food availability

The fragmentation of forested environments in Aotearoa | New Zealand has resulted in many small, geographically isolated populations that face an increased risk of extinction. However, population extinction itself, and its proximate causes, are rarely witnessed scientifically. As part of a broader study, we assessed the population status of a remnant kakaruai (South Island robin; Petroica australis) population within the Ōtepoti | Dunedin area.

Hihi (or stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta) is a rare honeyeater endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Hihi were translocated from Little Barrier Island to Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, in 1994. Mokoia is a small (135 ha) island with secondary vegetation, so there was some doubt as to whether the island had sufficient diversity of fruit and nectar sources to support a hihi population. This paper reports data collected in the year after the translocation on the density, distribution and phenology of plants likely to be used by hihi. We address the following questions.