The small noisy yellow-headed bird that once predominated throughout the country's forests may be be on the comeback in Kahurangi National Park.

There used to be millions of mohua in New Zealand before the arrival of pests.

Today the only naturally existing population is in Fiordland National Park, although the birds have been returned to some offshore islands. Mohua were last sighted at Canaan in 1984.

However the work by community pest group Friends of Flora has helped open the door the bird's local return.

Department of Conservation scientist and Mohua Charitable Trust chairman, Graeme Elliott, said their successful reintroduction to any area depended on a very, very good pest control programme.

FOF volunteers have successfully returned great spotted kiwi into a 10,000 hectare area of the park they protect with a network of traps. FOF is working with the neighbouring Friends of the Cobb to extend the protected zone.

Elliot said there were a ``bunch of places" across the country where mohua could be returned, but groups, and the trust, had to wait in-line for the professional expertise and resources required to successfully catch and shift the birds.

He predicted about 80 birds could be returned into the park, but it could be a year or more before mohua were again heard and seen in Kahurangi.

``And when we let them go a lot just disappear, especially on the mainland.

``But 50 or 60 years ago they were among the most common birds found in the bush. They sing beautifully, like a canary. Their song was synonymous with the bush.

``They're pretty, they sing beautifully and there used to be millions of them - they are pretty good reasons to bring them back."

FOF advocacy co-ordinator Maryann Ewers said returning mohua to the park had been on the group's wish-list for the last decade.

``We are very excited.

``However in saying that we decided last year there would be no more returns until we have completed a biodiversity assessment and found out exactly what we do have up there."

FOF had to be sure regular 1080 drops would be carried out in the future to protect the birds and was working with DOC on a biodiversity plan.

``Returning mohua is in the headlights, but we haven't got a date on it yet."