Rare birds moved to new habitat

Updated at 3:06 pm on 12 January 2013

Rare New Zealand birds have been transferred from the subantarctic Snares Islands to a new home, to help protect the species from extinction.

Snares Island snipe, also known as tutukiwi for its long beak and ground living habit, were once widespread in New Zealand but were wiped out from the mainland and many islands by predators like rats and ferrets.

Of a population of about 200 on the islands, 30 have been moved to Codfish Island / Whenua Hou, off Stewart Island.

A South Island biodiversity ranger for DoC, Jo Hiscock, says starting a new population of the bird is a precaution against extinction.

Snipe transferred in 2005 from the Snares to Putauhinu Island, off the south-west coast of Stewart Island, have grown to an estimated population of over 500 birds.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/125477/rare-birds-moved-to-new-habitat

Rare takahe moved to Auckland safety

Rare flightless birds have flown the length of the country to a new safe haven on an island in Auckland.

Nine takahe made the trip from Fiordland to Motutapu Island, a pest-free island around half an hour’s ferry ride from Auckland.

The Department of Conservation (DOC), Mitre 10 and Air New Zealand joined forces to see them dropped off at their new spot.

The birds were reared near Te Anau. Motutapu was chosen as a safe site because islands which are already homes to the takahe, such as Kapiti, Mana, Maud, and Tiritiri Matangi, are running out of room.

On their new turf, there is enough space for up to 20 breeding pairs – which will eventually make it the largest takahe population outside Fiordland.

DOC’s takahe recovery programme manager, Phil Tisch, said the programme was “crucial” in saving the bird from extinction.

“It’s enabling us to take another big step forward in building a safe future for takahe by building a new population on Motutapu,” he said.

“This is the largest transportation of takahe we've ever done outside Fiordland. There are only 260 takahe in the world. To move nine of these rare birds virtually the length of the country in one day is a major undertaking.”

They were released into native forest planted by volunteers from the Motutapu Restoration Trust.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/7905424/Rare-takahe-moved-to-Auckland-safety

Birds on the move

Research led by James Cook University and recently published in Nature Climate Change, shows that changes in the Australian climate have caused areas with climates suitable for individual bird species have moved hundreds of kilometres in just 60 years. Also, although warming temperatures would suggest movement toward the South Pole, shifts in areas with specific climates have occurred in all directions – north, south, east and west. 

JCU's Associate Professor Jeremy VanDerWal, who led the project, said the paper highlighted the impact of climate change on the habitats of hundreds of native bird species. 

"Just like us, individual bird species have a particular climate niche that is most suitable for them to live in," he said. "Our research shows that the Australian climate has changed significantly over the last 60 years and this has led to the climatic niches for individual bird species having moved an average of 76 kilometres and up to a maximum of nearly 500 kilometres. 

"The impact of this is that birds may have to change the areas in which they live faster than previously thought, resulting in the need for more rapid shifts in the distribution of species."

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-09-birds.html#jCp