Hungry hihi hatchlings

The hihi breeding season is well underway with the first of the nests beginning to hatch in late November and many more following suit.

The hihi feeders have been buzzing with activity in the past several weeks. Hungry females leave their nest boxes every 20 minutes or so and make a dash to the closest feeding station. During these trips, she is often accompanied by her mate who guards her from the attentions of other males. Once chicks hatch, both parents will feed the brood with protein-rich invertebrates while they grow. If you’d like to see these feeders in action, head up to the ones past the top dam as they get much busier than those in the lower valley.

The chicks are wholly dependent on their mothers for warmth until their feathers grow and they can regulate their own body temperature. Until then, she must take good care not to leave the nest for longer than a few minutes at a time.

Photo: a hihi/stitchbird by Melissa Boardman