This elusive bird weighs only 6 grams (a House Sparrow weighs 40 grams), sings in high pitched notes and flies so quickly that it's so hard to see.

Meet the smallest bird of Aotearoa New Zealand - the Rifleman or Titipounamu (in the Māori language)

Join on a walk through a dense coastal forest on the Otago Peninsula, as we try to see the elusive Rifleman and hear the story of how these birds are using cosy nest boxes to survive.

Ft. Marcia Dale, Shanta McPherson

Thanks to the volunteers of the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group

Episode Cover Photo - Shanta McPherson

Support the Rifleman Project

Make a Donation that will go into buying materials for nest boxes. Feel free to email Marcia Dale, Community Team Leader at guardians@opbg.nz

You can also help by making nest boxes. Here’s how to build one- https://www.predatorfreepeninsula.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-OPBG-How-to-build-a-Rifleman-Nest-Box.pdf

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Explore Further:

Learn more about the wildlife & wild places featured in this episode- Rifleman or Titipounamu, Kānuka Tree, Otago Peninsula

Producer/ Host:  Karthic SS 

This show was broadcast on community radio OAR 105.4FM Dunedin.

This series is supported by ORC's Ecofund. Thanks to Professor Nancy Longnecker Centre for Science Communication, University of Otago, NZ.

Thanks to https://oar.org.nz/  a non-profit community radio and http://accessmedia.nz/

Music from Blue Dot Sessions