office P.O. Box 141 March 2006. Top: male; bottom: female. Photos: R. Veitch.