By Alison Ballance
Colin Miskelly with a sooty shearwater, which breeds naturally on Mana Island. Photograph courtesy of Kate McAlpine.
Mana Island lies off the west coast of Wellington, and is an open sanctuary. It was once farmed, and following the eradication of mice, it has been the subject of a large restoration programme. One aspect of the restoration is the reintroduction of burrowing seabirds to the island. Like many of the island's projects this is being carried out by the Friends of Mana Island, in conjunction with the Department of Conservation. Colin Miskelly is an ecologist with DoC; he has a strong interest in shore birds and seabirds, and has had a long involvement with the island.
Our Changing World has also visited Mana Island during the winter tree planting season and you can hear that programme here.
This story first aired on 5 February 2009
