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What is Hamilton Halo?
The Hamilton Halo project aims to bring native birds, starting with tui, back into Hamilton city. 
The ‘Halo’ is a ring drawn around Hamilton, taking in key sites where tui breed. The halo’s radius is 20 km, as this is how far tui will fly to feed.
View a map of the Hamilton Halo area showing key sites and what is happening at each site.
Who’s involved?
Environment Waikato leads the Hamilton Halo project. Landcare Research is a project partner and conducts and shares research related to the project. The project is supported by the Department of Conservation, Hamilton City Council, Weedbusters and Tui 2000, a Hamilton-based environmental group involved in the restoration of Maungakawa Scenic Reserve, a Hamilton Halo key site.
Find out how you can get involved.
No tui living in Hamilton - but why?
Unlike other cities, such as Auckland and Wellington, tui do not live in Hamilton. They were once abundant in the area where Hamilton stands.
Due to introduced pests (rats and possums) and loss of habitat and food sources, today the birds are rarely seen in the city. In the last hundred years, just one tui chick has been recorded fledging in Hamilton.
Tui feed in Hamilton
Although no tui live in Hamilton, small numbers visit the city over winter (May to August). Scientists believe they come to feed on the nectar of exotic species of trees that flower over winter. They commute from up to 20 km away, and return to their breeding sites outside the city.
Tui breed outside Hamilton
Tui breed between October and February in native bush areas around Hamilton. Native trees are a better source of food for them at this time of year.
Hamilton Halo’s work
Hamilton Halo is working on:
- increasing the survival rate of tui chicks at key breeding sites surrounding Hamilton
- improving tui feeding and breeding conditions in Hamilton.
This work will also most likely result in more tui in settlements around Hamilton.
Increasing survival rate of tui chicks
Tui nesting success is very low. In recent studies, only about a quarter of monitored nests fledged young. This is mainly due to ship rats and possums, which climb trees and invade tui nests, eating the eggs and chicks.
To improve nesting success, Environment Waikato carries out annual pest control (rat and possum) at key breeding sites in the Hamilton Halo area before the tui breeding season. Other native species of birds, plants and invertebrates are also likely to benefit.
Improving tui feeding and breeding conditions in Hamilton
Hamilton Halo is working with Hamilton City Council and land owners on pest control and plantings at key sites within the city. This will provide year-round sources of food and safe habitat for tui to breed in, and is part of the plan to attract the birds to the city.
You can help bring tui to Hamilton
Sighting tui - be our eyes and ears
If you see or hear a tui in Hamilton in spring or summer, please let us know. The information you provide will help to identify and investigate any patterns that might occur. Information on sightings may be passed on to Landcare Research for research purposes only. Simply complete this tui sighting form.
Listen to a tui
(959 kb, 137 seconds to download, 56k modem)
Credit and thanks to DOC for providing the tui sound clip.
Controlling pests
If you live in Hamilton, by controlling possums and rats on your property you can help to make it safer for tui to breed in the city. Find out about controlling these pests on your property.
Planting tui food
If you live in the Hamilton area, by planting certain native species you can help to provide year-round food for tui in the city. Tui love the abundant introduced species available in Hamilton over winter, but by planting native species you are providing them with an urban summer food source. Find out more.
Find out more
For information on tui, visit the Department of Conservation’s website.
For advice on pest plants contact Weedbusters on (07) 855 6463 or visit www.weedbusters.co.nz.
Landcare Research have information available on bird population monitoring.
Visit the Tui 2000 web page.
For educational resources and information on tui, visit Tui time.
Check out our information on native plants and animals, possums and plant pests.
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