The saddleback's decline was due to its confiding nature and habit of feeding. Saddlebacks, which nest in holes in trees and in well hidden places on or near the ground, are vulnerable to rats. The Norway rat, in particutar, posed serious problems for the saddlebacks on Kapiti. To protect the saddlebacks from rats, roost boxes were installed. Their survival rate has been better than those that dont use roost boxes.
Saddlebacks are territorial and sing loud rhythmical songs.
In summer you may be lucky enough to see a party of four or even five birds together. Try to avoid walking through their colonies at breeding time they will defend their territories vigorously against intruders. The whitefronted tern breeds on several small rock outcrops off the northern and southern coast. Black and little shags are often seen fishing just offshore, and you may see a reef heron stalking prey amongst the boulders. A distinctive sound of the coast is the shrill piping ot the variable oyster- catcher.