Native bird spotted in Wellington for first time in about 70 years
A rare native bird species, the Mātātā or Fernbird, has been spotted in Wellington's East Harbour Regional Park for the first time in 70 years. Conservationists attribute the return of the bird to successful wetland restoration and predator control efforts.
Why it matters
The return of a regionally threatened species serves as a key indicator of the success of local biodiversity and conservation initiatives.
A species of secretive native bird generally not seen in the Wellington region for about 70 years has been spotted at Lake Kōhangaterā, in East Harbour Regional Park.
The Mātātā, or Fernbird, was classified as 'regionally threatened: vulnerable', and was hard to spot because they spend most of their time inside the canopy of shrubs, Greater Wellington Regional Council said.
"They live among dense wetland vegetation, where they forage for insects and other small invertebrates. Their reliance on high-quality, diverse wetland habitats makes their presence an encouraging development for the area's biodiversity."
Bird surveyor Shane Cotter said the discovery was significant both for the species and for the park.
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