Welcome to Stewart Island & Sails Ashore +64 3 219 1151 tait@sailsashore.co.nz

Stewart Island Robin

Toutouwai

Petroica australis rakiura

Stewart Island Robins are readily seen on Ulva Island, indeed it’s difficult to avoid them, as they will approach us quite fearlessly as opportunistic feeders looking for the insects our feet disturb. It’s not just us they follow, as I have filmed kiwi feeding, complete with attendant robin watching for bugs the kiwi disturbed with its feet. Like most robins the males are vigorously territorial, and disputes are common, especially as their young male offspring grow and are then see as territorial rivals.

Size 180 mm

 

Male Stewart Island Robin

The entire population was banded from their initial liberation in the late ’90s until just a few years ago 

 

 

Nestlings in the nest on top of a broken tree stump

Robins nest on or low to the ground, making them particularly vulnerable to rat predation

 

 

 Lunch Time

Both parents care for the brood. Male on the left, female on the right

 

 

 Female Robin

Muted plumage, with less definition between back and breast colouration.

 

 

 Male Robin

Obviously terrified of people

 

Robin Song

Stewart Island Electricity is generated using diesel fuel

Sails Ashore is Solar Powered

 But we now produce 100 % of our electrical needs, and are completely "Off Grid", Excess electricity is used to heat our domestic hot water and central heating system and this has cut our non renewable heating fuel usage to around 20% of pre solar.. All cooking is electric, no more LPG.  See More .......

Kowhai Lane is also Solar powered,

Kowhai Lane is "Grid Tied" Excess production is used to heat water. Production beyond the house requirements is exported, thus cutting diesel use in the wider grid. At night Kowhai Lane Lodge receives power from the grid.

Like Sails Ashore, all cooking is electric,,,,, No LPG

 

 

Sails Ashore, Kowhai Lane & Sails Tours

11 View Street,
Stewart Island, 9846
NEW ZEALAND

+64 3 219 1151
Email: tait@sailsashore.co.nz
Web: www.sailsashore.co.nz