More like a mouse than a bird, visitors are more likely to hear the ‘call and response’ tick/tack between pairs than see a mātātā/fernbird. These small sparrow-like birds are fitted with a long tail measuring half their size which means they typically only fly short distances. The Tiritiri population were originally rescued from the path of the Northern Motorway. Using recordings of their call, conservationists managed to lure a small population from this threatened piece of land and helicoptered them to their new island home. Those 13 birds have now formed a robust population.