Welcome to Native Watch! This is the first article of a new series that will introduce you to some of the precious species of flora and fauna that we find in the Bay of Islands.

Read on to find out more about the much-loved New Zealand dotterel. To receive these articles straight to your inbox in our quarterly newsletter, you can sign up to our mailing list here.

Our summer volunteer programme is underway! Christmas parades, the Project Island Song Urupukapuka Family Fun Day and Waitangi Day. We've also got our boatie bag campaign at boat ramps, marinas and on the water.

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Toutouwai monitoring

An October survey of nesting and breeding activity of toutouwai (North Island robin) on Moturua Island revealed positive signs. Nesting pairs were found, one of the indicators being the male taking food to the female who remains on the nest. Unbanded birds were also recorded, most likely offspring from last year’s breeding. Guardian’s volunteers were joined by members of Puketi Forest Trust and the Ornithological Society (OSNZ) for the survey.

The 2015 Guardians of the Bay of Islands Inc AGM was held in Paihia on October 21.The meeting was followed by a captivating presentation from Dr Isabel Castro, Massey University Behavioural Ecologist on her study of hihi behaviour, her kiwi research and exciting new technologies.

This formidable team of conservation dogs – fondly known as the Rat Pack – has spent four days scouring the seven islands of Ipipiri for rodents. They are working alongside Project Island Song to support the mission to create an archipelago of pest-free island sanctuaries for all to enjoy.

And the great news? No pests found at all!

Thank you everyone. The planting at Homestead catchment and Frenchman's Line was the most complicated and ambitious planting GBOI has ever attempted but even so we managed to put in more than 950 plants in one day – a record for enhancement planting. With such an enthusiastic team you far exceeded my most hopeful expectations. Thank you again.

Rod and his team of enthusiastic helpers are underway withthe 2015 planting season. The new planting area recently fenced in the Ihumatea catchment on Urupukapuka Island has now been sprayed off by Rod's team - resplendent in their new spray suits provided for our volunteer programme by ASB Community Trust. The site is now ready for the mass public planting on Sunday 24th May, supported annually by Fullers GreatSights.

Following the release of 43 Toutouwai (North Island Robin) on Moturua Island in June 2014, the first unbanded offspring have been sighted. Meet one who has set up camp in Otupoho Bay.

Project Island Song's Hilux  has been kept busy with a wide range of tasks including translocation work, pest control, school visits and planting. Northland Toyota has provided the smarlty  signwritten Hilux for six months and its already proving invaluable to our work.

Forty tieke (North Island saddleback) were welcomed to Ipipiri in late March by local hapu Ngati Kuta and Patukeha and Project Island Song partners, volunteers and supporters. Twenty birds were released at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island and twenty more at Ohutopu (Homestead) Bay on Moturua. The birds arrived by helicopter from Mauimua (Lady Alice) Island, each to a powhiri and celebration of the latest species to be returned as part of the Project Island Song restoration.