Five of the birds on the special study list

Press, 27 December 1980, Page 12

Five of the birds on the special study list

Although the New Zealand robins share many of the- mannerisms of their E uro p e a h name-sakes, they are not related except in a broad sense. They belong. to the same large family called the flycatchers.

The more widespread species of the two ■— the mainland robin, is divided into three sub-species: North Island,' South Island and .Stewart Island. The other species, the Chatham Island black robin, has the unhappy distinction of being one of the. rarest birds in the world with a handful of surivors clinging to life oh remote Marigere Island in the Chathams group. North and South robins have a dark, slate-grey

Slightly longer than the blackbird, with shining metallic blue-green, blackish feathers, the tui has two dangling tufts of white curved feathers at its throat and silver-green filaments on its neck. It is one of the finest songbirds in New Zealand and is usually heard in the morning and at dusk. It has a wide repertoire of musical notes which it intermingles with other gurgling, clucking, chiming, jangling, and wheez-

upper plumage with lighter undersides. The smaller northern bird has a white lower breast whereas that of the southern bird is a lemon yellow; the females are duller colours than the males. >'■

The Stewart Island robin is ' darker than the South Island robin and has a white chest. Robins are bush dwellers, and the North Island robin is found in the central forests far from human populations. The disruption of human settlement has upset' the habitat for. robins in many places, but the bird has shown, an ability to adapt to new conditions and has colonised some exotic pine forests.

ing sounds. Its flight is rapid and noisy. Groups of tuis are sometimes seen giving displays, flashing and darting in the air, then diving suddenly to disappear among the trees. The tui, with other birds, plays an important role in the regeneration of native bush. When it thrusts its beak into flowers for nectar, a cloud of pollen is disturbed and the tui carries the pollen from plant to plant.

Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks' were the first Europeans to comment on the bellbird’s song, and in 1770 Cook wrote in his log: ' “This wild melody was infinitely superior, to any: thing we had ever heard. It seemed.like small bells most exquis'tely tuned.” However, towards "the end of the nineteenth century the bellbird seemed doomed to. extinction. Bush fires destroyed its habitat and food supply; the introduction of cats, stoats,, and rats, and the change in the balance of nature brought about by land cultivation and the introduction of exotic species of plants and ani-

The flesh of the tui was once prized by the Maoris as food, but the bird is now accorded strict legal protection. Their numbers decreased considerably as bush was cleared for farming over the first half century of European settlement. Sightings of the tui are still, not common, but today the bird is found in most of the larger forest areas and will sometimes nest in suburban and even urban areas.

mals, played a part in their decrease.

Today; bellbirds have adapted ' well to their changing environment, due to their varied taste and willingness to try new foods. They extended their diet of nectar from native flowers such, as flax, fata, kowhai, rewarewa, and fuchsia, to include exotic species such as eucahmtus. acacias, wattle, and redhot pokers. They are found' in forests throughout New Zealand, in exotic vegetation, orchards, and gardens. The bellbird’s flight, like the tui’s, is rapid, but undulating rather than darting. In spring, nesting bellbirds are seen flying ’ together, : i close formation.

The kakapo was once fairly common in both the North and South Islands. By the nineteenth century it had disappeared from the east of the South Island and most of the North Island.

By 1977, the numbers had dwindled to the point where the birds seemed near extinction. However, a new colony was discovered by the Wildlife Service on Stewart Island and this - find gave re-

This is one of our most beautiful native birds. Its head, neck, and upper breast are a shining golden green with coppery reflections. The nape, back, shoulders, and smaller wing feathers are chest-nut-purple.

However, the kereru is much .more than just an elegant creature. Its diet in summer and autumn consists of fruits and berries of native trees and shrubs, and by spreading the seeds it assists in the regeneration of the forest which provides its food, protection, and home. Aloft, the pigeon’s flight is easily traced by the characteristic sound of its heavy wing beat. Its only

newed hope of their survival.

The reasons for the kakapo’s decline are not fully understood, although the loss of habitat when forest was cut and burnt and the introduction of predators by Maori and European settlers certainly contributed to the decrease.

There may be other reasons which will only become apparent when the bird’s habits and living re-

call is a soft “cod" which is why some Maoris have, given the pigeon an alternative name, “kuku The nest ’is ! untidy r found .on a stout branch or cluster of vines, from generally four to 10 hectares above the ground. Restriction on the shooting of pigeons ■ was found necessary as early as 1864 as this bird- is easy to shoot and trap.

Since 1921 it has -been given total legal • protection, but its numbers-have not increased to the point where sightings are commonplace. If it is to survive for future generations, the kereru needs our full, protect tion. ’ •

quirements are better, known. .

For many years the ori ; gin of the bqwl-shaped depressions in the ground often seen near kakapo habitats was not understood. Howeverl these bowls and associated-well-defined tracks are how known to be: the' display

grounds used in-the.breed-ing season when the male kakapo makes loud booming calls to invite female attention. *